Insulation is low cost and low technology; unfortunately it is sometimes seen as an area where cost cutting can be made. Building regulations only specify the minimum requirements to achieve the statutory ‘U’ values, but nobody will be penalised for putting extra or better quality insulation in the property. Where possible use a good quality rigid insulation panel, this will improve the ‘U’ values of external walls, floors and the roof. With regards to the floor, if Underfloor heating is installed it is very important to have 100mm of extruded polystyrene under the heating system. The additional cost expressed as a percentage of the total build cost will be insignificant, and more than offset by much lower costs for heating. The two important points here are:-

• If the extra insulation is not fitted in the build programme, it cannot be done later.
• The extra cost is low and is a one of payment, lower heating costs are continuous.

As heating costs be it for domestic hot water or space heating are continuous, any saving on a continuous basis must be a really good idea.

As Underfloor heating is the cheapest and most efficient method of heating a property and due to the fact that it can also be designed to suit many requirements it is the perfect partner for this concept.

In a typical project where Underfloor heating is being installed, it is likely that that a cylinder is also to be installed.

A typical system design would then be an “S” plan or equivalent possibly set out like the following;

• Domestic Hot Water Circuit
• Ground Floor Underfloor Heating Circuit – heating several rooms each with its own circuit
• First Floor Radiator Circuit

Modern day regulations say that new cylinders are to be installed with 2no coils – so that a solar circuit could be connected up.


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