ISO 13370-2017 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 13370:2017 — Thermal performance of buildings — Heat transfer via the ground — Calculation methods. This International Standard gives methods to calculate heat transfer coefficients and heat flow rates for building elements in thermal contact with the ground (slab‑on‑ground floors, suspended floors and basements).

Abstract

ISO 13370:2017 provides calculation methods for the steady‑state (annual average) component of heat transfer between a building and the ground and for the seasonal (annual periodic) variations of heat flow on a monthly basis. It applies to elements below a defined horizontal plane in the building envelope and includes guidance for slab‑on‑ground floors, suspended floors and both heated and unheated basements; Annex D covers application within dynamic simulation programmes.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: June 2017.
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 91.120.10 (Thermal insulation of buildings).
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (2017).
• Number of pages: 49 (ISO published edition).

Scope

Applies to building elements (or parts of elements) in direct thermal contact with the ground: slab‑on‑ground floors, suspended floors and basements. The standard defines the horizontal reference plane for different cases (e.g., inside floor surface for unheated basements and slab‑on‑ground, external ground surface for heated basements) and provides methods to calculate both the long‑term average heat transfer and the monthly seasonal variations. ISO 13370:2017 is intended for use in energy performance and thermal‑design calculations and for inputs to dynamic simulation where applicable (see Annex D).

Key topics and requirements

• Methods to compute thermal transmittance/heat transfer coefficients between building elements and the ground.
• Calculation of annual average heat flow (steady‑state component) and monthly seasonal variations (periodic component).
• Definitions of boundary planes for different types of floors and basements and treatment of geometry and edge effects.
• Specification of required soil/ground thermal properties and moisture considerations for calculation inputs.
• Procedures for integrating ground heat transfer results into whole‑building energy assessments and dynamic simulation (Annex D guidance).
• Recommendations on simplifications, assumptions and appropriate application limits of the methods.

Key technical requirements and computational approaches are described in detail in the standard.

Typical use and users

Used by building physicists, energy modelers, HVAC and thermal engineers, architects concerned with ground-contact thermal detailing, consultants performing energy compliance checks, researchers studying ground‑coupled heat transfer, and standards bodies or code developers integrating ground heat transfer into energy performance regulations.

Related standards

ISO 13370:2017 sits within the EPB (energy performance of buildings) family and is cross‑referenced with ISO 52000‑1 (overall energy performance framework) as noted in the standard introduction. It supersedes ISO 13370:2007 and is commonly adopted nationally as EN/BS/UNE versions (e.g., BS EN ISO 13370:2017). Users should consider related standards on building energy calculation, soil thermal properties and dynamic simulation when applying ISO 13370.

Keywords

ground heat transfer, slab‑on‑ground, suspended floor, basement, heat transfer coefficient, thermal transmittance, soil thermal properties, energy performance, dynamic simulation, ISO 13370:2017

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 13370:2017 is an international standard that specifies calculation methods for heat transfer between buildings and the ground, covering slabs, suspended floors and basements.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers methods to determine the steady‑state (annual average) and seasonal (monthly) components of heat flow through building elements in contact with the ground, boundary definitions for different floor/basement cases, required input data (including ground properties) and guidance for use in dynamic simulation (Annex D).

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Building energy modelers, thermal engineers, architects, consultants, researchers and code developers who need standardized methods to account for ground‑contact heat losses or gains in energy and thermal calculations.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 13370:2017 is the current published edition (Edition 3, published June 2017) and it supersedes ISO 13370:2007. The ISO record indicates the 2017 edition as the active version.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the set of standards addressing thermal performance and energy performance of buildings (the EPB modular framework) and is cross‑referenced with standards such as ISO 52000‑1; national/adopted versions exist (EN/BS/UNE etc.).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Ground heat transfer; slab‑on‑ground; basement; heat transfer coefficient; thermal transmittance; soil thermal properties; energy performance; dynamic simulation; ISO 13370:2017.