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The Importance of Underfloor Heating Depth When Installing UFH Systems

Underfloor heating depth is becoming increasingly popular as a comfortable, efficient and space saving alternative to traditional wall and floor heating. It is important to consider the underfloor heating depth when installing an UFH system as it will impact both the efficiency and speed at which heat can be transmitted into a room and the overall installation costs.

Traditionally, a concrete slab or beam and block structure is laid over which a damp proof membrane is placed. The floor insulation (typically polyurethane Xtratherm, Recticel or Kingspan) is then laid. The UFH pipework is then installed on top of this and any vapour barrier when necessary.

Exploring Underfloor Heating Depth: Impact on Efficiency and Comfor

The UFH pipes must then be covered by the screed to prevent heat from escaping downwards through the floor. This can be done using a standard sand and cement mix, or a liquid screed such as Cemfloor, which is specially designed to be applied in thin sections of 50mm or less. A high-quality liquid screed like this will act as a heat store and allow the heating to be evenly distributed across the floor.

An alternative to this is a pre-formed underfloor heating system such as Grant UK’s Uflex MINI which uses insulated panels with routed channels for the 1.2cm pipe to sit in, resulting in a finished floor height of only 15mm. These can be supplied with the pipe already routed out – making it a quicker and easier system to install.