The main types of flooring currently available on the market include laminate flooring, multi-layer solid wood flooring, solid wood flooring, bamboo flooring, and PVC flooring. In recent years, high-end cork flooring has also emerged. So, what kind of flooring is most suitable for underfloor heating?
1. Underfloor heating transfers heat from a heat source in the floor to the surface, warming the air through radiation. The only obstacles to heat transfer are the concrete and the floor decoration layer. Concrete has a thermal conductivity of 0.8~1.4W/(m·k), while wood flooring across the grain has a thermal conductivity of 0.070~0.233W/(m·k), making it a poor conductor. To achieve the desired effect, the thickness of wooden flooring must be reduced.
The purpose of floor heating is to meet the indoor design temperature. According to the national standard JGJ1402-2004, the design temperature for the floor should be 24-28℃. Flooring with a thickness of 12~16mm is suitable for underfloor heating. If there are special design requirements, only increasing the water temperature of the underfloor heating pipes can help, but this will reduce the service life of the underfloor heating system. Floors that are too thick may deform over time due to inconsistent expansion caused by large temperature differences between the top and bottom surfaces.
2. The ground temperature of underfloor heating is about 30℃. When formaldehyde is released at 20℃, its emission volume is approximately ten times that at 15℃. Therefore, at 30℃, the emission would be significantly higher. Formaldehyde's harm to the human body is well-known. Why is formaldehyde used in flooring? Because formaldehyde is the cheapest dilution and drying agent for various adhesives and paints, manufacturers use it mainly to cut costs. Current chemical technology can produce formaldehyde-free products, but they are more expensive. National flooring standards specify E1 level ≤1.5mg/L, which applies to general flooring. For underfloor heating flooring, it should be formaldehyde-free to ensure consumers' health, though it's not impossible. Natural timber contains a small amount of formaldehyde, as do new clothes, leather clothing, and even drinking water, but their content is low enough not to harm the human body.
Recently, Mr. Ji, who lives in the Bishui Qingyuan residential area, has been troubled: during the trial water test for his home's underfloor heating, the pipes leaked, soaking multiple pieces of furniture. He contacted the underfloor heating company several times, but they claimed that the partial leaks were not enough to cause the furniture and flooring to be soaked.
Mr. Ji lives in Building 20 of the Bishui Qingyuan residential area. On the morning of November 22, when reporters visited his home, they saw that the floor was uneven; there were still traces of water damage around the walls inside the house; some parts of the furniture close to the ground had peeled off. "All these were damaged by water on November 9," Mr. Ji said. On November 8, the neighborhood posted a notice asking residents to stay home within three days because the underfloor heating would undergo a trial water test. He and his wife took turns waiting at home, but since he had something to attend to on November 9, no one was at home, and unexpectedly, the underfloor heating leaked, soaking two rooms.
After the furniture and flooring were soaked, Mr. Ji contacted the property management office of the residential area. They sent staff to help contact the underfloor heating company. "However, after two pressure tests conducted by the underfloor heating company, they first ruled out the possibility of problems with the underfloor heating pipes, then said there were some leaking areas in part of the pipes, but it wasn't enough to soak the furniture and flooring at home," Mr. Ji said. From November 9 until now, he has contacted both the underfloor heating company and the developer of the residential area, but the issue remains unresolved.
A responsible person from the underfloor heating company said they were negotiating with the homeowner. Another staff member from the Bishui Qingyuan residential area developer stated that after the incident occurred, he mediated multiple times. Currently, it cannot be determined whether there is a problem with the underfloor heating pipes. They will cooperate with Mr. Ji to find third-party underfloor heating professionals to conduct another pressure test to determine the specific cause of the leak before further negotiations.
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