Insulation Under Concrete Slab Radiant Heat

Q how much insulation is necessary under a typical radiant slab.

Insulation under concrete slab radiant heat.

Insulationstop is the best source for top quality products at the best price. Downward heat loss from a radiant slab should not exceed 10 percent of upward heat output a ratio derived from european installation standards for floor heating systems it s possible to calculate the r value needed to meet. When where how. Martin holladay explains insulating a slab on grade in the energy smart details department.

Need insulation for under concrete slabs slabs with radiant heat. Radiant heating system design or installation mistakes that must be avoided. Some people use twice the r value at the slab edge as they do under the slab. By lawrence drake published the radiant panel report july 2000.

The foil within the product acts to spread out the heat signature of the heating coils. Prodex total 16 inch 24 inch 48 inch 10m and fast action is radiant floor insulation used under wood flooring to reflect radiant heat upwards back into the home prodex is a thermal break vapor barrier and radiant barrier. The reflectix concrete slab insulation is an innovative easy to handle product that increases the energy efficiency of radiant floor and snow melt systems under concrete. This radiant heating insulation can be used under most flooring material.

Javascript seems to be disabled in your browser. A john siegenthaler a consulting engineer who specializes in hydronic heating system design responds. Radiant floor insulation under wood floors. Without a thermal break between the slab and the ground heat will sink into the ground under the slab resulting in longer warm up time higher energy costs and overall poor performance of the system.

A slab with such a heat sink could take days to fully cool down. Insulating a slab on grade depends on at least four factors. This article explains how to avoid some fatal mistakes when installing radiant heat in a concrete floor slab by describing an incompetent radiant heat floor installation along with an explanation of why things went wrong and how to avoid these errors. The climate the type of foundation whether the slab includes hydronic tubing for radiant heat and the severity of the local termite problem.

A common question that occurs during the design stage of a heated slab installation is one of slab insulation. 0 2 inch 5mm closed cell polyethylene foam. Admittedly these alternate materials have two distinct advantages over blue. Gyp crete and similar lightweight concrete mixes typically made from concrete and gypsum plaster are well suited for your application.

Also make sure that you insulate the slab edge as that s where the heat loss from a slab is greatest.