Calculator guide

Heating calculator: full guide

This guide explains what the heating calculator computes, how each input changes the result, and how to turn the output into a comparable request for quotation. Worked examples below are produced with the same engine that powers the live tool.

Open the calculator

How to use this calculator

  1. 1

    Enter your project figures

    Replace the default values in the heating calculator with your own flock size, targets and local costs. Defaults are commercial-sector averages, not a recommendation.

  2. 2

    Compare the three scenarios

    Switch between conservative, expected and optimistic to see how sensitive the result is to your assumptions before committing capital.

  3. 3

    Read the assumptions

    Check the assumptions panel so you know what the model excludes — typically taxes, import duties, special civil works and land.

  4. 4

    Turn the output into a quote request

    Send the resulting figures in a single request to receive comparable offers from qualified third-party manufacturers.

Every input explained

Default values are commercial-sector averages. Replace them with your own figures — your data always overrides the defaults.

Floor area (m²)
1,800
Inside-outside ΔT (°C)
Brooding target ~32°C; design outside minimum sets ΔT. — 25
Envelope U-value (W/m²·K)
0.35 well-insulated; 0.6 baseline; >0.8 poor. — 0.5
Minimum ventilation (m³/h per m²)
Brooding minimum ventilation for CO2 and moisture control. — 1.2
Brooder capacity (BTU/hr)
40,000
Burner efficiency (%)
90
Equivalent full-load hours (h/day)
Peak-equivalent running hours during brooding. — 10
LPG price (USD/kg)
0.9

Worked examples

Three realistic cases, computed live with the calculator engine.

Baseline case

Reference values under the expected scenario — a good starting point for a first project.

Inputs

  • Floor area1,800 m²
  • Inside-outside ΔT25 °C
  • Envelope U-value0.5 W/m²·K
  • Minimum ventilation1.2 m³/h per m²
  • Brooder capacity40,000 BTU/hr

Results

  • Envelope loss22.5 kW
  • Ventilation loss17.8 kW
  • Total heat load40.3 kW
  • Peak BTU/hr137572

Scale-up case

The same project with flock size increased 2.5×, to show how the result scales.

Inputs

  • Floor area1,800 m²
  • Inside-outside ΔT25 °C
  • Envelope U-value0.5 W/m²·K
  • Minimum ventilation1.2 m³/h per m²
  • Brooder capacity100,000 BTU/hr

Results

  • Envelope loss22.5 kW
  • Ventilation loss17.8 kW
  • Total heat load40.3 kW
  • Peak BTU/hr137572

Conservative case

Reference values under the conservative scenario, with a safety margin on performance.

Inputs

  • Floor area1,800 m²
  • Inside-outside ΔT25 °C
  • Envelope U-value0.5 W/m²·K
  • Minimum ventilation1.2 m³/h per m²
  • Brooder capacity40,000 BTU/hr

Results

  • Envelope loss22.5 kW
  • Ventilation loss17.8 kW
  • Total heat load48.4 kW
  • Peak BTU/hr165086

Planning assumptions

  • The heating calculator uses common commercial-sector parameters; your own measured data always overrides the defaults.
  • The conservative scenario adds a safety margin; the optimistic scenario assumes favourable operating conditions.
  • Taxes, import duties, special civil works and land cost are excluded unless stated otherwise.

Frequently asked questions

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