One of the passive heating systems In a building they are underfloor heating. It should be noted that there are mainly two types of underfloor heating generation: water or electricity.
water systems They are the most efficient, since aerothermal or biomass hot water generation yields have a higher conversion efficiency from electrical KW to thermal KW.
However, in small bathrooms or rooms, where the surfaces to be heated are small, greater immediacy is required, or there is a low cost for an installation for underfloor heating, the use of electrical systems may be a good option.
It is important control the consumption of electric radiant systems or design them with a supply system using photovoltaic energy.
Next, Sebastián Fernández Cano, Industrial Engineer and Technical Director aBIMa Engineering, will explain the types of flooring and how to carry out its installation. If you are interested in this topic, we recommend the Master in BIM and Efficient Energy Management that will enable you to be able to do it.
Types of electric underfloor heating
Selection of electric underfloor heating It will depend on the material used in the flooring., since the grips and integration for its execution will have a series of elements that help in its placement.
- Underfloor heating for ceramic floors (mesh)
Radiant systems for ceramic floors have a self-fastening fiberglass mesh, where the electrical wire is integrated into the mesh with self-adhesive tapes. The equidistances of the radiant heating cable, suitable to provide a power of around 150W/m2, are already predefined and adjusted to the mesh.
- Underfloor heating for ceramic floors (radiant wires)
On certain occasions, it may be the case that with the mesh we want a higher or lower power than 150W/m2, modifying the pitch between the conductive wires, or, we have a complex geometry, specific floor materials, so it may be ideal for the radiant wire itself to be installed directly, thus it is possible to freely design your installation, being able to make the most appropriate drawing according to your required criteria.
- Underfloor heating for laminate, carpet or vinyl floors (mesh)
Underfloor heating for laminate floors has a different conductive thread and mesh to the ceramic type, also to adapt to the inertial underfloor heating system. It consists of a special sheet that is installed directly under the final floor without requiring a regularization screed.
- Radiant foil for laminate floors (mesh)
In previous radiant systems, the heat propagation system is carried out using a radiant wire.
In radiant sheets, the heating element It is composed of graphite bars with neutral bands to provide security to the circuit.
The radiant sheets are formed by a system of independent sheets arranged by parallel conductors from which the electricity is fed.
Installation of electric underfloor heating
Laying electric underfloor heating It will depend on the manufacturer and the type of system selected. In general, the important aspects and elements for its installation are the following:
Soil preparation and insulating placement.
After cleaning the floor, avoiding any irregularity that affects the thickness of the underfloor heating and flooring, generally an insulating mesh must be extended, which prevents heat from being transmitted bidirectionally, that is, the insulating element will allow the heat to go in the direction of the room to be heated.
Mesh placement
Laid out the ground the mesh will extend leaving the appropriate distances to the perimeters of the partitions, about 50 mm, or between other radiating meshes, 20 mm.
The rolls on which the radiant mesh systems come from the factory allow turns or adaptability to different spaces, so certain cuts to the meshes are allowed, but the continuity of the radiating wire should never be cut or spliced.
If we are with systems of ceramic flooring, aa layer of special cement with properties for heat transmission by underfloor heating.
Thermostat installation and electrical connection
After placing the meshes, we will proceed to perform resistance measurements of the radiant system, without deviations from the manufacturer's data, if everything is in accordance, the electrical connection and wiring of the thermostat will proceed.
The thermostat is a central element of the electric underfloor heating connection. It will be installed following these steps:
- The beginning of the conductive radiant wire of the mesh will be connected, which will supply electrical energy to the circuit.
- From the thermostat to the mesh a temperature sensor will be connected that allows us to regulate soil temperatures.
- The thermostat receives electrical power directly from the electrical panel that manages the on and off control of the system.
radiant systems They must be independent in an electrical circuit protected by a differential with a sensitivity of 30mA.
