Describes a three-dimensional parametric study of slab-on-grade heat transfer which gives a new perspective on both the validity of the F2 (proportionality constant) method and the relationship between two and three-dimensional heat transfer. Parameters considered include floor shape and size, climate, surface and deep ground boundary conditions, soil properties, insulation and shadowing of the ground by the building. On the basis of the results, derives an empirical scaling technique that gives good agreement with the detailed model and may be of value in both manual and numerical algorithms.

KEYWORDS: Calculating, heat flow, floors, ground, soil, foundations, buildings, slabs.