Water underfloor heating – Overview

Water underfloor heating - Overview

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Our water based underfloor heating system offers the complete solution creating the perfect comfort zone in any environment. It is also a system that puts you in complete control with a range of control options, from single programmable wired or wireless thermostats, to a full networked heating system controllable remotely from your pc or laptop.. And what’s more, you’ll find it makes complete sense helping you to save money, while delivering environmental and health benefits. Indeed, constructed from the best of materials (life in excess of 50 years – 25 year system guarantee on pipe and components), the system offers you complete peace of mind.

There are different kinds of heating systems and different kinds of heat. With our underfloor heating system, you get a heat that is most conducive to your comfort. A radiant heat that ensures you feel comfortable even at a lower air temperature than that produced by a more traditional convection system.
With our system, the floor structure is gently warmed throughout typically 23-26°C to create a large radiant surface. In contact with this surface, people and objects absorb the energy emitted without it directly heating the air first. This also means that there is no loss of air quality in the room. The result is that you experience warm feet real comfort! And a cool clear head.

When considering the cost of a heating system, you have to look at the capital cost plus the running costs over the life of the system.
Significantly, our underfloor heating system can help you to save up to 20% on domestic fuel bills, and can cut a remarkable 50% or more off the heating costs for large commercial properties.





Design & Consultation Service

Our water based underfloor heating system can be installed by your own plumber or heating engineer or by yourself. From your initial enquiry through to final commissioning, our technical team is always available to give expert advice on any aspect of your system.
Accurate design is an essential foundation and our design staff utilise market leading software and expertise to calculate full heat requirements and can supply a CAD pipe layout diagram, to ensure that the system supplied will match all the requirements of your property.Once we have designed a system and the customer has agreed, we will immediately supply all the necessary equipment and CAD piping and wiring diagrams needed to complete the project as quickly and efficiently as possible.Self-installation of a our underfloor heating system is an option you may wish to consider. If it is your preferred option, then we will give you all the support you require to ensure that the project is a success.

Our technical team will provide support answering any questions you may have.
Our aim is to ensure that the end result is a heating system which is unequalled in terms of performance, control and the quality of its components.
If that sounds like the complete solution to all your heating needs then do call us today.

Assurances :
All of our water underfloor heating systems :
– are approved for use. WRAS Approved Our pipe and fittings have been granted WRAS approval enabling them to be used in all domestic plumbing hot and cold water applications including drinking water (potable water) installations – as well as central heating and underfloor heating applications.

– are covered by a comprehensive insurance backed 25-year guarantee covering all incidentals on the pipe, manifold, fittings and all mechanical components
– are designed once we have calculated heat loss calculations
– use a one-piece manifold for distribution and a sensibly sized diameter of floor heating pipe? Good practice is to use a pipe diameter between 16mm and 20mm (Output is governed by surface area of pipe).
– use the highest grade Pex-Al-Pex & Pert-Al-Pert based pipe with bend memory.,
– specify a full and proper control system that controls every room/area individually,including wet areas
– offer you the option of wired, wireless and networked controls, the most precise and efficient underfloor heating control system on the market today



 

Pipe Composition

Pipe Composition

Our underfloor heating system inspires confidence. It has quality built-in from the initial design work right through to the innovative manifolds and pumps used in the control systems.

The foundation of this quality, however, is the pipe. We use a 16mm diameter 5 layer PEX-AL-PEX & Pert-Al-Pert pipe to carry the warm water in a continuous circuit under the floor.

With our 5 Layer pipe you can be confident that you are using the highest quality, market leading components. The pipe is covered with a comprehensive 50 year guarantee.
Our high quality multi layer pipes are unrivalled in their suitability for underfloor heating systems and are recognised worldwide as the premier performer in this field. 5 layer pipe is the highest grade in its class, replacing older type PEXb and standard PEX pipes. It is flexible, easy to work with and durable, perfect for underfloor heating.

Due to their high specification, the pipe and fittings are equally suited to drinking water installations (for which they are WRAS approved and certified). They are made of a layer of aluminum sandwiched between two layers of PEX. The metal layer serves as an oxygen barrier, stopping the oxygen diffusion through the polymer matrix, so it cannot dissolve into the water in the tube and corrode the metal components of the system. It also bends better, because the shape memory of the PEX is offset by the aluminium.

 

 

Manifolds

Manifolds

We only use top quality brass manifolds – and all of our large bore nickel plated 1 1/4 ” manifolds are sized specifically for each project. Adjustable flow meters are fitted allowing accurate balancing of the individual circuits.

 

 

Applications

When the decision is made to use floor heating, the first consideration should be the floor construction.
Our Floorwarming System can be installed in most types of floor construction.
Pictured below are examples of some of the most commonly used.
There are of course several other methods of installing our systems, so please do not hesitate to contact us if you need assistance or friendly advice.

 

 

Screeded Floor

Screeded Floor

This floor construction consists of 65-70mm screed on extruded polystyrene insulation over base slab on DPM, sand and compacted hardcore.
This type of floor construction gives excellent results with UFH and is more responsive than the slab floor.

Screeded floor systems are commonly used in domestic applications; other buildings that would benefit are schools, hospitals, offices and nursing homes. The response time with this floor structure is more suited to buildings that are permanently occupied and require a day/night set back system.

 

 

Structural Slab Floor

Structural Slab Floor

This floor construction consists of 100 to 125mm concrete incorporating builders mesh (normally A142) with UFH pipes tied to the mesh, over extruded polystyrene insulation, on DPM, sand and compacted hardcore. Insulation is also required around the perimeter of the slab. Due to the large mass of the concrete, this type of floor structure will have a longer initial heat up time but benefits from having more thermal inertia.

Solid slab floors would normally be used in commercial buildings with high floor loads, such as warehouses and garages, but can also be used in domestic situations. The build up of this type of floor provides a large amount of thermal mass; subsequently the floor structure will be slower to respond to different heat requirements. This is not a problem as long as a sensible control system is applied to the project.

Tile Floor Coverings

Tile Floor Coverings

Generally speaking any of the normal accepted floor coverings are suitable for use with underfloor heating, that is carpet and underlay, hardwood, laminates, vinyl and of course tiles.

Tiles
Floor tiles come in many different forms, the common types are ceramic, quarry, stone and marble.
All of these materials are ideal for fitting over floor heating as the resistance to the flow of heat energy is insignificant.

As with all other floor finishes it is important that the floor screed has been properly dried by running the floor heating at a low temperature until all moisture is expelled. Before fixing the tiles the heating should be turned off and left to cool for two days, once the adhesive is set then the floor can be slowly raised up to temperature over a period of days.

Wood Floor Coverings

Wood Floor Coverings

Hardwood Floor Coverings Can be either solid hardwood or engineered boards with hardwood laminate.

Solid Hardwood
Wood is a natural product and will be affected by both heat and humidity. When wood absorbs humidity it will swell, and subsequent drying will cause shrinkage. Timber flooring should be supplied kiln dried to approx 6-9% moisture content, it is advisable to loose lay the timber in the area where it is to be fitted so that it can acclimatise. This will take approx 7 days. Before laying, check the moisture content of the screed with a moisture meter and ensure it is below 4%.
The hardwood floor should be laid with the floor heating on giving a surface temperature of approx 20°C. If the hardwood is being glued down, this should be done on a cool floor and ensure the correct adhesive is used (one suitable for use with underfloor heating) We will always recommend that hardwood is floated over the screed instead of being glued down. This allows the hardwood to expand and contract.
When floating a hardwood floor most manufactures recommend a thin foam layer between the hardwood and screed, this is perfectly acceptable, do not use the thick foam type sheeting which is sometimes supplied. Always refer to the timber floor manufacturers fitting guides and if in doubt contact us.

Engineered Floor Coverings

Engineered Floor Coverings

This type of flooring is made up of layers of plywood or MDF under the hardwood finish. It is a much more thermally stable product and will not react to heat or humidity to the same degree as solid hardwood. Moisture readings and laying procedures are the same as hardwood, but always follow manufacturers recommendations.
After installing a timber floor the underfloor heating can be slowly raised to full operating temperature. Final surface temperature of the timber floor should not exceed 27°C.
Always inform the floor covering supplier that his product is to go over underfloor heating.

Carpet and Underlay

The thermal resistance of carpets and underlay are measured in tog values:
(1 tog= 0.1m²K/W) The higher the tog value, the higher the insulating effect, therefore it is preferable to choose carpet and underlay with low tog values.

Recent research has shown that the open weave of most carpets does not restrict the flow of heat from underfloor heating to any great degree. Underlay and foam backed carpets will restrict the flow of heat. When selecting an underlay or foam backed carpet for use over underfloor heating, the tog value should be ideally less than 1.5 tog.

Check with the carpet supplier regarding suitability for use over underfloor heating. It is worth noting that some carpets alone go to over 2.5 tog. Tog ratings of various underlays range from 0.36 tog to 1.01 tog (generally sponge types). Latex foam, heavy duty sponge can go as high as 2 tog while felt can be as high as 2.5 tog.

Vinyl Floor Coverings

This type of flooring is made up of layers of plywood or MDF under the hardwood finish. It is a much more thermally stable product and will not react to heat or humidity to the same degree as solid hardwood. Moisture readings and laying procedures are the same as hardwood, but always follow manufacturers recommendations.
After installing a timber floor the underfloor heating can be slowly raised to full operating temperature. Final surface temperature of the timber floor should not exceed 27°C.
Always inform the floor covering supplier that his product is to go over underfloor heating.

Always follow manufacturers installation notes. Vinyl sheet will not allow moisture to pass through it, particular care must be taken to ensure that the screed has been properly warmed and dried out prior to laying vinyl. Turn the floor heating off for 2 days prior to sticking the vinyl down, leave off for a further 2 days to allow adhesive to set. The same applies to a tiled floor when using tile adhesive and tile grout. It is recommended that you use specific adhesive products which are suitable for use with underfloor heating. These products will have a higher temperature rating and will be flexible.

A bespoke underfloor heating system

If you are contemplating a quality underfloor heating system for a new build, a conversion or an extension then contact us now. We will design and quote a tailor made system to suit your exact requirements. Once your project is underway, your installer can expect full technical back-up on both mechanical and electrical aspects of the installation.

We can design and supply an underfloor heating system tailored exactly to your needs. Our designers have decades of experience in heating design and utilise specifically designed underfloor heating software to caculate heat losses and supply a full CAD pipe layout. Our design process involves no guesswork therefore we may request a few details and will design a bespoke system.

 



A bespoke underfloor heating system 1

One of our systems laid and ready for floor screed

 

 

A bespoke underfloor heating system 2

 

 

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