Slab Floor Construction
This floor construction consists of 100 to 125mm concrete incorporating builders mesh (normally A142) with UFH pipes tied to the mesh, over extruded polystyrene insulation, on DPM, sand and compacted hardcore. Insulation is also required around the perimeter of the slab. Due to the large mass of the concrete, this type of floor structure will have a longer initial heat up time but benefits from having more thermal inertia.
Method of Fitting the UFH Pipe
Lay mesh onto insulation so it completely covers the whole floor area. The neater the mesh is laid, the easier the pipe installation will be, this is because you use the mesh grid work as a guide to install the pipes at the correct centres. Try and line up the individual mesh grid work as best as possible and tie it together using the pipe fixings.
Following the CAD pipe layout drawing tie the pipes to the mesh following the spacing and pattern shown. The plastic coated tie wires are best tied using the tie wire tool available from Begeube. When all pipe work has been installed and connected back to the manifold, the completed installation is ready for pressure testing (see pressure testing section).
Before the concrete is poured the mesh and pipe should be raised up on spacers to give 40mm cover over the top of the UFH pipes.
Note
Insulation thickness will be determined by current building regulations, but it is worth noting that as the floor is being warmed heat will be lost down wards as well as up into the occupied space. It therefore makes good sense to apply as much insulation under the floor structure as the build budget can manage. Generally 75mm of extruded or 100mm of expanded polystyrene will suffice. If you have any queries regarding insulation please contact us.
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