Underfloor heating provides a spring in the step
A specially designed Timoleon underfloor heating system has been incorporated into the sprung sports floor of a village hall near Totnes in Devon. Accidental damage to the underfloor heating that had served Harberton Parish Hall since it was built meant that a new system was required, but one tailored to the hall’s physical requirements. The semi-sprung floor is suitable for dancing and children’s games, and the hall provide a venue for community events from theatrical performances to weddings.
The requirements included no joints beneath the floor, a system that could integrate with the required batten spacing and allow the floor to move freely, with the pipework keeping in contact with the underside of the floor deck.
The new system is based on Timoleon’s Aether Foilboard, which comprises high-efficiency insulation material with a layer of aluminium bonded to the upper surface — into which channels are preformed to accept 15 mm polybutylene heating pipe.
For this project, Timoleon supplied special board sections 267 mm wide with a single pipe channel to integrate with the 45 mm-wide acoustic sprung battens which are set at 441 mm centres. The entire assembly sits on plastic L-shaped support brackets on the 170 m2 concrete floor slab. The final floor finish comprises a deck of 8 mm Olympic Arena-flex with a surround of 21 mm engineered board.
The existing heating plant was retained. The system was installed by Andrew Gooding Plumbing & Heating.
