An improved form of the so-called ‘near-wall’ k—ε turbulence model is proposed. The damping functions accounting for viscous effects at low Reynolds numbers are modified to yield a turbulent viscosity that properly predicts heat transfer rates over a wide range of Prandtl numbers, using a constant turbulent Prandtl number Prt = 0.9. These modifications aimed at improving the prediction of wall fluxes, also yield a better description of mean velocity and temperature profiles as well as of mean turbulent properties.