UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEMS
We specialise in designing two different underfloor heating systems: storage and direct acting. If you are unsure which is the most suitable for your requirements, please get in touch and we will be happy to offer advice.
Alternatively, your can find more details below.
Storage Underfloor Heating
Storage underfloor heating makes use of the cheap rate electricity available to everyone on the Economy 7, or other time of day tariffs, to provide a comfortable background temperature at all times. In the winter periods it is possible to use the cheap rate electricity to provide a large percentage of the heat required. Storage underfloor heating normally uses a higher wattage cable in a 60-80mm screed, laid directly on to a concrete slab to give the maximum thermal mass around the cable, allowing as much heat to be stored in the slab as possible.
We usually combine storage floor heating with ceiling heating which provides a quick reaction enabling effective heating during cold spells in the warmer months when the floor heating may not be on.
Direct Acting Underfloor Heating
Direct acting underfloor heating is well suited to modern low energy dwellings, particularly apartments. This type of heating is efficient, space saving and controllable. It normally involves the use of lower wattage cables in a thinner screed with insulation in close proximity to the underside of the cable, ensuring a smaller thermal mass around the cables, which provides a quicker reaction time and enables it to be used as the sole means of heating.
Direct acting underfloor heating is best controlled by our range of electronic thermostats, enabling easy and efficient use of the heating by responding quickly to the ever changing thermal environment in the room. These can be either individually timed units or simpler dial units with a central programmer. Full technical specifications for our controls can be downloaded here.
Undertile Comfort Heating – ESWA Millimat
Tiled floors are a natural choice for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways – just about any room in the house. They look good, are hard wearing and are easy to keep clean BUT are cold underfoot, Eswa Millimat is the solution. It is easy to install, maintenance free, quick and easy to control. It is an ideal solution for new build or renovation projects, or anywhere a warm floor is required. Because the heating mat is located near the top of the floor construction there is less thermal lag, resulting in lower energy consumption.
The heating mat consists of a thin twin conductor heating cable unit attached to an adhesive flexible glass fibre mesh, providing even heat distribution. It is safe, space saving and above all warm. The average thickness of each mat is approximately 4mm; the heating cable has PTFE insulation and an earth sheath/screen. It comes complete with a 2.5m cold tail.
Fitting the Eswa Millimat
With the Eswa Millimat, installation is easy. The 100 W/m² mat is recommended for living rooms, hallways, kitchens and similar rooms. The 150 W/m² mat is recommended for bathrooms, toilets, utility rooms and other areas requiring higher outputs. The mat must be installed on a solid, level, and stable subfloor. The mat is adjusted to the room shape by cutting the mesh and rotating it to fit the space available. It can be laid on concrete or wooden floors however if the mat is to be fitted on a combustible (timber) floor an incombustible layer should be installed first to comply with the Wiring Regulations.
Most commonly the Millimat is covered by ceramic tiles. A hot melt glue gun can be used to give extra adhesion should it be required, and to secure the cold tail into position. After fixing the Millimat and the thermostat sensor to the sub-floor a tile adhesive, recommended for warm floors, is applied by using a tooth shaped applicator ensuring that the adhesive is properly distributed through the Millimat grid. The tiles should be fixed in accordance with the Manufacturer’s instructions.
Other types of flooring materials can also be used but, in such cases the Millimat should be covered by a 10mm layer of suitable self-levelling compound.
Care must be taken when cutting or adjusting the mat to fit the floor area so that the heating cable is not damaged in any way. The mat must not be bent in such a way that the heating cable is twisted or overlapped. Do not install the mat in areas where the floor will be permanently covered by fixed furniture, i.e. kitchen cupboards, baths, shower trays, etc. Remove sharp edges or objects from the floor surface before installing and be careful when walking on the mat during the installation and the covering operation.
Thermostatic control:
In all areas a thermostat with a floor sensor is the minimum recommendation. For optimum control we recommend the use of a remote electronic thermostat and sensor. The sensor should be positioned between the Millimat element cable runs and connected to a wall mounted thermostat which senses the air temperature as well as the floor, thermostats with built in programmers are also available.
Electrical connections:
The cold leads from the Eswa Millimat are to be connected to 230V through the thermostat. The electrical connections should be carried out by a qualified electrician and comply with current Wiring Regulations, especially with regard to bathrooms where the earthed sheath is required to be connected to the equipotential bonding.
Further underfloor heating solutions
In buildings where there is no concrete slab it is still possible to enjoy the benefits of an underfloor heating system by using ESWA floor heating foils. These are manufactured from the same materials as the ESWA Ceiling Heating elements, but at different wattages and sizes. They are normally laid on glass fibre insulation between the joists (at 600mm or 400mm centres) with an air gap between the elements and the underside of the wooden floor above. It is a very efficient system as there is very little thermal mass to heat up, giving quick reaction times and better control.
Whatever your requirements, ERHS is certain to stock the ideal underfloor heating systems solution to meet them. Contact us for further details.
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