How underfloor heating works

Below demonstrates how our system works.

A radiator system transfers energy into a room or space largely by convection. This convection results in the floor being the coolest part of the room leaving a mass of warm air at ceiling level. It also picks up fine dust particles from the floor and distributes it into the air and over furnishings.

Whereas an underfloor system heats almost entirely by radiation. This is the most natural and comfortable form of heating, like the sun. Radiant energy is emitted by the floor, partly reflected by each surface and partly absorbed. Where it is absorbed, that surface becomes a secondary heat emitter. After a while all faces and furnishings themselves radiate energy and the room becomes evenly and uniformly warmed.

The energy reaches into every corner of the room or space which means--no cold spots, no warm ceilings and no cold feet. In buildings with high ceilings the temperature actually reduces as the height increases, whilst with other systems the convection effect increases the temperature at high level giving a high heat loss through the roof. In addition to this, with underfloor heating the comfort level is achieved with an air temperature which is 2°c lower than convection heating systems. These factors mean that when designing an underfloor heating system, little allowance is required for building height, this results in lower energy requirements for buildings with high ceilings such as churches, barns and sports halls.

Benefits Of Underfloor Heating

* Reduces running costs by 20% plus
* It is the most comfortable form of heating .
* It is safe, unobtrusive, freeing wall space and quiet in operation
* It is virtually maintenance free
*And it's healthier, underfloor heating reduces humidity within floor coverings preventing dust mites from surviving or ensuring that they rise to the surface of the covering where regular cleaning removes them. The reduction in air movement with underfloor heating also reduces the ingress of airborne and carpet or floor covering fungi spores leading to an allergy free Environment.

Warmafloor Underfloor Heating

Warmafloor underfloor heating is provided by the Warmafloor system installed within the buildings floor construction. The system comprises of Warmafloor hi-tech polybutylene (PB) oxygen barrier flexible pipe, specifically manufactured for underfloor heating, installed within the floor in specific design configuration with Warmafloor system components to suit the type of floor.

Warm water at temperatures of 40-65° c is circulated through the underfloor pipework warming the floor to a temperature of 23-32° c and turning the floor into a low temperature heat emitter.

It can be installed in any type of floor construction, screeded concrete, structural concrete, timber joisted, timber floating, with most floor coverings.

Control of the system can be provided in a number of ways to give room, zone and complete building control thus giving a system that will provide the right amount of heat in the right place.

Suitable For All Types Of Buildings

The Warmafloor system is suitable for virtually any type of building including:

  • Swimming Pools
  • Changing Rooms
  • Churches
  • Car Showrooms
  • Offices
  • Museums
  • Schools
  • Conservatories
  • Private Houses
  • Sports Halls
  • Hospitals
  • Holiday Villages
  • Garden Centres
  • Fire/Police Stations
  • Factories
  • Doctors Surgeries
  • Day Care Centres
  • Club Houses
  • Restaurants
  • Warehouses
  • Prisons
  • Public Houses
  • Nurseries
  • Libraries
  • Leisure Centres
  • Hotels
  • Playgroups

Underfloor Heating Response Times

It is essential that a good layer of insulation is placed immediately below the underfloor heating system to minimise downward heat loss and a edge insulation is placed to prevent losses through exterior walls.

Warmafloor designed systems allow for insulation beneath the system in both concrete and wooden floors, which should be to current building regulations.

These are suggested materials and thickness, which can be varied to suit the client's requirements. The better the u value of the building, the greater degree of insulation below the system-the faster the response time.

Concrete Floors

With Warmafloor systems installed in concrete floors, operating on a daily basis, the response time is quite fast as the temperature drop during 'OFF' period of up to 8 hours is unlikely to exceed 3-4°c. This is due to the thermal lag with Warmafloor heating in

concrete floors, created by the energy stored in the screed. The correct setting of the system time controls or BMS system will maximise comfort and economy.

In buildings such as schools were the system may be off over a weekend the controls should be set so that the heating 'on' time is earlier on the Monday to allow for the thermal lag effect. Timber Floors with timber, floating or suspended floors of timber construction the response time is much faster and more similar to a radiator system.

Good insulation is essential which must be fitted as close to the underside of the system as possible. Where it is necessary to have an air gap between the system and insulation there should be no air movement.

Suspended Ground Floors

With wooden suspended ground floors, which have a void below, the design should be such to prohibit any air movement between the insulation and the underfloor system. The systems efficiency will be greatly reduced by any air currents no matter how small, which reduces system efficiency. Design advice should always be sought.

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Tel: 01489 581787
Fax: 01489 576444

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