Floor Insulation Mats: A Brief Introduction
Introduction
Electric underfloor heating transmits heat to the sub floor and floor covering of a room so that the whole surface area of the floor itself effectively acts a low temperature radiator, radiating heat to the room above. Heat transmission works downwards as well as upwards and so on ground floors (in older properties in particular), thermal insulation is required for underfloor heating to work efficiently by preventing heat being lost to the ground below.
The minimum thickness of thermal insulation required depends on the construction and thermal properties of the floor. Generally speaking, the guiding principle should be to incorporate as much thermal insulation wherever possible. In floors undergoing renovation, the finished floor height may be the determining factor.
Thermal insulation which is typically provided in the form of insulation boards such as those manufactured by Marmox®, is available in different thicknesses from 6mm to 60mm and can therefore be accommodated beneath newly built or renovated floors. The "U-value"(the industry measurement of the resistance of a "thermal component", such as a floor, to the passage of heat) is expressed in W/m2K and Building Regulations stipulate that new floors should have a U-value of at least 0.22W/m2K .
Marmox® Insulation Products
Marmox (UK) Ltd. has over 40 years' experience in the specification, design and manufacture of high quality insulation boards, which are recommended by suppliers and installers of underfloor heating systems and are widely used throughout the construction and refurbishment industries.
Marmox® insulation boards offer not only exceptional thermal insulation properties but are constructed from extruded polystyrene, reinforced with fibreglass mesh in cement polymer and are therefore load bearing (up to 30 tonnes/m2) and offer high compressive strength when compared to similar materials. The way in which Marmox® boards are constructed with a closed cell structure means that they are waterproof and the fact that no moisture from any source is absorbed means that they are immune to the effects of very cold weather.
Marmox® insulation boards are, nevertheless, lightweight less than 3kg/m2 for a board of 10mm thickness, easy to cut with a saw or with a knife and free from potentially harmful asbestos. High U-values are a feature of Marmox® insulation boards across the whole range of thicknesses: 4.50 W/m2K for a 6mm board, for example, which can be implemented where floor height is restricted, for one reason or another, through to 0.54 W/m2K, for a board of 50mm thickness, which may be more appropriate where there are no such restrictions, making them suitable for a range of applications.
Marmox® insulation boards are particularly effective at reducing heat loss through concrete floors and are therefore ideal for use beneath tiling where joints between boards can be reinforced with Marmox® fibreglass mesh tape prior to the application of tiles. They can also be fixed or bonded to any subfloor surface. Marmox® boards can be bedded in a layer of cement-based grout or tile adhesive of 5mm or so in depth, which should be allowed to dry for a period of 24 hours before any further work is performed on the board surfaces.
The structural nature of Marmox® boards is in contrast to some other non-structural insulation products typically installed beneath a layer of tile adhesive or a self-levelling compound, which are less effective at supporting point loads and may therefore be a danger to the floor construction. Marmox® boards are structural and can be used to secure and reinforce wooden floor boards and are equally suitable for use with all forms of electric underfloor heating including 3mm and 7mm diameter heating cable and heating mats. If a wooden floor is already sound and level, large head screws can be used to affix Marmox® boards. If not sound levelling with water resistant chipboard or plywood, may be necessary first.
In terms of efficiency, an electric underfloor heating system laid onto Marmox® boards will allow a floor to heat up in a fraction of the time required for a system laid for example, on a concrete floor with no insulation. The fact that only a small proportion of heat is wasted in comparison means that overall running costs are also greatly reduced when Marmox® boards are used. These can be important considerations in any room but may be especially so in a conservatory which is a popular location for domestic electric underfloor heating, and typically features large windows and often a fairly large expanse of concrete flooring making it subject to high heat losses in the absence of appropriate insulation.
Further Marmox Information
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