Heating, Ventilation & Services Affordable warmth
Ashley Cooper of WMS, explains how heating homes from the ground up delivers affordable warmth for today, tomorrow and the future
Affordable Warmth Feature
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ncorporating 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 Te 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. Tis 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. Te 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. Te 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
42 | HMMAugust/September 2024 |
www.housingmmonline.co.uk
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