We don't overlook the smaller details

Heat typically moves from warmer to cooler spaces via radiation, conduction and convection. The heating from an underfloor heating system uses conduction to transfer its energy into the floor where radiation and convection then takes over to warm the room. Air voids within a floor heating system drastically impairs heat output as the air acts as an insulating buffer. This inevitably results in higher energy costs and is something that is often overlooked by architects, designers and engineers. An often overlooked factor is that unwanted air voids make heat output calculations impossible.

The long term benefits of the LevelDek system are that the running costs are reduced due to the flow temperatures being far lower than alternative systems. This equals lower bills and a better carbon footprint.

System performance – comparison test
Surface temperature data

Below is the test data taken from two testing rigs. Both rigs had 19mm MDF decking and were fed by the same heat source; to keep the tests fair they both received the same temperature water (approximately 44-45⁰C). The results of these tests provide very clear and conclusive evidence that the presence of an air void between the underfloor heating pipe and the MDF decking above acts as an insulator as expected and restricts system performance.

aLTERNATIVE SYSTEM

Heating system positioned on substrate within cradle and batten system – approx. 60mm air buffer between pipe and decking above

levelDEK SYSTEM

​LevelDek - Heating system positioned directly beneath deck – NO air buffer between pipe and deck
From this we can safely say that the LevelDek system can provide adequate heat output even with a ply or chipboard deck because they are in direct contact with the 0.5mm aluminium heat diffuser plates. Other systems use a much more costly cementitious board but provides no benefit as the variable height air void acts as a buffer and is incalculable.
An important part of underfloor heating is ensuring it is compatible with the intended floor finish. We talk more about LevelDek and it's impact on floor finishes on the next page.