The official way of measuring the heat output of a rad is with piping: Top to Bottom same end (TBSE).
But is this the best way? I know that BBOE has a derating factor, so I assume that is not so good (although I can't see why, unless it's cold top corners).
I'm about to fit a new rad, it can be piped up any way really, as the pipework will be from behind the wall.
My inclination is TBOE, but I'd like to understand the physics. TBSE for a long rad seems like imbecility as the flow will be in one end.
R.