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OVERLAY™ 

LITE

OVERLAY™

SOLID 

FLOOR

FLOATING 

FLOOR

06

07

AN OVERVIEW OF UNDER FLOOR 

HEATING SYSTEMS

SELECTING THE RIGHT POLYPIPE 

UNDER FLOOR HEATING SYSTEM

Polypipe has the widest available range of under floor heating systems, with a 

product available for every conceivable floor type or residential heating project. 

With Polypipe, under floor heating is not restricted to new build developments or 

self build projects. Our unique Overlay™ product is particularly well suited to single 

room projects such as kitchens, bathrooms, conservatories, extensions and loft 

conversions. Polypipe Modular Heating Panels (MHP) were developed to provide an 

innovative and practical solution to installing under floor heating into upper floors.

The notes below provide a brief overview of the methodologies 
employed to install under floor heating systems for various floor 
types. Refer to the overview on the page opposite. Full installation 
instructions for each floor type can be found in the section titled 
‘Installing the system’ on pages 12 to 36. 

Solid Floor

Polypipe under floor heating can be permanently built into solid 
concrete or screeded floors. As required by current Building 
Regulations, insulation is built into the floor directly beneath the 
unique Polypipe lightweight plastic floor panel. The heating pipe 
is simply slotted into the panel and then permanently covered by 
the screed. Suitable for all floor coverings, solid floor systems can 
incorporate 15mm or 18mm pipe.
The floor panels form a simple grid for the quickest possible 
pipe laying and provide a precise guide to achieve the minimum 
bending radius. Panel castellations are set at exact centres and 
hold the pipe against movement when screeding. The floor panel 
holds the pipe above the insulation allowing full screed surround. 
Optimum screed depth is 65mm from the panel base, i.e. 40mm 
from the pipe top. Insulation below and at the edges of the floor 
screed is required by Building Regulations. Edge insulation also 
acts as an expansion joint. 

Floating Floor

When installed in floating floors, Polyplumb pipe is simply pressed 
in to the pre-formed heat spreader plate, which sits in grooves 
within the floating floor insulation panel. The floating floor 
system is then covered with 18mm chipboard sheeting. Suitable 
for all floor covering, floating floor systems can incorporate 
15mm or 18mm pipe.  

Suspended Floor

For installations in suspended floors, Polypipe under floor heating 
uses double heat spreader plates. Alternatively, pipes can be laid 
on top of insulation between joists. Standard tongue and groove 
floorboards are laid on top of the system. Suspended double heat 
spreader plate systems use 15mm pipe. 

MHP (Modular Heating Panels)

Modular Heating Panels offer a revolutionary new way to solve 
the issue of installing under floor heating into upper floors. MHP 
is available in two widths and two lengths to fit all standard joist 
spacings. All components and circuitry is pre-configured into 
the panels which are simply installed between the joists, linked 
together and connected to the manifold. 

Overlay™

Overlay™ allows under floor heating to be installed into existing 
spaces quickly, easily and practically. The unique system is 
supplied with a choice of patented low profile panels to suit all 
types of floor coverings. The Overlay™ system is laid over existing 
solid or timber floors. 

Under floor heating systems

Product selection: Typical applications and features

New build

Existing floor

SUSPENDED 

FLOOR

Under floor

All floor 

coverings
High mass 

system
Typical ground 

floor or beam 

and block 

construction

All floor 

covering 

except natural 

wood/thick 

laminates
Lightweight 

construction
No wet trades 

required

Lightweight 

floor coverings
Larger areas
Multiple rooms

Tiles or 

natural wood
Wet areas

Over floor

MODULAR 

HEATING 

PANEL

All floor 

covering 
Fit from above
Traditional 

joists
Traditional 

heat source

All floor 

coverings
Fit from 

above/below
Traditional 

or engineered 

joists
Traditional or 

renewable heat 

sources

SUSPENDED 

FLOOR

Summary of Contents for Under Floor Heating Systems

Page 1: ...s Broomhouse Lane Edlington Doncaster DN12 1ES Tel 01709 770 000 Fax 01709 770 001 2410 London Road Mount Vernon Glasgow G32 8XZ Tel 0141 778 8822 Fax 0141 778 2703 Dromore Road Lurgan Craigavon Co Ar...

Page 2: ...revious printed copies will become out of date The latest version of our installation advice including a downloadable version of the current Technical Installation Guide can be found at our trade webs...

Page 3: ...xtensive back up service Technical representation available to discuss systems in general and particular projects www ufch com Technical Installation CD Specialist Technical Hotline on 01709 770000 En...

Page 4: ...he floor screed is required by Building Regulations Edge insulation also acts as an expansion joint Floating Floor When installed in floating floors Polyplumb pipe is simply pressed in to the pre form...

Page 5: ...r requires a bespoke design You then simply input data for each room providing floor type room size and control zones to calculate the required pack All packs have a single order code and include all...

Page 6: ...h when heated will reduce to 8 9 and cause only a very small amount of shrinkage The floor will re absorb some moisture when the heating is not operating and the moisture content will increase to 12 1...

Page 7: ...d around the perimeter of the room using staples so as to prevent possible risk of the panels lifting Preparing the pipe Step 4 You will need to remove the coil from the bag leaving the shrink wrap on...

Page 8: ...ted the screed cover can be applied Care should be taken to ensure that the screed is tightly compacted around the pipe to ensure that no voids are present The system should remain under pressure 6 ba...

Page 9: ...nder pressure whilst the flooring is laid Finishing The room can then be finished by fitting 18mm or 22mm tongue and groove sheets of chipboard glued on the edge over the floating floor system Mark th...

Page 10: ...hed downwards and away from the underside of the timber finished floor covering as this could lead to potential underperformance of the system Testing Step 4 Once the pipe circuits have been installed...

Page 11: ...These can be fixed directly through the spreader plate down in to the joists below It is important to indicate the position of pipework in areas where the additional fixing of items such as carpet gri...

Page 12: ...heir high output at relatively low flow temperatures Modular Heating Panels are ideal for maximising heat efficiency and lowering energy consumption In most installations it is not necessary to cover...

Page 13: ...should be selected The span is defined as the free space from wall to wall that needs to remain uninterrupted by trimmers or other services Ideally install MHP panels prior to other services whenever...

Page 14: ...omes into direct contact with it Always ensure that electrical cables are not in physical contact with the MHP panels using tape or a polythene strip Finishing Once you have connected your system up t...

Page 15: ...for heavyweight floor coverings such as ceramics or where the floor covering needs to be secured directly to the panel e g solid wood Overlay Lite is a high compressive strength lightweight insulated...

Page 16: ...is should be the first consideration for most projects The more structural nature of Overlay however makes it ideal for direct tiling or application of floor finishes which need to be fixed or screwed...

Page 17: ...mple of blanking in a bathroom Example of squaring off an irregular room plan Room layouts The following diagrams show some examples of room shapes pipe requirements and interruptions pillars hearths...

Page 18: ...wood floors they can be discretely screwed through the tongue and groove directly into the Overlay panel avoiding pipe circuitry to minimise movement in the floor covering If over boarding with 6mm p...

Page 19: ...r covering as normal It is advisable to mark out pipe positioning to avoid stapling pipes when fitting carpets 36 37 Overlay Lite for lightweight floor coverings Installation Laying end returns Step 1...

Page 20: ...stic hot water primary circuits To provide independent hydraulic control of the entire system it is important that the installation is designed as an S Plan or S Plan Plus configuration which allows f...

Page 21: ...d in under floor heating systems is less than that required for radiators or stored hot water If these other services are connected to the same boiler it will be necessary to control the water tempera...

Page 22: ...iring centre and slave units Available in two surface finishes and offers the following features Large touch screen display with high visibility blue LED backlight On screen display shows current stat...

Page 23: ...distribution pipe work Connection from nearest radiator 260mm 200mm Pump Pipe thermostat Heating return Heating flow Under floor heating flow Under floor heating return Thermostatic blending valve Pu...

Page 24: ...ible tap connectors for the simplest method of connection Close all under floor heating circuits except one by screwing down the blue caps and closing the isolating valves situated on top of the manif...

Page 25: ...resistant to the build up of scale Short term chlorination for disinfection of supply pipe work and normal levels of chlorine in UK domestic water supplies will not have an adverse effect on the integ...

Page 26: ...ng should be done with all switches on and room thermostats calling Fault finding complete Adjust pump speed and set flow rates in accordance with the system design data as provided NO NO Is the boile...

Page 27: ...Manufacturing quality assurance In accordance with BS ES ISO 9001 2000 BSI registered firm Certificate FM00318 Installation standard To follow the recommendations of BS5955 Part 8 2001 Plastic Pipewo...

Page 28: ...OR HEATING REQUIREMENTS Manifold Position s Please also indicate on drawing Floor Type Solid Suspended Floating MHP Overlay Overlay Lite Ground Floor 1st Floor 2nd Floor CONSTRUCTION DETAILS If NOT to...

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