Produced in Association with SERIES 23 / Module 10 Underfloor Heating Underfloor heating in 2026:


By Paul Bennett, director, BSSEC Market update, design considerations and application in


low-temperature heating systems.


This month’s CPD Module is sponsored by


I


For details on how to obtain your Energy Institute CPD Certificate, see ENTRY FORM and details on page 22


n 2021, I authored the EiBi CPD article ‘Heating under your feet’, where underfloor heating (UFH) was discussed as an established space


heating technology, highlighting its comfort benefits and its suitability for use with low temperature heat sources such as heat pumps. Since then, the context in which


UFH is specified has further matured. The past five years have seen notable developments in energy policy, building regulations, heat pump adoption and market expectations. This 2026 updated article revisits


underfloor heating with a focus on what has changed since 2021. It considers market developments, regulatory drivers, system types, design considerations, controls, retrofit applications and emerging trends. The intention is to provide a practical and current overview for designers, installers and specifiers working within a rapidly evolving heating landscape.


Market developments The UK underfloor heating market has


continued to grow steadily since 2021 and is now estimated to exceed £200 million annually, with typical growth rates in the region of 5–7% per year. More significant than the growth


itself is the change in why UFH is being specified. In 2021, UFH was often selected for comfort and aesthetics. In 2026, it is increasingly selected because it enables efficient low-temperature heating system design which works extremely well with air source heat pumps. UFH is now widely adopted across


volume housebuilding and is no longer limited to high-end residential applications. The growth of heat pumps has directly increased demand for low- temperature emitters, with UFH often forming the preferred solution. At the same time, retrofit uptake is increasing, supported by low-profile and overlay systems. The market in 2026 remains


fragmented, with no single dominant manufacturer. This reinforces an important point: UFH performance is driven more by system design,


LOW CARBON HEATING SOLUTIONS.


EIBI | MAY 2026 EIBI | OCTOBER 2022 19


integration and commissioning than by product selection alone. In practice, systems that are poorly designed or incorrectly controlled can underperform regardless of the components selected. The key takeaway is that UFH is


no longer a discretionary upgrade. It is increasingly specified as part of a system approach to achieving efficient, low-temperature heating aligned with regulatory requirements.


Regulatory context Since 2021, UK building energy policy has advanced significantly. ‘The Future Homes and Buildings Standard’, published in 2026, sets out a clear direction toward low-carbon heating and improved energy performance. The key principles underpinning this


shift are: ● Improved building fabric to reduce heat demand. ● Electrification of heat, with heat pumps as the primary technology in new homes. ● Operation of heating systems at lower flow temperatures.


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