Underfloor heating pipes
Underfloor heating pipes are an essential component of water-based underfloor heating. The pipes are filled with
hot water , which heats the floor. Underfloor heating pipes can be used to heat an entire room or just a portion of it. It's a
more energy-efficient heating method than traditional radiators and can be used to create a comfortable environment. Underfloor heating has a much larger surface area than traditional radiators. Because of this large surface area, less heat needs to be emitted per square meter (radiant heat). As a result, underfloor heating heats at a much lower temperature than traditional radiators. An additional advantage is that you
save energy and therefore money . But most importantly: the large radiant surface area ensures much more even heat distribution, creating a
much more pleasant feeling than traditional heating.
PE-RT underfloor heating pipe
The
PE-RT pipe is a type of underfloor heating pipe made of
polyethylene . These are called PE-RT pipes (PolyEthylene of Raised Temperature). PE-RT pipes consist of five layers and are
impermeable to oxygen according to the DIN 4726 standard. PE-RT pipes are extremely
flexible yet
strong , making them easy to install. They also have high creep strength, giving them a
long service life . The pipes even come with a 50-year manufacturer's warranty, which also covers any consequential damage during the first 10 years.
The PE-RT heating pipes are constructed as follows
Level 1 PE-RT – Type 1
Layer 2 Inner adhesive layer
Layer 3 Diffusion-tight EVOH layer
Layer 4 Outer adhesive layer
Level 5 PE-RT – Type 1
What diameter underfloor heating pipe?
There are several diameters to choose from when looking for underfloor heating pipes. You can choose from
10mm ,
12mm ,
14mm ,
16mm ,
18mm , or
20mm . 16mm is the most common standard pipe. The larger pipes are often used for larger spaces such as industrial buildings. And the smaller pipes are often used for dry-construction underfloor heating. With dry-construction underfloor heating, the pipes do not touch the cement screed but are instead embedded in insulation boards.
How many meters of underfloor heating pipe per m2 ?
Too few pipes will result in a lower heating capacity, but too many pipes are unnecessary. It's important to know whether you'll be using underfloor heating as your primary or supplementary heating system. The
distance between the
pipes plays a significant role in this. This will help you calculate how many meters of underfloor heating pipe you need per
square meter.
Distance between pipes for main heating
If you use underfloor heating as
your primary heating system , the pipes are closer together than if you use supplementary heating. With primary heating, you don't use radiators or other heating methods. Even in a slightly older and less well-insulated house, you'll probably choose primary heating. The
pipe spacing for primary heating is
10 centimeters . Therefore, the distance between the pipes is 10 centimeters. For primary heating, you need 10 meters of pipe per
square meter. So, if you have a room of 10
m² , you'll need a total of 100 meters of heating pipes. It's also useful to know that you need one circuit per 10
m² . So, for a room of 30 m², you'll need 300 meters of heating pipes and a 3-circuit connection.
Distance between pipes for additional heating
If you use underfloor heating as
supplementary heating , the pipes are spaced further apart than when using the main heating system. With supplementary heating, you also use other heating options, such as radiators. Supplementary heating is also often chosen in well-insulated new homes. The
pipe spacing for supplementary heating is
15 centimeters . Therefore, the distance between the pipes is 15 centimeters. For the main heating system, you need 7 meters of pipe per
square meter. So, if you have a room of 10
m² , you need a total of 70 meters of heating pipes. It's also useful to know that you need one circuit per 15
m² . So, for a room of 30 m², you need 210 meters of heating pipes.
Underfloor heating laying pattern
For optimal heat distribution in your underfloor heating system, the pattern in which the heating pipes are laid is crucial. For the best results, you want the floor to heat up as evenly as possible. The spiral pattern is the best method for this. This is also the most commonly used method for newly poured screeds. The meander pattern is standard for dry-construction underfloor heating.
Snail shell pattern
The spiral pattern is the most commonly used installation method for underfloor heating. The pipes are laid in a spiral pattern, running from the outside inward. Once the center is reached, the water hose is returned along the same pattern. This ensures that the supply and return pipes are placed side by side across the entire surface. The warm supply pipe is therefore located next to the cooling return pipe. This ensures optimal, even heat distribution to the floor. An additional advantage is that 90° bends are primarily used, which reduces resistance to the flowing water. The spiral pattern provides the most economical and energy-efficient underfloor heating system.
Meander pattern
An alternative to the spiral pattern is the meander pattern. In this pattern, the pipes are laid in long loops alongside each other. The warm supply pipe is not located alongside a cooling return pipe. The advantage of this method is that more and better heating can be achieved alongside a cold wall or window. A disadvantage of this pattern is that the heat output is higher at the beginning of the heating pipes than at the end, resulting in uneven heat output. Because the loops are adjacent to each other, 180° bends are used. This creates more resistance to the flowing water.
