Radiant Floor Heating

Gary Hayden, P.E.

ASHRAE
Distinguished Lecturer
 What is Radiant Heat ?

◆ The Sun
◆ Camp Fire
◆ Wood Stove
 Modes of Radiant Heat

◆ Convection
◆ Conduction
◆ Radiation
 Heat loss Parameters

◆ Amount of Heat Lost to Cold

◆ R- Values
◆ Air Infiltration
 Goal for Heating

Heat loss = Heating

Capacity
Surface Temperatures
 Floor Surface Temperatures

PERIMETER AREA
Maximum Floor Surface
Temperatures for Comfort

Occupied Area – 85oF

Perimeter Area – 95oF
Outside Walls
Bathroom – 90oF

OCCUPIED AREA
3’
 Perimeter Area Calculation

3 feet

20’
Perimeter Area Calculation
[25’x 3’ + ((20’-3’) x 3’)] = 164 ft2
Occupied Area Calculation
[(25’x 20’) – 164 ft2] = 336 ft2

25’
Heat Transfer Coefficient
Floor Heating Output Calculation

F o r m u Ol a u ftopCaru l tc u l a t i o n f o r R a d i a n t F l o o
2 o o
Btuh/ f t = H xT ( CF l o o r S u r f Fa –c Re oT oe mm pFT )e m p
2o
H e a t T r a n s f e r C o e f f i c ti he/unf t- Fo r( UH“2”s Tef Co r =q u1 i. c9 k6 cBa l c u
o o
R o otemm e pr a t ui sder e s i rcoe dm f leo vr te la or fo m ( T y p iFc t ao l l7Fy 2) 6 5
 Sample Calculation Results
Floor Surface Temperature Room Temperature Output
o
F o
F Btuh/ft2

85 70 29.4

90 70 39.2

95 70 49
 RFH Design Requirements

● Heat loss for Space

● Heat Production from Floor
– Installation / Floor Coverings
● Hydraulics – Tubing and Circulators (Pumps)
● Heating Source
– Boiler
– Geothermal
– Solar
– Electric
Heat Loss for Planned Space
 Heat Loss Numbers

Component Length Width/Height Area ∆T R-value Total Heat Loss

ft2 o
F ft · F/ Btuh
2 o
Btuh

Window 3 4 12 48 1.5 384

Wall 1 15 10 138 48 19 349

Glass Door 6 7 42 48 1.5 1344

Wall 2 10’ 10” 10 66 48 19 168

Floor 15 10’10” 162 28 * 19 240

Ceiling 15 10’10” 162 48 38 205

Total Btuh 2,690

 Heat loss Basics
* C ra wS lp a c e T e m p e ra tu re e qoFu a ls 4 0 A ir In filtra tio
o f n1 .5 x 2 ,6 9 0 = T o ta l H e a tlo s s
B tu h = (S u rfa c e A∆ reTa) */ R-v a lu e
∆ T = R o o m T e m p e–raOtuure td o o r T e m p e ra tu re
T o ta l H eLo
R e m e m b e r to s u b tra c t w in d o w a n d d o o r a re a fro m o u ts id e w a lls to
c a lc u la te w a ll .a re a s
a t s s = 4 ,0 5 9 B tu h

B a sic H e a t L o ss C a lc u la tiodn: M e th o
1 ) D e te rm in e th e a ir te m p e ra tu re d iffe re n c e b e tw e e n o∆uTtd. oUosrea th o r,d in d o o r te m poFe ra
n de ind edsoire ) letusre
s th(6e8
o u td o o r te m p e ra tu re e x p e c te d o n th e c o ld e s t d a y o f th e y e a r.
2 ) M u ltip ly th e to ta l o u td o o r w a ll a re a , le s s th e w ina dboyw tha∆ enTd. dDoivo ridaereth is v a lu e b-vyath lu e Rfo r th e w a ll.
T y p ic a l w a lls h a v e a-vtoa lu
ta le Ro f 1 9 .
3 ) M u ltip ly th e to ta l w in d o w a ∆reTa. bDyivthidee th is v a lu e b-vy ath lu e Rfo r th e w in d o w .
T h e a v e ra g-ve aRlu e fo r a w in d o w is 1 .5 .
4 ) D o th e s a m e hfoe rc et ilin g a n d th e flo o r. T-vyapluiceasl aRre 3 8 fo r c e ilin g s a n d 1 9 fo r flo o rs .
5 ) A d d u p th e h e a t lo s s fo r e a c h c o m p o n e n t to d e te rm in e th e to ta l h e a t lo s s fo r th e ro o m .
6 ) M u ltip ly th e h e a t lo s s b y 1 .5 to a c c o m m o d a te fo to r caairlc in
u lafiltra
te toetio
ta
a tlo
ln hs. s
7 ) D e te rm in e th e h e a t lo a d p e r flo o r h e a te d a re a re q u ire m e n t b y d iv id in g th e to ta l h e a t lo s s b y th e flo o r a re a
h e a tin g . R e m e m b e r th a t th e flo o r a re a th a t is c o v e re d w ith c a b in e ts o r o th e r fix tu re s uwrcille . n o t b e c o n s id e r
Available Floor Surface Area
15'-0"

8'-11 1/2"

10'-10 13/16"
Mean Heating Water Temperature

Mean Heating Water Temperature = MHWT

(Supply Water Temperature + Return Water
Temperature) / 2 = MHWT
Example:
Supply Water Temperature = 110 oF
Return Water Temperature = 90 oF
MHWT = (110 + 90) / 2 = 100 oF
 Circuit Lengths for RFH

Circuit Lengths for ½” and 5/8” Nominal PEX ASTM F876/F877

1/2” PEX – 300 ft. Recommended 350 ft. Maximum

5/8” PEX – 400 ft. Recommended 500 ft. Maximum

Reference: RPA Guidelines 2004 Edition – Section 18.1.1

Pump and Pipe Tables
 RFH Installation Methods

● Slab on Grade
● Joist Space
● Sub-Floor Installation
RFH Outputs by Type
 Slab on Grade

Floor Covering

Heating Pipe
Concrete Slab
Insulation

Ground or Structural Panel

Sub-Floor Installation
F lo o r C o v e r in g H e a tin g P ip e
L t. W e ig h t
T h e rm a l M a s
S u b F lo o r

In s u la tio n F lo o r J o is t
 Joist Space

F lo o r C o v e r in g
H e a tin g P i
H e a t T r a n s fe r P la te s

S u b F lo o
In s u la tio n F lo o r J o is t
Embedded Floor Installation
F lo o r C o v e r in g
H e a t in g P ip e
H e a t T r a n s fe r P la t e s
W o o d D iv id e

S u b F lo o r

I n s u la tio n F lo o r J o is t
 Heating Element Spacing
Sla b-on-gra de
Cove ring R=0.00

1 5 0 .0 0
Floor Surface
Temperature oF
1 4 0 .0 0

95
1 3 0 .0 0

90
1 2 0 .0 0
F

80
o
MHWT -

1 1 0 .0 0
80
1 0 0 .0 0
75
9 0 .0 0

8 0 .0 0

7 0 .0 0
12 10 8 6 4 2
Pipe Spacing - Inches
 Floor Coverings
Thickness of Floor Covering R-value * Max Exposure Temperature
Type of Floor Covering
(inches) (Btu/ft2-oF) (oF)

Carpet Pad
.25 .32 95
Slab Rubber

Oak Flooring .75 .638 80

Ceramic Tile .25 .25 125

Marble .5 .4 100

Laminate Flooring .16 .3 95

Carpet .5 1.4 100

Plywood .75 .825 140

Linoleum .2 .125 100

Cork .375 1.125 100

* Table Data is generic and should be verified by specified flooring manufacturer for each installation and design case.
 Exposure Temperature
Exposure Temperature
1.00 1.25
150
2.00
F -

140 0.75
Exposure Temperature

1.75
o

130 0.50
1.50

120
0.25

110
100
90
80
70
95 90 85 80 75 70
o
Floor Surface Temperature - F
 RFH System Components

●
Pipe
●
Manifolds
●
Fittings
●
Accessories
●
Controls
●
Tools
 Pipe

●
ASTM F876/F877 - PEX c
●
NSF-rfh
●
ICBO ES ER 5421
●
PPI Listed
●
DIN 4726 Oxygen Barrier
 Manifolds

●
Brass
●
Copper
●
Easy Assembly
●
Proven Components
●
Many Different Sizes
 Fittings

●
All Brass Construction
●
Fully Tested and Certified
●
NSF-rfh
●
ICBO ES ER 5421
●
No Special Tools Required
●
ASTM F877
●
Crimp Fittings
●
Special Tools
 Installation Accessories

●
Labor Saving
●
Back Saving
●
Professional Installation
●
Prevents Pipe Damage
 Modern Controls

●
Labor Saving
●
Decreases Trouble Shooting Time
●
Proven Service Record
●
Improves System Performance
●
Professional Installation
ASHRAE Handbook
 Tools

●
Decreases Installation Time
●
Back Saving
●
Professional Quality
●
Eases Installation
Pump Injection
Pump Injection with HX
Thermostatic Mixing Valve
4 Way Mixing Valve
 Resources for Design

● ASHRAE Handbooks
● Radiant Panel Association
● Manufacturer's Guides / Manuals
Questions