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Installation and Technical Guide MARCH 2015 Worldwide Connections

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Installation and Technical Guide MARCH 2015 Worldwide Connections THE PUSH-FIT SOLUTION FOR UNDERFLOOR HEATING Includes this NEW addition: Installation and Technical Guide MARCH 2015 Worldwide Connections The John Guest Group has a long established reputation as a world leading manufacturer of push-fit fittings, tube and other fluid control products. A reputation built on producing consistently high quality products with an ongoing commitment to value engineering and product development. Quality Manufacture A commitment to quality is at the heart of the John Guest Philosophy The strictest control is maintained by virtue of the fact that design and manufacture is carried out in modern purpose built manufacturing centres in west London and at Maidenhead in Berkshire. Maintaining control over the whole process from initial tool design and tool making through to final assembly and testing ensuring that only products of the highest quality are produced. The company believe it is this commitment to quality that has led to it receiving prestigious awards from many of the world’s leading testing and approvals organisations. John Guest is a preferred supplier to many international companies. British Gas Service BS7291 No. KM39767 Speedfit PEX Fittings and Barrier Pipe. K24076, K24077 and K24078 2 The Speedfit System for Underfloor 50ºC then distributed via a manifold A wide range of electrical components Heating has been designed to be as to heating circuits made using Speedfit means the system can have as much quick and easy as possible to install with Barrier Pipe. The temperature and control as required. component parts manufactured under an volume of water is altered to maintain ISO9001 Quality Management System. the requirements of the system. The System has water pumped from a The pipe is laid in concrete or suspended boiler or other heat source to a pump just below the surface of timber flooring. pack where it is mixed to approximately Design Service and Technical Support CAD Design Service Members of the Technical Support Team are Design Service will provide a detailed drawing The JG Speedfit Technical Advisory Service is available to help you get the best from your showing pipe layout, flow rates, suggested zone available to assist and advise on all aspects of Speedfit Underfloor Heating System. temperatures and advice on commissioning. using the Speedfit System. The service is available between 8.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. To obtain an estimate send us a plan of the area A member of our national team of Technical where underfloor heating is required, indicating Support Engineers will be available to offer on- the preferred location of the manifold and site support during the installation process. intended floor construction. An estimate will be prepared and when Technical Help Desk: approved and an order placed, the Speedfit CAD 01895 425333 | [email protected] www.speedfitUFH.co.uk 3 CONTENTS: UNDERFLOOR HEATING p6-9 PREPARATION CONSIDERATIONS p10-19 PIPE INSTALLATION p20-33 JG UFH MANIFOLD & PUMP PACK INSTALLATION p34 HEATING CONTROLS p36-41 CONTENTS 4 FILLING & TESTING p42-43 START-UP & COMMISSIONING p44-45 COMMISSIONING CHECKLIST p46-47 3 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & TROUBLESHOOTING p48-49 3 CONTENTS www.speedfitUFH.co.uk 5 Underfloor Heating Underfloor heating provides the most For timber floors, spreader plates are comfortable, even warmth of any laid between the joists and the floor heating system. It is economical to run decking or on the underside of the and virtually maintenance free. floor. Speedfit Pipe is pushed into the grooves on the plates. Warm water from a heat source such as a boiler or heat pump is distributed The Floor area is typically warmed to via a manifold to heating circuits made between 25ºC and 28ºC, providing an using Speedfit Barrier Pipe. The pipe even distribution of heat at only slightly can be installed in a screed, floating or higher than room temperature. The suspended timber floor. system is controlled by one or more thermostats which control the manifold In screeded floors, the pipe is laid on and boiler as required. insulation and then covered with a screed which can be laid almost any type of floor covering. Ceiling Ceiling 18oC 24oC Floor Floor 24oC 18oC The heat is concentrated where it is most needed for By contrast, radiators transfer heat from a relatively comfort and efficiency. small area at a much higher temperature than the space being heated. The radiator system heats mainly by convection. This results in the floor being the coolest place in the room, with the mass of warm air at ceiling level. UNDERFLOOR HEATING 6 The Whole Floor Acts as a Heat Source FEATURES & BENEFITS SET BACK - EXPLAINED The Speedfit Underfloor Heating System Control Compared to other forms of heating, offers many benefits to the consumer. Underfloor heating is easy to control underfloor heating can have a These include: and unlike conventional radiator relatively slow response time, taking systems, makes use of multi-zoning longer to heat up and cool down Efficiency Savings so each room benefits from individual than radiator systems. Underfloor Heating Systems are time and temperature control resulting designed to operate at lower In order to reduce running costs and in a more flexible heating system with temperatures than radiator systems, to have realistic heat up and cool down lower running costs. making them especially suitable for response times, rather than the system condensing boilers and heat pumps. This Environment being switched off, the temperature results in reduced energy consumption Underfloor heating is suitable for setting is reduced by about 4ºC. This is and lower heating costs for the building. use with the most energy efficient called set back because the system is and environmentally friendly heating turned down not off. Installation systems including condensing boilers, It is simple to install, requiring the minimum With the Speedfit System, set back can solar power and heat pumps. of installation effort and little maintenance. be achieved in two ways: Comfort FLOOR FINISHES Individual Programming The system uses mainly radiant heat, the AND COVERING Programmable Room Thermostats can most comfortable form of heating, giving be installed in each zone. They give an even distribution of warmth over the The Speedfit Underfloor Heating individual time and temperature control, whole room. System is suitable for most floor alternating between daytime and set finishes, including ceramic tiles, carpets, back temperatures. Space vinyl and laminate. The system is unobtrusive and space Centralised Programming saving which means every square metre However, the thermal resistance of the The Dial Set Back Room Thermostat of floor and wall space can be utilised floor covering will have a marked effect has its own ‘Daytime’ and ‘Set Back’ time giving freedom of interior design. on the performance of the heating controlled centrally using a Touch Screen system. Time Clock. Noise Compared to radiator systems the Advice on the use of floor coverings system is virtually silent running. and their effect on the performance of a system is available from our Technical Health Help Desk. Dust is minimised reducing the problem of house dust mites. Reduced numbers For information on the effect of of hot surfaces and sharp edges minimise different floor finishes please refer the risk of burns or injury. table on page 11. Variety of Floor Finish Options UNDERFLOOR HEATING www.speedfitUFH.co.uk 7 Underfloor Heating Theoretically Underfloor Radiator heating Warm air heating ideal heating Heating on inside wall 2.70 16º 16º 24º 24º Eye level 20º 20º 20º 20º 1.70 24º 24º 18º 16º As the chart above shows, people are In its simplest form, Underfloor Heating more comfortable when their feet are is pipes in the floor with blended water in a warm area and their head is slightly passing through them. The Speedfit cooler. Underfloor Heating System receives water from a heat source such as a A system using radiators will have boiler or heatpump. High temperature colder air at the bottom of a room which water from a source like a conventional places your feet in the wrong place for boiler is then blended to reduce the flow comfortable living. This is because cold temperature. It is then distributed via a air is more dense (heavy) and it is pulled manifold to heating circuits made up of downwards by gravity. Speedfit Barrier Pipe. Low temperature water, such as from a Heat Pump, may In contrast, Underfloor Heating heats the not need to be blended down. whole floor. This means that the warmest space is the area nearest the floor, which The pipe is laid in concrete or suspended matches the preferred heat profile. under timber flooring. Effectively, the floor is turned into a large, low surface In practice, normal comfort can be temperature heat emitter which is achieved at a lower air temperature than economical to run and provides a similar with conventional radiators because level of comfort, at 20°C, to a convection underfloor heating systems heat mainly system providing an air temperature of by radiated energy, just like the energy 21° - 22°C. from the sun. Heating times and comfort temperatures Radiant energy is emitted by the floor are controlled by individual thermostats giving an even distribution of heat. This to enable the user to maximise comfort, means no cold spots, hot ceilings or flexibility and reduce running costs. cold feet. UNDERFLOOR HEATING 8 PREPARATION CONSIDERATIONS PREPARATION www.speedfitUFH.co.uk 9 Preparation Considerations PLANNING AND ORGANISING • The overall quality and thickness of a • Full building plans including sections YOUR PROJECT sand and cement screed should meet and elevations. the requirements of BS8204-1. • Calculation of heat loss and heat The design of an underfloor heating requirement. system has a direct link to its output • Floor construction and insulation to and efficiency.
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