Surface to volume ratio

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Term Definition
Surface to volume ratio

Surface area to volume ratio is a measure of how compact a building is. In passive house design, it is often expressed as the ‘heat loss form factor’, which is the ratio for the external surface area of the building to the treated floor area.

The higher the figure, the less compact the building, meaning there is more surface area from which heat can escape, making it more difficult to meet the passive house standard.

Synonyms: surface area to volume ratios