Meeting the new efficiency standards with ease

Efficiency tests carried out on modern UFH systems have shown significant improvements in floor heat response times compared with current SAP assumptions, and Continal’s Chris Ingram says the case for specifying this efficient heat emitter has never been stronger.

Recent tests carried out by BEAMA’s Underfloor Heating (UFH) Group – the UK’s national trade association for UFH – have provided further evidence that lower-flow temperatures, like the ones created by UFH systems, can support heat sources to operate more efficiently than traditional systems.

The tests were carried out in collaboration with the BEIS Demonstration of Energy Efficiency Potential (DEEP) project at Salford University’s Energy House, which aims to demonstrate the energy saving potential of taking a whole-house approach to retrofit.

The BEAMA tests were conducted to assess the response times of various UFH systems, so that BRE and SAP could be provided with accurate figures that reflect current UFH installation practices in the UK.

The test site in Salford University allows for laboratorylevel monitoring of the system and room temperatures over current SAP standard time profiles, with three typical underfloor heating construction types being tested, in line with BS EN 1264.

According to BEAMA, the response times of all floor constructions significantly improved on the current SAP assumptions for underfloor heating systems, with figures also proving that lower flow temperatures result in the heat source operating more efficiently than it would with higher flow temperatures.

As a former Chair of BEAMA Underfloor for nine consecutive years, I welcome these test results and BEAMA’s continued work to establish the true

Cut To The Chase

 Recent tests demonstrate that UFH is more efficient than traditional systems and can deliver quick response times

 Lower flow emitters like UFH result in better efficiency for the heat source

 Recent changes to Part L of the Building Regulations specify a maximum flow of just 55°C

 UFH turns the entire floor into one giant heat emitter, which works well with low temperature systems

 Boilers, heat pumps and solar are all suitable for pairing with underfloor heating efficiency levels and advantages that can be gained by using UFH as a heat emitter in UK homes. At Continal we have long been extolling the benefits UFH can provide in terms of comfort and warmth, and we have been providing highly efficient systems to customers throughout the UK for many, many years.

Number one

Quite simply, UFH is now the most efficient way to heat a property, especially given the recent Part L Building Regulation changes that were introduced last year, as well as those we expect will be implemented over the coming years through the 2025 Future Homes Standard, for example.

Part L has now specified maximum heating system flow temperatures of 55°C whenever a new heating system is installed, or when older systems are replaced in their entirety. These lower flow temperature systems need larger heat emitters with a much greater surface area to provide the same heat outputs that people are used to receiving from high temperature systems.

Unlike radiator systems, UFH turns the entire floor of a property into a giant heat emitter, immediately creating a more efficient system and, as an added bonus for homeowners, maximising the living space available inside the home.

These Building Regulations may have only recently changed, but efficient UFH technology is already well established, and these latest test results from BEAMA and Salford University will further enhance the reputation of UFH as the most efficient heat emitter for UK homes.

UFH suits all types of heat generation, so whichever fuels are chosen to replace natural gas in the coming decades, the UFH systems being fitted now will be ready and able to work with them.

Fail-proof

At Continal we’re used to designing low-flow temperature systems that work with a wide range of fuel sources including gas boilers, heat pumps and solar panels – and we’ve never had a system failure. That means installers who will need to change the way they work to comply with these new regulations can trust that UFH is simple to work with, reliable and straightforward to fit.

p The OneBoard structural system can be laid directly on joists t At only 15mm, UltraSlim-15 is Continal’s lowest profile system

Learning the ropes

Installers who may be unfamiliar with UFH must now take the time to learn about the different system types available, the benefits of low temperature systems, and how to choose the most suitable system for any property. UFH systems exist to work with every type of building, floor construction and covering, and you can even combine different UFH solutions into a single system in the same property to get the very best efficiencies.

For example, you could use a traditional screed system on the ground floor, then switch to a low-profile system such as our UltraSlim-15 to minimise build-up heights on the first floor. In properties where new structural floors need to be laid, our OneBoard panels are themselves structural, and so can be laid to form the floor itself, saving the installer time and effort on site.

For installers interested in learning more about using UFH to comply with these new Building Regulations, Continal offers training and support through our free technical webinars, and our dedicated team of Technical Experts are always at the end of a phone to help answer any questions you may have. As a supplier who offers every different type of UFH solution on the market, we will always be able to offer the best and most unbiased advice.

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