How to choose insulation for a heated floor

To increase the level of comfort of residents when arranging their homes, various devices and technologies are used. Warm floors are very popular. But without appropriate insulation, it will not be able to fully function.Based on technology, the “pie” must contain a layer of material with the lowest possible thermal conductivity coefficient (CT).

Types of heated floors

Systems are divided into 3 types - electric, liquid, combined. The first types of heating are divided into convection and infrared. Depending on the heating parts, they are cable, film and rod. Each type has its own characteristics.

Water

The basis of the work is the circulation of fluid inside the pipe structure. Water can be supplied from the central heating system or from the riser. The coolant circulates through the pipes due to the operation of the pump. Installation is carried out in 2 ways: in the thickness of the screed or by the laying method (“pie”).

Cable

Its operation is ensured by wires made of alloys, which effectively “transform” electricity into heat.To regulate its quantity, the system turns on the thermostat.

The heating cable must have an ISO 14000 certificate - this is a guarantee that the heating element is environmentally friendly and will not cause harm to the health of residents. The product must also have another certificate - KIMA. If the seller cannot provide this documentation, you should not buy elements for installing a heating system from him.

This type can be mounted in a screed or adhesive layer.

Film

The basis is laying the heating film. During operation, heat is generated by a carbon-based paste, which is applied to the film in strips at the production stage. In expensive PEP models, it is usually applied to the entire surface, which increases heating efficiency. Systems of this type are installed dry.

Electricity enters the system through copper-silver conductors. The main components of the heated floor are covered with several layers of polyester. A thermostat is used to regulate power supply and heat generation.

Rod

The system is relatively new. It is based on carbon fiber rods, fastened together, connected to a thermostat and then to the power supply network.

Is insulation needed or not?

Thermal insulation in the “pie” of a heated floor of any type plays a big role, as it increases its characteristics. In fact, if a screed is poured on top, it will automatically transform into a surface that transfers heat into the room.

Functions of the thermal insulation layer under the heated floor:

• block cold and moisture coming from below;
• create a soundproof barrier;
• distribute thermal energy throughout the room;
• save resources by preventing their outflow;
• prevent the formation and accumulation of fungal or mold deposits on the surface of heating parts;
• Reflect heat generated by heating elements into the room

Heat leaks

A heated floor system helps save energy resources. With high ceilings in the room, the figures reach 50-70% when compared with conventional radiator heating. If the ceilings are standard, their height is up to 2.6 meters, then the figures will be 10-25% savings (much depends on the characteristics of the house or other building).

If you do not additionally insulate the underfloor heating system, you may encounter enormous energy costs required to maintain the microclimate. Through an uninsulated corner, the temperature of which is from +12 to +17 degrees, 10-15% of the heat will escape. But, if the entire floor does not have a thermal insulation substrate, and they try to heat it to +30 degrees, then more than 50% of the thermal energy will go not into the room, but into the underground.

Therefore, the arrangement of thermal insulation of a heated floor must be approached no less responsibly than the construction of the house itself.

Thermal insulation thickness and requirements for it

There is a wide choice of thermal insulation materials on the heating system market. Therefore, when purchasing, they look at the following product parameters:

• fire resistance;
• resistance to loads (screed pressure, heating system elements, coating);
• immunity to fungi and biological damage;
• health safety.

To determine the required insulation thickness, you need to take into account the CT of the material and the intensity of heat loss through the ceilings in winter. For example, the layer of polystyrene foam in an unheated room should be 100 mm. If the air temperature in it is from 0 to +17 degrees, then 70 mm is enough.

Material requirements:

• low CT.The best option is foil plates made of polyisocyanurate with an indicator of 0.022 W/m*K;
• electrical safety;
• ability to withstand temperature changes;
• strength – not lower than 120 kPa;
• have water-repellent properties - the permissible degree of water absorption by volume is 1%;
• do not deform during use;
• not be subject to destruction when exposed to aggressive environments;
• correct base unevenness;
• provide sound insulation;
• service life – at least 30-50 years;
• must be made of safe materials so that when heated it does not release toxic substances into the air. For example, polystyrene foam is dangerous in this regard, but LOGICPIR Flooring thermal plates are safe for health, which has been proven at the Institute of Solution Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Types of insulation

Thermal insulation material is selected based on the technical characteristics of the room itself and the type of base. The most commonly used materials are cork, mineral wool, profile mats, PIR boards and polystyrene foam. They all have different properties and CT, which must be taken into account before installing a heated floor.

Cork

Cork is an expensive insulation material because it is made from natural wood (oak). The material is sold in sheets or rolls, but both of these options do not differ in characteristics.

Advantages of cork substrate:

• resistance to UV rays;
• low CT;
• hygroscopicity;
• elasticity;
• environmental friendliness;
• fire safety;
• heat resistant;
• does not collapse when exposed to chemicals.

The cork does not deform and does not shrink even when pouring screed. She is not afraid of rodents, microorganisms, fungi. But for it to “work” effectively, you additionally need to buy reflective material. But this is not needed if you initially purchase a foil stopper.This is an ideal option for insulating apartments.

The thickness of 1 sheet is small, which will save space in the living room. A layer of aluminum foil reflects the heat coming from the heating parts, which increases the energy efficiency of the system.

To create a heat and sound insulation layer in a multi-storey building, 30 mm of material will be enough. But in a room in a private house, which is located above the basement, this will not be enough. Here the layer should reach 70-100 mm.

Expanded polystyrene

Expanded polystyrene is not that expensive and protects against moisture and steam. Has noise-absorbing properties. A change in temperature cannot cause its destruction. For thermal insulation of an apartment building, a layer of 50-100 mm is sufficient. In private houses it is better to increase it to 150 mm.

The thermal insulation itself consists of a large number of bubbles enclosed in a shell. To increase strength, this substrate additionally needs a reinforcing mesh. Service life – up to 40-50 years.

Expanded polystyrene retains its appearance and quality even when in contact with chemicals.

Types of expanded polystyrene:

1. Extruded. Material of increased strength, which is achieved due to maximum adhesion of particles. Durable and safe. The vapor permeability indicator is almost equal to 0. The thickness of 1 slab is at least 3 cm.
2. Foamed or polystyrene. Light weight, high vapor permeability. It is not suitable for insulating the foundation of a building, since the material quickly becomes unusable when exposed to moisture. Produced using the non-extruded method.

According to the technology, polystyrene foam insulation must be laid staggered. The slabs are placed in such a way that the 4 corners of adjacent sheets do not converge in one place.It is additionally recommended to lay a film with vapor barrier properties on top of the thermal insulation material.

An example of placing materials on top of polystyrene foam insulation:

• vapor barrier film with overlap;
• mesh for fastening the coils of the underfloor heating system;
• screed with beacons.

The design is called a “pie”.

Advantages of expanded polystyrene:

• high strength;
• high-quality sound and heat insulation;
• the moisture absorption coefficient is low;
• fungi and other microorganisms do not contribute to the destruction of synthetic material.

Separately, it is worth highlighting the profile mats. They are also based on polystyrene foam, but are additionally covered with a film for waterproofing. Durable, able to withstand any load. The mats usually have protrusions for laying pipes for a water-heated floor system. They have locks on the sides, making installation easier.

Penofol

Penofol is sold in rolls. Thickness – from 3 to 10 mm. The material has a foil surface that reflects incoming heat. The use of penofol will help reduce the thickness of the “pie”, since there will be no need for additional waterproofing.

Types of penofol:

• A – one-sided foiling;
• B – double-sided foiling;
• C – self-adhesive option. There is foil on one side and adhesive on the other;
• ALP is a shielding coating on one side and a special film on the other.

Penofol CT – from 0.031 to 0.049 W/mK. Therefore, it is usually laid under cable and film heated floors.

LOGICPIR Flooring from TECHNONICOL

Thermopolite LOGICPIR Flooring is made from a polymer related to polyurethane foam; we can say that it is a modified polyurethane foam. One of the distinctive features of PIR boards is double-sided foil.This provides the additional effect of reflective insulation and eliminates the problem of vapor barrier - it is simply not needed here.

Since LOGICPIR Flooring thermal plates have record low insulating properties with a minimum thickness, they can be installed even in rooms where it is important to preserve every centimeter.

The slabs have L-shaped edges, due to which their maximum fit to each other is achieved. For additional insulation, the seams are taped with metallized tape. Additionally, there is no need to lay a vapor barrier film on top. PIR floor slabs are lined with aluminum laminate on both sides, which allows you to pour both dry and wet screed directly onto them.

Advantages of LOGICPIR Flooring thermal plates from TECHNONICOL:

• the minimum width of the slabs helps maintain the height of the room;
• service life more than 50 years;
• moisture resistance;
• safe for human health;
• qualitatively reflects and retains heat;
• no additional vapor barrier is required due to the alumina laminate layer.
• quickly installed.

Characteristics of LOGICPIR thermoplates Floors from TECHNONICOL

Systems with installation of LOGICPIR Floors from TECHNONICOL

LOGICPIR Floors are suitable for insulating both a regular floor in a room and a heated floor system. There are several nuances when installing.

System TN-POL Standard PIR

This is an option for insulating a conventional floor. The “pie” will have the following layers:

1. Floor slab in the house.
2. LOGICPIR Floors from TECHNONICOL.
3. Aluminized tape for seams.
4. Screed.
5. Decorative coating.

The system has several advantages:

• easy installation;
• increased strength due to the combination of prefabricated screed and thermal slabs LOGICPIR Floors;
• there is no need to lay a vapor barrier layer.

System TN-POL Thermo PIR

This option is provided for insulating underfloor heating of any type. The design of the “pie” will look like this:

1. Floor slab.
2. Thermal plate LOGICPIR Floors from TECHNONICOL.
3. Aluminized tape for seams.
4. Screed.
5. Warm floor system. Heating elements are placed - hydraulic tubes with coolant, electric thermal cable.
6. Adhesive composition.
7. Finish coating with porcelain stoneware.

Advantages of this thermal insulation system:

• the ability to use to create any type of underfloor heating system;
• installation of a vapor barrier layer is not necessary;
• heat transfer increases significantly;
• Thermal plate LOGICPIR Floors does not “eat up” the usable space in the room, because it has a minimum thickness.

Installation instructions for LOGICPIR Floors from TECHNONICOL

A person with minimal knowledge in construction can install LOGICPIR Flooring thermal plates if they rely on these instructions. Before starting work, you need to collect all the necessary tools and calculate the amount of materials.

Required tools and materials

To insulate a heated floor system, you need to prepare the following set:

• construction knife for cutting slabs;
• a brush with stiff bristles, a broom;
• meter ruler;
• aluminized tape;
• self-adhesive damper tape;
• building level;
• TECHNONICOL adhesive foam;
• thermal plates LOGICPIR Floors from TECHNONICOL.

Preparatory stage

It includes calculating the number of slabs and preparing the surface for installation. The first thing you need to do is calculate the area of ​​the room that you plan to insulate.Based on this data, the number of LOGICPIR Flooring thermal plates that will be needed for work is calculated. Use the formula:

S rooms / S 1 slab per package

Divide the final figure by the number of units in the pack and round up. The result will be the number of packages that you will need to buy for work.

After making the calculations, you can begin cleaning the base of the room. It is cleaned of debris using a stiff bristle brush or a construction vacuum cleaner.

Installation of LOGICPIR Floors from TECHNONICOL and creation of a “pie”

To create a “floating floor” structure and eliminate possible impact noise bridges, a damper tape is used. It is laid in areas of contact between the floor and other structures. Thickness – from 8 to 10 mm. The layer should reach the height at which the decorative coating will be located at the end of the work.

The next stage is the installation of LOGICPIR Flooring thermal plates. They are laid with seams staggered. Then the joints are closed with aluminized tape. This allows you to create a sealed layer. It is he who will perform the protective function.

The next layer is screed. The “dry” prefabricated sheets are laid in 2 layers on top of the thermal insulation, also spaced apart. Fixed with self-tapping screws. The cement-sand screed must be poured so that the final layer of the mixture is 40 mm. Additionally, reinforcement with metal mesh will be required.

The final stage is laying decorative coverings (parquet, laminate, ceramic tiles and other materials).

Thermal plates LOGICPIR Floors are a material that is suitable for insulating heated floors. It is moisture resistant, has shielding properties, and is not subject to the destructive effects of mold, fungi, or chemicals. Therefore, this is the best choice for both private and apartment buildings.