Under the condition of long-time high temperature heating, the underfloor heating

by aincemissn on 2012-02-11 16:05:59

In modern homes, many use underfloor heating as a means of warmth. Underfloor heating brings new performance requirements for flooring. Because there are so many types of flooring available on the market, many consumers feel confused and don't know which type is more suitable. In fact, paying attention to three aspects of performance generally allows one to select flooring that suits underfloor heating.

1. Good Dimensional Stability

This depends on the density of the floor's base material and its internal bonding strength. The higher the internal bonding strength, the better the floor can withstand temperature changes without cracking or other issues. Only floors made from relatively dense wood materials can ensure they won't crack or deform over long periods of high temperatures. Resistance to humid environments, meaning water absorption thickness expansion rate, is also important. Flooring used in hydronic radiant floor heating systems requires minimal size change in high humidity conditions, with an expansion rate less than or equal to 2.5%. Generally speaking, the smaller the expansion rate, the better the moisture resistance of the floor.

2. Formaldehyde Emission Must Not Exceed Standards

It is required that formaldehyde emissions do not exceed standards even under prolonged heating conditions. When choosing underfloor heating floors, consumers should try to select floors with low formaldehyde content because the higher the temperature, the more formaldehyde is released. In relatively enclosed indoor spaces, combined with formaldehyde release from other indoor items, indoor formaldehyde levels may exceed safe limits, posing harm to human health.

3. Fast Heat Transfer

Currently, there are few brands on the market that can provide thermal conductivity coefficients. Consumers should pay attention when purchasing. Products with higher coefficients generally perform better in terms of heat transfer. They must also be resistant to high temperatures because underfloor heating floors need to endure long-term high-temperature heating. The product's decorative layer must remain stable and not fade or become rough even under prolonged high temperatures.

Composite Floors Are More Suitable for Underfloor Heating

Generally speaking, imported floors that meet the European Enpr13329 standard and domestically produced floors that meet the national GB/T1802-2000 standard can both satisfy the technical requirements for underfloor heating floor installation.

Three Aspects of Performance Determine Whether the Floor is Suitable for Underfloor Heating

Even after reading the above abstract standards, some readers may still be unsure about what kind of product to choose. There are many types of floors on the market today, including solid wood floors, composite floors, and others. Generally speaking, composite floors are more suitable for use as underfloor heating floors. This is because the standard thickness for underfloor heating floors is 6.5~8.5mm, while most composite floors are 6~9mm thick. Among them, laminate composite floors are mostly 6~8mm thick, and three-layer solid wood composite floors are 8~9mm thick, offering better heat transfer performance. Additionally, their surface has a layer of aluminum oxide wear-resistant layer, which helps heat spread quickly on the floor surface. Solid wood floors, on the other hand, are usually around 2cm thick and require dragon bones during installation. When used as underfloor heating floors, there will be air between the floor and the ground, and both air and wood have very low thermal conductivity, leading to inefficient heat transfer to the surface. This results in wasted heat, uneven surface temperatures, and noticeable temperature differences. Moreover, composite floors are compressed at high temperatures, containing very little internal moisture, so the floor won't deform due to moisture evaporation. Multi-layer solid wood composite floors have layers interwoven horizontally and vertically, restraining each other, with anti-deformation grooves on the back side decomposing the stress generated by the heated surface, resulting in minimal deformation. Solid wood floors, with high moisture content, are prone to cracking and deforming under prolonged high-temperature heating. If regular solid wood floors must be selected, it is advisable to choose those with a backing film layer type, as this can prevent moisture and maintain the balance of wood moisture content with the surrounding environment's humidity.

Locking Floors Are Better for Heat Transfer

Notably, among composite floors, locking floors perform better than other products. Since connected floors leave small gaps even when heated and dampened, they are less likely to deform after expansion.

Additionally, consumers should opt for smaller-sized products, as such products have uniform thermal deformation. Generally, choosing well-known brand products ensures better quality.