What is soilHEAT?

Soilheat is a unique field service to measure the thermal conductivity of the soil in-situ. A number of measurements are taken across the extent of the intended ground array at or near the depth at which the pipe is to be buried. The data is quality checked in the field and then analysed the following day to provide a bulk average thermal conductivity of the soil for your site.

Why is this important?

Soils are infinitely variable in their structure, mineral make-up, organic content, thermal and other properties. A meaningful value for the soil thermal conductivity of your site cannot be found on maps or a website.

A Soilheat survey removes the guesswork attached to the design of a ground array. We at Carbon Zero Consulting have been very vocal over the years that insufficient time and energy is spent on the design of the ground source array compared to the building heat emitter design. To put it simply; if your ground array is undersized then your system WILL NOT WORK!

This is now more important than ever with the advent of the MIS3005 guidelines and look-up tables. These tables form a vital part of the MCS design process. But how do you obtain a reliable value for soil thermal conductivity to enter the MIS3005 look-up tables? A Soilheat survey provides this for you.

The look-up tables can be found here

Call us now about your ground array design and how Soilheat can help you to get it right!

Who should use soilHEAT?

We think that all designers, specifiers and installers of horizontal ground source systems should obtain a measured value of soil thermal conductivity as part of their design process. If your array design is too small then the system will fail. If it is too big then it is needlessly expensive and will incur higher running costs for the life of the system.

What else do I need to know?

We are the only providers of Soilheat surveys using an advanced and robust line-source heat system developed in the Netherlands.

Surveys are conducted and analysed by staff with a geological background and expert knowledge of ground source systems.

Surveys can be performed for any size of ground array.

Results are presented in an easy-to-understand format. The average value of thermal conductivity can be used in the MIS3005 look-up table, or;

For larger systems we also provide a design service utilizing the industry standard design model GLD. You provide us with your building heating profile and we will provide you with an array design for 'slinky' or straight pipe options.

Measurements are compliant with IEEE 442-1981 and ASTM 5334-00

Call John Findlay on 0844 855 0115 or email for more information.