Best Under Slab Insulation For Radiant Heat

Below grade under slab system with foamular extruded polystyrene rigid board insulation and radiant heating.
Best under slab insulation for radiant heat. Get all the construction documentation you ll need in a single click. Any cooler surface in contact with the slab will try to steal its heat. Downward heat loss from a radiant slab should not exceed 10 percent of upward heat output a ratio derived from european installation standards for floor heating systems it s possible to calculate the r value needed to meet. Need insulation for under concrete slabs slabs with radiant heat.
Q how much insulation is necessary under a typical radiant slab. Remember that your slab will be about 75 degrees f. A john siegenthaler a consulting engineer who specializes in hydronic heating system design responds. In warm climates a minimum of r 5 is recommended below the slab.
The insulation phase is crucial for a radiant floor. Insulation is of crucial importance to a radiant heated slab with pex. Insulation under the slab can reduce temperature swings in the heated space and respond quicker to new changes in thermostat settings. Also make sure that you insulate the slab edge as that s where the heat loss from a slab is greatest.
Slabs that include embedded hydronic tubing for radiant heat always need a continuous layer of horizontal insulation under the entire slab. A continuous layer of horizontal insulation reduces heat loss in the winter and it reduces condensation of humid air on the slab during the summer. This reason by itself can justify the use of under slab insulation. R 10 in cold climates.
Javascript seems to be disabled in your browser. Some people use twice the r value at the slab edge as they do under the slab. Determining how much insulation. Specify this solution zip 4 3 mb.
Mainly heated slabs radiate outward rather than downward so insulation on the edges of the slab is most important.