First introduced by the Romans, Underfloor heating (UFH) systems are fast becoming the preferred heating system of choice in new build projects and depending on viability, also in renovation projects. (UFH) systems are used in both domestic and commercial environments.
Due its versatility and compatibility with renewable systems such as Heat pumps and solar systems the future for (UFH) systems is bright.
There are many advantages for installing underfloor heating, over more conventional heating methods like radiators.

• It creates a comfortable floor to walk on especially tiled floors.

• (UFH) is an invisible heat source. No unsightly radiators and pipework taking up precious wall space. It allows complete freedom and space in the interior design of a building. With its low surface tempreture of around 23 degrees (UFH) is a must option in environments exposed to enfants or the elderly and infirm, compared with radiators which have a surface tempreture of 70-80 degrees and square edges to knock against.

• (UFH) is a radiant source of heating a room. Due to the fact that it is heating a large surface area the whole space is heated at an even tempreture starting from floor level it heats the air evenly cooling as it stratifies towards the ceiling. Warming your feet first and cooling towards head height. Unlike radiators which convect the air round a room throwing most heat towards head height and the ceiling creating a sensation of cold feet and a hot head, it also has cold spots round the room as the radiator is positioned in one side of the room.

• Due to the radiant heat distribution of (UFH) air circulation is reduced. This reduces dust circulation which combined with a tile or laminate floor finish provides a more healthy and hygienic environment especially for people with respiratory conditions.

• More economical running costs due to lower heat temperatures. Especially when comparing radiators with (WUFH) systems.

(EUFH) consists of a self adhesive mesh with a heating cable pre attached. Supplied in a roll the mat is applied to the floor cutting the mesh at turning points and covering the whole floor area avoiding areas with permanent fitted furniture like kitchen units and toilets. Easier to install than (WUFH) systems which inevitably involve a large degree of disruption in the digging or lifting of existing floors, extension of heating system pipework etc. (EUFH) systems can be installed fairly easily and at a fraction of the cost compared to (WUFH) the only additional requirement is a source of mains electricity.

(EUFH) is extremely versatile especially if it is only for one area (zone) i.e. bathroom or conservatory. (EUFH) also requires less depth than (WUFH) and can be laid straight on top of existing floors with a little preparation work. This is advantageous in situations where head room is at a premium. (EUFH) will normally raise the floor by no more than one inch including floor covering.

The running cost of (EUFH) is about 30-40 % higher than (WUFH) and if your property already has a wet heating system it makes more sense if possible to use the heating system rather than having two energy sources to heat the building.

(WUFH) systems comprise of a multi layered plastic pipe normally 16mm diameter which are laid in continuous loops to and from the manifold in the floor with no joints. The manifold comprises of a temperature controller, circulating pump and actuators for closing off zones as they reach temperature set by room thermostats. The manifold needs to be located above floor level in an accessible location.

(WUFH) works by the manifold receiving heated water via a boiler, heat pump etc. The pump on the manifold then in turn circulates the heated water, which is blended to the correct temperature by blending valve on manifold, round the pipe loops in floor which in turn transfers the heat to floor construction and floor covering and heats up room.
The water temperature required to heat (WUFH) is normally about 45-50 degrees. In highly insulated new build properties this could be reduced to 25 degrees depending on floor coverings. (WUFH) is more energy efficient to run compared to conventional radiators which require 70-80 degrees. (WUFH) systems will also utilise the full potential of a condensing boiler as they condense better with return temperatures below 57 degrees or less. (WUFH) is also the perfect heat source choice when coupled with heat pumps which generally generate flow temperatures of 55 degrees.

(WUFH) is most suitable to new build projects, due to being able to incorporate the installation within the building process and the high insulation properties of new build projects. Renovation projects will require a lot more preparation works. Due to installation floor depths of 125-150mm insulation and screed installation. It is very unlikely that a (WUFH) could be laid on top of an existing floor unless it was already insulated underneath, in which case floor depths can be considerably reduced and installation costs due to not having to dig up existing floors.

         (WUFH) can be used to heat a whole house or just one area with many installation options available. As well as providing an economical method of heating, (WUFH) systems can be used to cool rooms during hot weather in a much more energy efficient way than traditional air conditioning systems.

There are many different floor construction applications to suit all projects and floor types.

The different floor constructions are as follows.

Solid Floor
Floating Floor
Suspended floor - Heat Emission Plate
Suspended Floor - Unifoil

FLOOR FINISHES

Stone and Ceramic floor tiles
Natural or reconstituted stone, marble flooring, slate, terrazzo and ceramic tile are excellent conductors of heat especially when laid on screed floors, as screed and tiles have similar conductivities. Tile floors inherently are very cold to walk on, so underfloor heating (UFH) is well partnered with tiled floors, to create a welcoming sensation of a heated floor under foot.
Due largely to its thermal resistance and higher output compared to other flooring materials, tiled floors are a must in highly glazed areas for example conservatories. Tiled floors have a typical resistance of 0.020 kW/m2 which gives about 141 watts per square metre.

Timber floors
Natural timbers, laminate, engineering board and sheet materials are a popular floor finish.
Timber is a natural product and in its raw state will have a high moisture content, if this were laid onto (UFH) the timber would shrink when heated causing excessive gaps between planks as well as warping. To avoid these problems the timber product moisture content must be no greater than 10% with kiln dried timber being most widely used.
Engineering board, which have a solid wood veneer of around 4mm thick attached to a ply plank will offer the same look as a real wood floor but will have less problems with moisture and shrinkage due to the fact that the board is predominately made from ply which is a very robust man made timber.
Laminate flooring is a laminate veneer attached to an MDF board. These will have no problems with (UFH) as all elements are man made, But still check with the manufacturer to make sure.
Timber floors being a low conductor of heat due to its insulating properties have a typical resistance of 0.15 kW/m2 which gives about 79 watts per square metre.

Vinyl floors
In general vinyl floor finishes have a low thermal resistance of 0.075 kw/m2 which gives about 106 watts per square metre. Vinyl floor coverings are flexible by nature and therefore differential expansion will not cause a problem. How ever consideration must be given to the type of adhesive used as these could be subjected to temperatures in excess of 35 degrees.

Carpets
Care in the selection of carpets and there associated underlay must be taken to avoid excessive thermal resistance. Carpets are one of the most insulating floor coverings to choose from. The thermal resistance of carpet and underlay should not exceed 1.5 tog which would give 79 watts per square metre. Carpet is also flexible and therefore does not present any differential expansion problems. Also if rugs are used to cover large areas of the other floor coverings then these too must not exceed 1.5 tog rating.

There are two main types of controls for under floor heating these are:

Programmable room thermostats.
Which is a sensor that monitors room temperature. These are positioned in all zones to open and close (UFH) loops as rooms cool and warm up. They offer the end user control of different temperatures in different zones. They also have a programmer function which allows the user to vary zone temperatures through out the day to suit living patterns when house is occupied and not occupied. These controls also improve system efficiency by preventing excessive heating of property and responding to other heat sources such as solar gains or electrical equipment.

Weather compensation consists of a small sensor fitted on an external north facing wall. When the temperature changes outside the (UFH) responds and starts to increase or decrease the primary water temperature to the loops by a motorised blending valve on manifold to compensate. This pro-active mechanism means that people inside the building wont even notice that the temperature outside has changed. These constant small changes also mean that the (UFH) is able to operate at the minimum temperature required to keep the rooms warm. Weather compensation is the most efficient way of controlling underfloor heating and will offer significant efficiency savings by reducing the load required by the heat source like condensing boiler or heat pump.

Services Biggs Heat Technologies offer:-

HEATING SYSTEMS
Heating systems installed & maintained
Boiler replacements
Radiators
Boiler servicing and repairs
Combination boilers boiler descaling
Heating system power flushing
Heating system controls
Under floor heating

PLUMBING
Hot and cold water services
Conventional hot water cylinders
Unvented hot water cylinders
Bathrooms installations, design and project managing
Immersion heaters
Taps repaired and replaced
Drains
Water softners

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GAS WORKS
Landlords gas safety checks
Gas fires
Gas Cookers

RENEWABLES
Solar hot water systems
Ground source heat pumps
Air source heat pumps