Radiant panel heating systems may directly or indirectly contribute to energy conservation in space conditioning, provided that sufficiently accurate modelling and proper design and installation are made. Primary attributes include, but are not limited to, peak load shaving and a decrease in sensible loads. Moderate temperatures at which typical radiant panel systems operate establish a better tie-in with alternative and moderate-temperature energy sources (with or without heat pumps). In spite of these features, such attributes were not previously identified properly because of the absence of a dedicated design and analysis algorithm. A customised space-heating load calculation algorithm was developed and a computer program was implemented for the design of the floor-heating panels following a two-year international research project for developing a standard design algorithm. Gives the basic theory and application of the computer program and exhibits a case design.

KEYWORDS: year 1995, computer programs, designing, floor heating, radiant panels, radiant heating, slabs, algorithms, space heating, heat load, load management