Ashley Cooper of WMS, explains how heating homes from the ground up delivers affordable warmth for today, tomorrow and the future
Incorporating underfloor heating into a home’s fabric offers many benefits, from ease of installation to thermal comfort and low maintenance for residents.
The future of home heating
The industry is navigating the most significant legislative adjustments the UK housing market has ever seen, and it’s never been more critical for heating systems to work in harmony and maximise efficiency to minimise residents’ energy bills. This is especially important as, despite the energy price cap being lower during the summer period this year (July to September 2024), National Energy Action predicts that 5.6 million UK households will still be in fuel poverty from July 2024. Guaranteeing system efficiency and affordable warmth has never been more important.
The Government expects heat pumps to become the primary heating technology for new homes; however, for these renewable heat sources to work at their most efficient (COP) level, they must run between 35-45°C. Hydronic (water-based) underfloor heating can easily achieve this by design. All relevant suppliers must view the entire new-build heating system design holistically to ensure it delivers its promised efficiency levels.
The underfloor solution
By design, hydronic (water-based) underfloor heating pairs seamlessly into a low-temperature system. It covers a much greater surface area than radiators and is designed to run at 35°C rather than the 70°C required by a standard radiator system.
It’s simple to sequence underfloor heating into the build or remediation process. Depending on preferences, there are options at oversite or weathertight stages, making it the ideal choice for managing programme timings and site logistics. Key factors to consider at the specification stage include the installation sequence, floor build-up, property size, zoning requirements, and the chosen heat source.
Including pipework within the floor screed is the most common method of incorporating hydronic underfloor heating into a new build. Most solid floor builds require an insulated screed to meet building regulations, so this system can easily be accommodated into most floor applications without affecting the overall build-up. The pipework is clipped to the top of the sub-floor insulation layer before the screeding process, and the finished system offers a quick, cost-effective, and flexible form of heating while providing maximum output.
Good quality underfloor heating pipe, made from superior quality, five-layer, sustainable PERT (polyethylene of raised temperature resistance), can be melted down safely and reused, further enhancing the dwelling’s longer-term sustainability credentials.
Building on the benefits
When it comes to affordable warmth, we naturally think of energy savings, but maintaining a heating system is part and parcel of the running costs. Hence, keeping maintenance costs to a minimum is also key. Underfloor heating requires very little maintenance, and some PE-RT pipes can come with a 50 year product warranty, offering landlords and residents peace of mind and affordable warmth long into the future. In fact, if the pipe is not disturbed during its use, it can be expected to outlive the life of the building itself!
When it comes to broader property maintenance, underfloor heating, specifically hydronic (water-based) underfloor heating, is the only solution that can heat all surfaces in the room evenly. This radiant form of heat creates evenly warm spaces, and because warm air holds more moisture than cool air, that room can hold more moisture rather than depositing it as condensation and, subsequently, mould growth.
Safety will be a top priority with any specification choice, especially when young children, elderly or vulnerable occupants need to be considered. Safety comes as standard with underfloor heating as the system offers all the warmth tenants desire without the danger of any hot surfaces. Plus, given that underfloor heating is completely concealed within the floor, the technology is also out of sight and thus eliminates the potential for radiator vandalism. Radiant technology eliminates air movement from the heating system as it heats the fabric of a room and doesn’t use air as a medium to transport heat, further improving indoor air quality.
The ‘hidden’ nature of underfloor heating also benefits all parties from a space-saving and interior layout perspective. As the heat emitters become part of the floor construction, every inch of floor and wall space can be maximised. As such, both landlords and residents alike will benefit from the total floorplan freedom, allowing space for everything from kitchen floor plans and furniture layouts to increasing accessibility within the property.
Now is the time to heat homes from the ground up and specify a solution suitable for almost every type of site and subfloor. This will help households keep their energy bills under control and guarantee affordable warmth.
Ashley Cooper is managing director at WMS