With the heating industry coming under increasing pressure to become ever-more environmentally friendly, Specifiers are investigating greener alternatives when it comes to heat emitters. Whilst this is challenging the traditional radiator, it is prompting the fast growing popularity of underfloor heating.

The use of underfloor heating with low temperature heat sources such as heat pumps has a substantial effect on the carbon footprint for all types of developments.

The move towards greener technology is being driven, in part, by best-practice guidelines and legislation such as the Code for Sustainable Homes/BREEAM. It's also being driven by the environmental impact of burning traditional fossil fuels such as oil and gas to heat our homes. The latter driver is forcing the industry to look towards new, less intrusive and genuinely renewable heat sources such as ground and air source heat pumps, combined heat and power generation and even solar power.

Heat pumps, communal and individual systems, CHP and other low energy/low output temperature heat sources are perfect partners for underfloor heating. Polypipe Terrain are well placed to integrate with such systems and can advise on designed UFH requirements.

How Do Radiators Work?

High loss through windows
Stratification leads to higher temperature and thus high heat loss

Piping systems made from polybutylene demonstrate exceptional performance in a variety of demanding long-term applications and have become a vital part of modern energy-efficient and ecologically acceptable building technology resulting in a booming growth rate for the product in recent years.

Size range

12mm OD, 15mm OD, 18mm OD

Strength

The System is suitable for use in working applications up to 12bar / 20deg C (6bar / 90deg C). Pipes are suitable for bending to a radius of 12 x diameter when unsupported or 8 x diameter when supported. Connections and fittings are tested to BS 7291: Class S for thermal cycling test, long term pressure tests, rapid pressure test and pull-out strength.

Thermal

It's co-efficient of thermal expansion by its modulas of elasticity.

Room Temperature Control

Polypipe Terrain underfloor heating systems allow each heated zone to be individually time and temperature controlled via the use of a room thermostat and manifold actuators. As the desired room temperatures are achieved the actuators to those circuits will close. When all of the rooms fed by the manifold are satisfied the master wiring centre with close the motorised zone valve, stop the underfloor heating pump and shut down the boiler.

As all of the individual zones are heated only when they are required, the system ensures maximum comfort levels and operating efficiencies are maintained at all times. The controls are supplied in either 230z or 24v. Tamper Proof controls can also be supplied for public access spaces and classrooms. Controls suitable for BMS intergration are options for commercial applications

Programmable Thermostat Features:

• 7 Day programmer
• Set-Back temperature setting
• Frost protectionprogramme
• Holiday setting programme
• 5 pre-set programmes for easy set up
• Choice of user programme settings
• Retained memory at battery change
• Optional wet room sensor connection

Wet Areas Temperature Control

Where time and temperature control needs to be provided in a bathroom or wet room area our wet room sensor may be used. The unit can be installed inside the wet areas and connected to programmable room thermostat in an adjacent room. The sensor may be wall mounted for ambient air temperature sensing or floor mounted for floor surface temperature control. The unit measure changes to resistance in ohms and therefore no voltage is present.

Manifolds

Manifold systems are common to all installations above 25m2 regardless of the floor type. They are available in sizes of between 2 and 12 ports and a single manifold extension kit is also available. It is important to site the manifold in a position where all rooms can be fed easily and so connection lengths are kept to a minimum. It is typical for all all levels that require underfloor heating to utilise individual manifolds per level.