HEATING, VENTILATION & SERVICES


Boosting thermal comfort & wellbeing


hris Stammers of AA’s nderfloor eating roup eplains how hydronic underfloor heating creates thermal comfort through even heat distribution and efficient heat transfer.


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reating a sense of thermal comfort in a building is essential for the wellbeing of occupants. However, to achieve optimal comfort, it’s key to maintain indoor environments that minimise the body’s need to regulate its temperature actively, thereby ensuring people occupying the space feel neither too hot nor too cold. Many factors influence whether someone eperiences thermal comfort. While it’s highly subjective and varies from person to person based on several factors, creating a comfortably warm indoor environment is universally beneficial.


EVEN HEAT DISTRIBUTION


Ensuring an even distribution of heat throughout a space is imperative. The only heating system which can heat all surfaces in the room evenly is radiant heating specifically hydronic water based underfloor heating. he series of continuous loops fitted under the floor  either within the screed or within specialist panels  creates a large radiant surface that heats a room from the floor upwards. The radiant heat travels upward from the floor to warm the obects and people in the room to create an immediate feeling of comfort rather than only heating the surrounding air. When there are parts of a room which are much cooler than others, condensation may gather when the warm, moist air comes into contact with cooler surfaces, such as walls or windows. This moisture then provides an ideal environment for mould growth and, therefore, poor air quality due to the mould spores. Pollutants such as dust and allergens can also get ‘trapped’ in poorly heated areas of a property. While ventilation plays an essential part in good indoor air quality, from energy conservation and security aspects, having windows open during the cooler months


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comfortable ambient temperature throughout the space, and eliminates hot and cold spots in a room. The nature of underfloor heating also means the heat felt by the occupants is gentle and comfortable rather than overwhelming. In addition, thanks to the stable and consistent temperatures created by underfloor heating it maintains and balances humidity levels, further improving indoor air quality and delivering comfortable living environments.


isn’t always an option. As the floor becomes a large heat emitter, it’s evenly distributed across the surface, which helps maintain a


REDUCED AIR MOVEMENT Radiant heat delivered by underfloor systems directly heats objects and surfaces rather than the air, so it doesn’t create convection currents to create thermal comfort. Instead, radiant heat warms the very fabric of a room. Minimising air movement is important to support a sense of wellbeing within the indoor environment, particularly for those who suffer from respiratory problems. Many aspects of a property and individual rooms can improve or deteriorate indoor air quality. One main culprit is the movement of problematic particles, such as dust and allergens. These particles can’t be avoided easily, but when they become airborne, they cause more issues, especially for those with respiratory problems. nderfloor heating prevents these particles from circulating, thus improving indoor air quality.


lus because underfloor systems are


entirely hidden within the floor there aren’t any hardtoreach components such as coils or panels, where particles can gather and be dispensed into the space when the system is active. Regarding aesthetics, they are completely hidden within the floor allowing for complete interior layout freedom while seamlessly integrating


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