Hydronic Timber is suitable for large areas (60m²+), and timber and floating floors generally use heat spreader plates to transfer the heat from the hydronic pipes.
The hydronic pipe is installed into grooved aluminum plates which are first fixed from above in the case of traditional joists or battens.
Insulation is installed below the plates and it is important that the floor decking is in contact with the plate to maximise heat output.
Precise temperature control is achieved through a balanced water temperature flow through the hydronic heating pipes, and an upper temperature limit control using an Amuheat thermostat.
In most installations, Hydronic Timber underfloor heating may only warm the floor due to the temperature limitations with heating timber floors.
| Application | Hydronic Slab underfloor heating is suitable for large areas (60 m² +) for heating timber floors |
| Heat Output | From 60W/m² |
| Installation | Hydronic pipes are installed between joists and battens at 200mm centres using grooved aluminum heat speader plate installed above and across the timber joists and battens. Where timber flooring is installed above a slab, the hydronic pipes can be embedded in a 50mm sand cement screed (or if installed between battens, embedded in a 50mm sand cement levelled to the top of the battens) |
| Heat Spreader Plates | 1000mm (L) x 390mm (W) |
| Piping | Pipe options with oxygen barrier for underfloor heating applications include 16-20mm PE-RT/Al/PE-RT, PE-RT and PEX |
| Manifold | Stainless steel manifolds complete with flow meters and auto air bleed valves |
| Control | Programmable room or floor sensing (or a combination of both) control. On/off connection and control is also available through most home automation systems |
| Heat Source | Electric heat pumps, H2 ready gas boilers or hydrid solar pre-heat |
Heat Spreader Plates
Amuheat’s Heat Spreader plate system is designed for use in timber battened floors. The aluminium spreader plates help to transmit the heat evenly across the finished floor surface.
- Plates need to be supported so that they sit level and make a good contact with the floor placed on them from above. Maintaining this contact is essential in producing good heat transfer.
- Insulation below the plate is required to minimise heat losses downward
- Fix the plates to the top of the joists or battens ensuring the fixing will not protrude and prevent the floor from having a good contact with the floor. 18mm staples fixed using an air stapler is the preferred method. Allow 300mm for pipe end returns and a 15mm gap between plates. Use a short length of pipe pressed into the grooves to line up the plates before fixing.
- Run the pipework to the designed or desired pattern being careful to ensure the plates remain flush with the top of the joists or battens. The pipework can enter the plate system at either end or in the centre, pipework can be cabled through joists or via grooves at the top of the joists.
- Before fixing the floor to the battens it is recommended that a thin sheet of plastic is placed over the plates. This will act as a slip membrane to cut down expansion noises as the plates heat up and rub against the bottom of the finished floor.
In Screed Between Battens
- The hydronic pipe is installed at 200mm centres above insulation fitted in between the battens.
- A sand cement screed to a depth of 50mm should be laid across the floor, level to the top of the battens. The sand cement screed offers the best heating results due to the thermal mass.
- Before secret nailing the timber floor to the battens it is recommended that a thin sheet of plastic is placed over the screed. This will reduce rising moisture from the slab and screed into the timber floor when the heating is in operation.
In Slab/In Screed
The hydronic floor heating pipe is installed in the slab or in screed with the timber flooring installed directly over the slab or screed. This is best suited to glued down timber floors, secret nailed to timber sheets or glued down timber flooring installations. Various installation methods can be followed so long as the timber flooring is not fixed to the slab which increases the risk of damage to the pipes.