Underfloor Heating

First used by The Romans, underfloor heating was initially the preserve of rich noblemen although later became increasingly commonplace amongst public buildings and villas in the Empire’s colder regions. Now, almost all luxury accommodation features underfloor heating, especially high-end hotel suites and purpose-built homes.

By using conduction and radiant heat (as opposed to conventional air heating which relies on convection), underfloor heating systems provide tangible benefits and efficiencies.

Radiant heating is arguably superior to convection methods because warm, buoyant air rises wastefully to the ceiling in convection-heated rooms, warming the upper body but leaving the lower body cooler. In contrast, underfloor heating warms the lower part of both room and body first – as warm air convects from the radiant surface, it loses approximately two degrees Celsius at a height of two metres and therefore imparts a feeling of natural warmth since the limbs should ideally be warmer than the head.

Contributing to thermal comfort by more evenly distributing temperature, underfloor systems also offer aesthetic benefits in that valuable wall space can be freed of unsightly heating equipment items such as radiators.