Low carbon heating systems are beginning to replace traditional gas boilers and installers need to be prepared to handle a range of queries from customers looking to underfloor heating (UFH) to make their home more sustainable. Richard Bateman, Product Marketing Manager Plumbing and Heating at RWC, discusses why installers and specifiers need to understand the UFH systems on the market and how to choose the right one for each project.

As energy prices rocket and low carbon heating systems begin to replace traditional gas boilers, more and more people are exploring the option of having underfloor heating (UFH) installed in their homes.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the world. Huge cuts in greenhouse emissions are required by 2030, with net emissions globally by 2050. Our homes and other buildings will need to operate at ‘net zero’ carbon capacity.

The UK is already moving towards reduced carbon emissions through a number of initiatives, one of which being the banning of gas boilers in new build homes from 2025.

In the pipeline to replace gas boilers are low carbon heat pumps – such as ground source and air source heat pumps - powered by renewable energies and electricity, which will lead to changes to how we heat our homes. UFH is the most viable heating option when gas boilers are phased out. The system only needs to run between 35-40 degrees Celsius in order to heat most rooms, making it perfectly compatible with ground source and air source heat pumps.

The growing interest in UFH presents a major opportunity for installers and specifiers as the market is expected to grow significantly as the shift towards eco-friendly heating gathers pace.

Selling the benefits

For the consumer, UFH offers some clear benefits. For example, it can heat a larger area at a lower temperature than a radiator, as well as being able to heat individual zones only for the spaces that are occupied, offering energy efficiencies and reducing heating bills.

Additionally, most UFH systems can be paired with smart thermostats, giving users more control over their heating, and with guarantees from manufacturers like RWC’s 50-year guarantee on JG Underfloor pipework, UFH is ideal for those looking for high-quality heating alternatives.

And a further benefit of making a home more sustainable with solutions like UFH is the aesthetics. With no need for radiators taking up wall space, UFH also offers more flexibility with interior design when it comes to room layout. This makes it ideal for both open-plan areas as well as compact living where space is at a premium.

Planning your project

To some installers, fitting UFH may seem like a daunting task, and you can come unstuck if you are not fully prepared. If incorrectly installed or there’s a leak found after the flooring has been laid this can be a very costly and time-consuming job to rectify.

The first step of any UFH installation is to thoroughly plan the project, to understand the floor construction and the space you are working with, to make sure the job runs smoothly.

For example, in new build projects homes are likely to have a solid concrete floor, followed by insulation, which the UFH pipework will be fixed to before being screeded over. Finally, the floor finish goes on top of the screed.

Crucially, installers and specifiers must remember that the insulation depth should be as required by design or building regulations.

You will also need to understand the space you are working with, which will determine the pattern in which you lay the pipework, whether it’s serpentine or counterflow. Serpentine is especially good for irregular shaped rooms, such as kitchens with an island or rooms with a bay window. Counterflow works well with square rooms.

Planning how the pipework is laid out should be done during the design stage. CAD drawings can be provided as long as the necessary level of floor layout detail is provided. Pipework needs to be fully measured so that enough materials are ordered. Flow rates need to be calculated to ensure there is sufficient water going through the pipes to heat the room effectively.

Many large UFH brands including JG Underfloor have support teams in place who can help with the planning and reduce the risks. Installers and specifiers can share project details with our technical team to receive free CAD drawings and tailored advice specific to the heat source, floor type and covering they are working with.

Ideal floor finish

UFH can be used with a variety of floor finishes, from carpet to vinyl and laminate, through to the most ideal finish – ceramic tiles which, with a low tog value of around 0.1, allow for a more efficient heat transfer.

But be careful. Ceramic tiles can also be prone to cracking if the UFH is incorrectly installed, or if certain conditions are not met during fitting, screeding, pressure testing and commissioning.

JG Underfloor’s new JG LowFit system is designed to keep the overall floor height to an absolute minimum without compromising heat output, which means it works on both new build and retrofit projects. It keeps the overall floor level to a minimum through low-profile panelling options, ranging from 16mm-20mm in thickness.

The introduction of JG LowFit is a perfect example of how we are innovating to ensure we are meeting the needs of heating and plumbing installers, from product design though to installation. It is ideal for retrofit projects where we envisage it will be more widely used than on new builds, where our existing systems fit the bill perfectly.

To further promote the use of UFH in a range of projects, we’re working on educating installers. Many are learning that it’s a surprisingly easy system to fit and they can lay all the pipework in an average size house in just a day.

It seems clear that in the coming years the sector is going to see huge growth. The use of UFH has been building up over the last 10 years and it is now gathering further momentum alongside the increasing adoption of renewable energy as householders look for ways to make their homes more sustainable and cheaper to heat.

We are confident the market is going to keep building and building and, in the next decade, we confidently expect it to take over from radiators as the most common way of heating homes.

For more information on RWC’s new JG LowFit range, please visit: https://www.johnguest.com/gb/en/lowfit.