The performance of underfloor heating depends, to a large extent, on having good insulation under the pipe work and at the floor edges to prevent heat loss into the walls and ground.

The most effective and economical method of installing underfloor heating is within a concrete screed or slab as this gives a higher heat output than any other floor type. The concrete will act in a similar way to a stone fireplace, which absorbs the heat produced, stores it and dissipates it evenly.

There are a variety of methods for fixing the pipe to the insulation. The most common types of fixings used on a screed or solid floor are listed below:

rail fixing

The rail system is a low cost, easy to install system, favoured by the budget conscious installer. The plastic pipe clip rail can be used with any type of insulation. Rail fixing is simple to install, requires no special insulation and allows for variable pipe spacing.

staple fixing

This system is preferred by professional installers for speed of installation and infinitely variable pipe spacing to give the correct heat output for any area. The staple fixings work with most types of floor insulation (Polystyrene EPS 100, Polyfoam and Polyurethane).

pipe on mesh

This requires a steel wire mesh to be laid over the insulation layer. No special insulation is required and it's use allows for variable pipe spacing. However, laying mesh and fixing pipe to mesh is more difficult than other systems and wire mesh is often unnecessary in screed floors.

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The system should be pressure tested before the screed is laid. The screed can then be laid over the underfloor heating pipes. The screed thickness is dependent upon the floor loading requirements.

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