Mats for a warm water floor

Floor heating systems, still only a long time considered "curiosities", are now firmly established among the owners of houses and apartments. More and more people prefer this convenient and economical way of heating the premises. Well-developed technologies of installation and a large range of milestones of the necessary components make it possible to carry out all work on the creation and launch of the "warm floor" on its own.

The warmest water floor is considered to be the most economical in operation, since in the presence of a water heating system it does not require additional significant energy costs. This predetermines the popularity of such a scheme. But it will show its full potential only if all requirements for installation of circuits are met and when using really high-quality materials. And in this row a very important element is the mats for the warm water floor.

What is the purpose of the mats for the "warm floor"?

If you read the numerous publications on the Internet dedicated to water "warm floors,retit recommendations for installation circuits in which the question mats somehow bypassed party. It is not clear what the authors of such notes were guided by - after all, some readers, inexperienced in independent construction, can take it for "pure coin".If judged from the point of view of cost reduction, then against the background of the total cost of creating a system of "warm floor" mats will not be in the first positions - their price is not so significant. But these expenses will sharply raise and economy of system, and duration of its operation, and level of the general comfort in premises.

• It will be useless to hope for efficient heating with low energy costs, if the heat generated by the heating system is spent on absolutely unnecessary heating of the floor slabs or the floor basement on the ground. The heat flow must be directed in the right direction - upwards, to the front surface of the floor, and this is one of the main tasks of such mats.

• "Warm" water floor in most cases is closed with a massive concrete screed, thickness from 50 to 100 mm, which will promote a uniform heat distribution and become a powerful heat accumulator. Naturally, the pipes will withstand considerable static and dynamic loads during pouring and during the set-up of the screed, and then, even during operation. To protect the contours from damage, an elastic substrate should be provided - this is also one of the functions of the mats for the "warm floor".

This, by the way, imposes certain requirements on the very construction of mats - the material of their manufacture must combine high thermal insulation qualities with sufficient parameters of mechanical strength for compression.

• The use of many special mats greatly simplifies the process of laying out the contours of the "warm floor" and securely fixing the pipes in the specified position.
• Applying special mats, the landlord not only insulates the floor, but also creates an additional effective soundproof barrier - this is especially important for residents of high-rise buildings.
• Creating a "warm floor" with a water circuit necessarily places special demands on reliable waterproofing of the floor. Many of the modern mats can accomplish this task. In addition, if the mats have a waterproofing layer, they will be able to protect the material itself from the aggressive chemical environment of the cement slurry.

In short, the purchase and use on such expensive mats at once solve several very important tasks.

Basic types of mats for underfloor heating

Rolled foil substrates

These materials can not be fully described as mats for a water "warm floor", but under certain conditions, they can be used for the installation of thermal insulating and reflective substrates for laying the contour of pipes.

foam. This situation is permissible if the "warm floor" itself is not intended to be used as the main heating system - it will only create high-comfort zones in certain rooms oreven on separate parts of the floor. Undoubtedly, the basis for this is already it has a certain degree of insulation, or be located above the heated room.

When installing a water heating surface on the first floor - in a high-rise building above the unheated basement or in private construction with ground floors, the insulation qualities of such materials will clearly not be enough. However, they can be used in combination with other heaters - this will be discussed below.

These foam rolls are usually based on foamed polyethylene with a thickness of 2 and 10 mm. The front side( laid to the side of the room) has a reflective coating of aluminum foil or aluminized polymer film. This layer not only promotes the direction of the flow of thermal energy in the desired direction, but also becomes a reliable vapor and waterproof barrier.

The inconvenience of using such mats for layout of pipe circuits can be considered that it is necessary to install any additional elements. This can be a mounting plate with cells for pipes of the desired diameter, or reinforcing mesh, to the rods of which the pipes are tied with plastic clamps.

. However, under conditions where the base already has certain insulation, and the height of the room is such that you have to struggle for just one centimeter, such substrates will be the optimal solution.

Similar products are produced by many manufacturers. Some types of foamed insulation based on polyethylene foam are shown in the table:

Material name	"Penofol"	"Ekofol"	"Isoflex"	"Izolon"
Miniature
Thermal conductivity coefficient, W / m × ° C	0,049	0,049	0,036	0.040
Density, kg / m³	35	33	35 ÷ 45	27 ÷ 33
Heat reflectivity of	not less than 90%	not less than 80%	not less than 90%	up to 95 ÷ 97%
Operating temperature range	from -60 ° to + 100 ° C	from -60 ° to + 90 °With	from -60 ° to + 80 ° C	from -80 ° to + 80 ° C
Material vapor permeability, mg / m × h × Pa	not more than 0,001	not more than 0,001	not more than 0,001	not more than 0,001
Form	Thickness 2, 4, 5 mm with foil layer 14 μm - rolls 1,2 × 30 m; thickness 8 and 10 mm - rolls 1.2 × 15 m	Rolls of 1200 mm width, thickness of insulation 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10 mm, length 25 and 15 m.	Rolls of 1200 mm width, thickness of insulation 2, 3, 5, 8 or 10 mm, length 25 and 15 m. Thickness of foil - 10 μm.	The width of the fabric is 1.5 m, the thickness is 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 mm. The length of the roll, respectively, is 200, 170, 130, 100, 80 and 50 m. It is possible to purchase single sheets 15 mm thick, dimensions of 1500 × 2000 mm.

. The webs of such foil-insulated material are usually folded one to the other. To ensure the integrity of the reflective and waterproofing surfaces, joints are recommended to be glued with waterproof foil tape.

Conventional plates of expanded polystyrene

As mats for laying the contours of the warm floor, it is also possible to use ordinary plates of expanded polystyrene - foam, or better and more durable - extruded. This insulation can be used to organize floor heating even on a cold base.

. Polyfoam is captivating at a low price. But here it is important not to make a mistake - not to purchase low-density material( less than 35 kg / m³), ​​as its strength characteristics will obviously not be enough for the construction of a "warm floor".If it is already decided to go along this path( not the most, say, optimal), then the material of the brand PSB-S-50 - with the maximum density is recommended to be purchased.

If you just use the plates of expanded polystyrene, it is better to purchase a better material obtained by extrusion technology. Closed cellular structure gives this thermal insulation excellent thermal insulation properties along with increased strength characteristics, resistance to compression and bending stresses.

One of the typical examples is the known insulation "Penoplex".There are several of its varieties, but for installation under the screed of the warm floor, "Penoplex-35" or, according to the new classification, "Penoplex-Comfort" is quite suitable.

Such plates are also convenient because they have a lock part - special lamellas along the edges, which made it easier to lay without leaving gaps.

For more reliable insulation and the creation of a waterproofing layer, polystyrene boards can be topped with a thin foil-insulated heater, as described above. In this case, if you use a material with applied coordinate marking lines, the process of laying out the contour is much simpler.

And for reliable fixing of pipes in this case it is possible to use special harpoon holders-brackets - they are stuck in a layer of expanded polystyrene in the right place.

Material parameters	Plates of extruded polystyrene foam "Penoplex-Comfort"	Polyfoam PSB-C-50
Illustration
Thermal conductivity( W / m оС)	0,028 ÷ 0,034	0,039 ÷ 0,050
Steam permeability( mg / m × h × Pa)	0.007	-
Water absorption for 24 hours in% of the volume	0.4	0.6
Strength under statistical bending MPa( kg / cm²)	0,4 ÷ 0,7	0,07 ÷ 0,20
Compressive strength 10% lineardeformation, not less than MPa( kgf / cm²)	0,25 ÷ 0,3( 2,5 ÷ 3)	0,15 ÷ 0,2( 1,5 ÷ 2)
Density( kg / m³)	28÷ 35	35 ÷ 50
Operating temperatures	-50 to +75
Fire resistance category	G1	G4
Standard dimensions, mm:
- length and width	600 × 1200	1000 × 1000
- thickness	20;thirty;40;50;60;80;100	from 20 to 200

And still - it's still not the best solution for the water "warm floor".It will be more convenient to use special mats designed specifically for these purposes.

Expanded polystyrene mats with film or( and) foil-coated

Such mats, while retaining all the advantages of the already mentioned expanded polystyrene plates, have the advantage that they are, in fact, a complete construction - the foil and film layer applied on them eliminates the need to top coat a type"Penofol".

It remains only to lay these mats on the floor, densely join them together( very often this is provided with locking lamellae), and then glue along the joints. Moreover, some models are already equipped with a protruding edge of the film coating with a self-adhesive base covered with a protective substrate. That is, in this case, you will not need waterproof tape.

These mats can be produced as separate panels, as shown in the figure above. And it is even more convenient to purchase products consisting of separate fragments well fitted to each other and connected by a common film foil coating, in the form of a rolled roll similar to a tractor caterpillar, or folded like a children's book.

When rolling this mat on the surface of the floor immediately closes a large area of ​​the surface, and individual blocks of polystyrene immediately closest to each other. Very quickly a well-insulated and waterproofed surface is created for laying the contours of the "warm floor".

mats. On the upper film coating, a grid of lines is applied with a pitch of 50 ÷ 100 mm - this is extremely convenient for laying pipes in accordance with a pre-designed scheme - it is easy to withstand the required laying step.

The fastening of the pipes to the mat can be made with the same harp couplers, which were discussed above. However, other methods of fixing are also possible - with the installation of mounting plates, with binding to the reinforcing mesh, etc.- As convenient to the master.

Parameters	PS 50125	Energofloor Tacker TP	Penoroll-35( based on extruded polystyrene)	Rehau Rautak
Illustration
Thermal conductivity coefficient, W / m 2 ° C	0.036	0.034	0.032	0.035
Dynamic strength, kgs / cm²	3.0	5.5	6.0	5.0 ​​
Sound attenuation, dB	23	23	27	25
Dimensions, mm:
- width	1000	1000	600	1000
- roll length	5000	2000( roll or "book")	5000	before12000( roll or "book")
- thickness	25	25	20	From 20 to 70
- grid coordinate step	50	50	100	50

Pofilnye base mat

Such mats can be safely attributed to the most convenient - they are specially designed just for pipe laying contours of a "warm floor".

They are also made of expanded polystyrene, but already with the technology of hydropelent punching, which ensures high density and reliable retention of the given shapes. And their main distinguishing feature is the presence on the upper plane of special profile elements - so-called bosses in the form of cylinders, parallelepipeds or other three-dimensional figures. These bosses are arranged in this way and with such a step one from the other that the pipe, laid between them, receives a very reliable fixation without the use of any additional fastening elements. The probability of contour displacement during the laying and pouring of the screed is practically nonexistent.

• These mats are made of expanded polystyrene with a high density - about 40 kg / m³.The resulting products are quite capable of coping with all possible static and dynamic loads in living quarters.
• Despite the increased density, the insulating qualities do not suffer from this - the coefficient of thermal conductivity is within 0.040 W / m × ° C, which is a very good indicator.
• Mats can be produced "bare", that is, without coating, but the optimal solution will be the purchase of products coated with special technology with a strong polymer film. Since high-quality mats have special locking joints, ensuring tightness at the joints, after laying a solid, perfectly waterproof surface is formed. It can safely be laid as a semi-dry, and a classic "wet" screed.
• With the use of such mats, the process of laying pipes is extremely simplified. This can be done alone, gently inserting the pipes into the spaces between the bosses and "sending" them to the full fixation with the foot, shod in the shoes on the soft soles.

• As the mats are executed on the basis of expanded polystyrene, they also create an anti-noise barrier. Thus, the reduction of the level of impact noise with a thickness of the thermal insulation layer of only 20 mm can reach 23 ÷ 25 dB.

The sizes of mats from different manufacturers can be different. Usually a certain range of thicknesses is envisaged - from 10 to 50 mm. In addition, mats can be designed for certain pipe diameters.

Which pipes are optimal for "warm floors"?

The choice of components for creating a floor heating system is extremely important, as all elements have special requirements. How to choose pipes for the "warm floor" - read the special publication of our portal.

For example, several types of profile mats for water-based "warm floors":

Parameters	"Rehau Varionova 30-2"( Germany)	"Format"( Russia)	"Ecopol 20"( Russia)	FT 40208( Russia)
Illustration
Thermal conductivity coefficient, W / m × ° C	0,037	0,036	0,035	0,035
Overall dimensions, mm	1450 × 850	815 × 615	1100 × 800	1000 × 500
Thickness of the insulation layer, mm	30	20	20	20
Height of the lugs,mm	20	20	18	20
Overall height of the mat, mm	50	40	38	40
Applicable pipe diameter, mm	14 to 17	14 to 20	to 17	Up to 20
Laying step, mm	multiples of 50	multiples of 150	multiples of 50	multiples of 50
Coating	Drawn waterproofing films	are produced uncoated and with upper film layer	Robust black film coating	Film coating of green
Design features	Sealedlocking connection between mats	stamped joint	tight sealing between mats, double material density on bosses	digitized scalesalong the perimeter, a relief bottom surface for smoothing out unevenness and enhancing the effect of sound insulation.

General recommendations for the choice and installation of mats for underfloor heating

Although the cost of mats is quite moderate, it is still not worth throwing the day away by purchasing low-quality products. When choosing mats, you should observe a few simple rules:

• If there is a choice, there is no doubt that mats with a foil or laminating top layer should be preferred. As already mentioned, this immediately solves the issue of waterproofing before pouring the screed, and in addition, improve the efficiency of the floor heating system.
• Pay attention to the matching of the parameters of the mat to the planned diameter of the pipes of the contour and the pitch of its laying - here mismatches are not excluded.
• The thickness of the insulation part of the mat is chosen depending on the degree of insulation of the floors. At the same time, the thickness of the future screed and the finish of the floor must be taken into account - so as not to exceed the permissible limit of the concept of the height of the surface. If the floor does not need special insulation, you can purchase profile mats with lugs, minimum thickness, practically without a thermal insulation layer - only to facilitate the process of laying out the contours.

• Workshops for the production of products from expanded polystyrene - there are many in any region. If the plans to purchase really high-quality products of a well-known manufacturer, it makes sense to require the seller to provide the relevant documents proving the originality of the products. So there will be much less chances to purchase foam plastic "homemade" of incomprehensible quality, made in some half-craft workshop.

When laying mats, it is necessary to comply with certain requirements:

• Whatever mat is used, waterproofing is mandatory for it. This can be a film coating of the surface of the base of the floor, insulation of the lubricating or penetrating type. It is important to exclude capillary penetration of moisture from below, and also create a barrier that will not allow leakage downwards, if the integrity of the contour pipe is disturbed. Throughout the perimeter of the room, a damper tape must be glued.

• The mats are laid on the waterproof surface and fastened together by the lock joints( if provided by the mat design).

• mats Sometimes thin and light mats can require fixing them to the floor. This can be done using glue. But it is strictly forbidden to use metal fasteners for this - the floor waterproofing, and strength characteristics of the mat will suffer as well.
• If flat mats( plates) are used that do not have a lock joint, then they are also appropriately glued to the floor surface. In addition, the joints between them must be glued on top with a waterproof tape. If the mats have a foil surface, then the adhesive tape is better to use also with a foil coating.

Switching to the laying of the pipes of the heating floor contour is possible only after the entire surface of the room has been completely covered with mats.

At the end of the publication - cognitive video on laying the contours of the warm floor on the profile mats produced by another well-known European company - HENCO.

Video: installation of water "underfloor heating" for profile mats HENCO