mdproctor 1 Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 builders are about to fit my UFH and have provided the layout found below from their designers. The floor area is about 36M2:I added the external doors, and external walls text and lines myself - sorry for sketchyness.I've done a fair bit of research on UFH and layouts and this one seems sub-optimal. It uses a single serpentine to cover the entire room.My understanding is that the design should try to ensure the pipes run along external walls and windows. Essentially the hottest part of the pipes I beleive need to be by the bi-folding doors (u-value 1.6)I would have expected double serpentines in the rop right and bottom right corners.I rang the design company with my comment, their answer was "we've been doing this for 25 years and it'll give you an even temperature throughout". Which wasn't really the helpful technical response I was hoping for, as I was hoping they would give me a technical reason as to why I'm worried about nothing.So my question is. Does the layout really matter that much? Is their's fine or is their's suboptimal? i'm really hoping i'm worrying about nothing.Things have already been a little contentious with the builders with the UFH - who fell out with the plumber last week, who then refused the work, I had to beg him to come back onsite (see http://www.diynot.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=266267&start=0&highlight=). So I'm trying to decide whether this is not worth fighting over and let them just get on with it, as the difference wouldn't be that noticable. Or do I need to push on this and find another designer as they are making a terrible mistake. I just don't know. Mark Link to post Share on other sites
Rich 2 Posted March 8, 2011 Report Share Posted March 8, 2011 Hiya MarkPersonally, if it was me, and the builders gave any signs for me to not be confident in what they are doing, I'd throw them off the job in a heartbeat.I've had far too many builders like that, and they are a dime-a-dozen...As for the plans, why not get a second opinion?Regarding the pipework and pressurisation, I'd leave the entire lot pressurised the entire time, from the minute ot goes down and is connected, to the time it should finally be set and dry.You may find that with soft pipes, leaving them pressurised is the only way to lay it so that the floor doesnt crack when its laters used, pressurised and heated, but if the pipe is firm and hard, it wont matter as the pipe wont give like a garden hose, but I'd leave it all pressurised the entire time :-)Have you had any building inspectors on the job at all from your council? Link to post Share on other sites
mdproctor 1 Posted March 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2011 To be fair the builders work so far has been top notch. I think the problem is that they refer to Florad, who they consider the universal truth on the matter. This caused the conflict with plumber pressure test (see other post) and the plumber. The parties agreed to disagree and the plumber can leave the system pressurised.However during this process I learnt a hell a lot about UFH, materials, layouts, installations etc. And now a little konwledge has become a dangerous thing. As the Florad design differs from what I've read about best practice, where you try to get the most amount of hot water where the most heat loss happens. In my case that would clearly be the bi-folding doors, but their design doesn't do this.I've emailed one design company, AstraCad, asking them what they think. My hope is they'll tell me I'm worrying about nothing and that it doesn't matter that much. Although I'm not sure they will advise a non-paying customer..... Not sure which other firms would be willing to advise someone who isn't their customer....Mark Link to post Share on other sites
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