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"teplosouz" - renewable energy sources in service in the present and future! Mats for warm water floors Which is better: comparison with others.

The efficiency of floor heating depends solely on properly organized thermal insulation of the base; mats for a warm water floor are ideal for this. Without this ingredient, the whole idea becomes meaningless. For this purpose, sheet or roll foam polymers - mats are used. In this article, we will look at what mats are, how to choose and use them correctly.

Their main task is to minimize heat loss. All other functions are far in second place.

Types of mats and their characteristics

Mats for water floor heating in almost all cases are made of extruded polystyrene foam. This material has a mass positive qualities:

Low thermal conductivity.
Service life not less than 40 years.
Virtually no water absorption.
Excellent soundproofing.

The use of mats for warm water floors

But at the same time, there are a couple negative properties:

Flammability.
Solvent resistance.

Learned to deal with flammability. In order to recognize expanded polystyrene as fireproof, in its production, carbon dioxide is used for foaming instead of air. But the weak resistance to solvents cannot be corrected. Therefore, manufacturers put each such mat in a film of polyethylene terephthalate (PTEF) or even polyethylene. At the same time, under the film there is also a layer of foil, if there was one on the mats.

Also on sale there are heating mats for electric underfloor heating. But this is a little different, because. the heating element is a resistive cable.

To facilitate the installation of water-heated floor mats, some manufacturers produce sheets with a locking fixation. The fastening of such plates resembles the connection of a laminate.

Somehow dividing such mats into groups is quite problematic. For they have the same material, only the release forms differ. And so, mats for warm water floors are:

leafy
Rolled

Sheet mats, these are polystyrene foam plates, in which two-centimeter protrusions are formed on one side - pegs. Mats with pegs are called "mounting mats". This size of the bosses allows you to fix pipes between them with a diameter of up to 20 mm. They do not have a single sheet size. Therefore, each manufacturer has its own sizes and methods of attaching one sheet to another. On sale there are "composite mounting mats", for example the NP series, from Oventrop. In such, the upper layer with protrusions has a base thickness of only a few millimeters. And it needs to be laid on the already laid polystyrene foam boards. On the one hand, this is convenient, because you can choose the thickness of the insulation according to your needs. But the price of such products goes through the roof.

Square meter of mounting mat Oventrop costs $25, and that's without the heat-insulating layer. A domestic manufacturer sells its products cheaper. At the production company Format, a one-piece mounting mat with an area of 1 m 2, made of expanded polystyrene 4 cm thick, costs only 400 rubles. At the same time, the Russian firm integrates lower part mat bubble wrap, which, in addition to improving the quality of heat and sound insulation, contributes to a more even fit to subfloor. And add lock connections here on each sheet.

Roll mats are the same, only narrower, sheets, but glued onto a polymer matrix. As a result, they can be rolled up. By appearance, they resemble a tank caterpillar. To fix the strips with each other, they have a self-adhesive tape on one edge, and an overlap film is left on the other. Such mats for underfloor heating no longer have protrusions for fixing pipes, but markings are applied to them, in increments of 5 cm. Accordingly, you can fix the pipe in them using:

mounting tape.
Bracket harpoons.
Clip.
Reinforcing mesh.

The prices for rolled mats are also unreasonably high. For example, ROTH roll, will cost 385 r / m 2, this is with a material thickness of 3 cm. But it will require clamps for the pipe. Domestic manufacturer ROLS ISOMARKET”, which manufactures products under the Energoflex brand, offers a rolled mat of the Energofloor®Tacker series, 353 r / m 2 each, with a thickness of 3 cm. It also has mounting mats of the Energofloor ® Pipelock series, which instead of rounded pegs, on the front surface there are bizarre-shaped clamps. Sheets measuring meter by meter and 30 mm thick cost 965 (!) Rubles.

Pros and cons of using mats when laying

The advantages of such mats include the extreme simplification of thermal insulation and pipe laying. This is especially true for mounting mats. The pipe is simply pressed between the protrusions, and it is already fixed.

Roll mats are also convenient in their own way. But not the form of release, but the fact that markings are applied to them. With its help, it is convenient not only to place the pipes according to the plan, but also to combine the elements of thermal insulation during installation.

Please note that all the advantages are not in the field of increasing the efficiency of the water-heated floor, but exclusively in the field of installation. After the work is completed, no one except you will know what is under the screed.

But the disadvantages of these materials are quite significant. And above all the price! To deal with this issue, it is necessary to bring all prices to a common denominator. Let's say the price is for 1 m 3. The company "Format", a square sheet 4 cm thick, costs 400 rubles. So, in 1 m 3 there will be 25 sheets. And it turns out that the price for 1 cube = 400 x 25 = 10000 rubles. Another Russian manufacturer, ROLS ISOMARKET”, a sheet of a mounting mat meter per meter, 3 cm thick, offers for 965 rubles. This means that 1 m 3 will cost 33.3 x 965 \u003d 32134 r / m 3. With a declared density of 35 kg / m 3, one kilogram of this expanded polystyrene costs 920 rubles (!) Meanwhile, polystyrene itself costs about 50 rubles / kg.

By the way, an ordinary sheet of extruded polystyrene foam with a thickness of 5 cm and a density of 37 kg / m 3 costs 210 r / m 2, or about 114 r / kg.

How to lay pipes in mounting mats with "bosses"

With this foundation, the process of laying pipes turns into a holiday. Following a pre-prepared plan, you need to bring the pipe into the room, and moving along a certain route, press it between the bosses. Everything!

Just? Yes, but you will have to pay a lot for it (the prices are written above). Even for a beginner, laying 100 m of pipe on mounting mats takes no more than half an hour. Then you can proceed to pressure testing the system.

Laying pipes on roll mats

Depending on the mats used, the options for fixing the pipe may also vary. Most cheap way – reinforcing mesh. It is laid on top of the thermal insulation and a pipe is fixed to it with the help of clamps (or wire). The disadvantages of this method are:

Increasing the scope of work.
Adding an additional item to the work - laying the grid.
The need to carefully monitor the bends of the pipe (possible hall).

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But the benefits are also significant. This is the most reliable way. After all, the reinforcing mesh is connected into a single canvas, and this ensures its stability and solidity. And after pouring the screed, nothing but the joy of the work done will be noticeable.

Fastening with a mounting tape (tire) has its own characteristics. Such a tire is fixed to the surface of the thermal insulation every 25-30 cm with special clips (or anchor harpoons). The distance between adjacent tapes is not more than 25 cm. Fixing the pipe is possible in different ways:

In the mounting tape, the pipe is attached using folding tongues.
In the mounting plate, the pipe snaps into place in much the same way as between the pegs of the mounting mat.
In the mounting rail, the pipe also snaps into place, but there is a fundamentally different type of retainer.

Some manufacturers of accessories for installing a water-heated floor offer special metal swivel plates. But they are more required when installing water-heated floors without a screed.

Fastening pipes with clips and harpoons is advisable to use if all components are purchased from one manufacturer: pipes, rolled mats, tires, clips (or harpoons). With such an integrated approach, it is highly undesirable to deviate from the technological process.

The entire set of accessories is offered by the manufacturer " rehau". But it is recommended to mount it with harpoons only in branded roll mats. Just in case, we add that the harpoons must fix the pipe every 25 cm.

A pipe with a diameter of 20 mm is laid in increments of 0.2 m. This is a standard value, but this is not an axiom! Depending on the location of rooms, windows, exterior walls, the frequency of laying may vary. For example, in a children's room, we recommend leaving 15 cm between the pipes. The same distance is recommended in the hallway and bathroom. Near walls with windows, or a balcony door, you can make the step tighter, 12-13 cm.

At the same time, having passed the critical section of the room, the step can be taken less frequently. Pay close attention to the bending radius of the pipes! Don't downsize it!

Particular attention should be paid to the thickness of the screed. The fact is that if the screed is not massive enough (3-4 cm), then you can constantly feel the “zebra effect” with your feet. So the minimum thickness of the screed must be 5 cm.

At the end, we will add about the direction of laying pipes for a water-heated floor. Try to organize the installation of the system in such a way that the hot coolant first passes through the pipes laid along the coldest walls.

The use of special mounting mats when organizing a water-heated floor is extremely attractive, but extremely costly. In some cases, the cost of such thermal insulation can be half the budget.

For the device of a warm water floor, one of the most important stages is the installation of a layer of thermal insulation. It is necessary to direct the flow of air coming from the heated pipeline, as well as the screed up, that is, to the base of the floor. In this case, no heat is spent on heating the floor slabs. It is from the choice of a specific material of insulation that the total number of characteristics of a warm floor will depend. In addition, mats for a warm water floor must withstand mechanical stress and at the same time retain their appearance. This indicates the need to purchase a material having a density of more than 25 kg per m 3 .

Usage

For underfloor heating, profile mounting mats are the most popular. They are based on foam plastic with a density of 40 kg per m 3. The process consists in hydropellent stamping, which results in products that can withstand mechanical stress, retain their appearance, and also withstand aggressive environments. In addition, they have a specific base with a relief, in which a pipeline with a diameter of up to 18 mm fits perfectly. In this case, no additional fasteners are required. warm water floor does not take much time and becomes more simple and convenient.

On the side surface of the mats for underfloor heating there are special locks, due to which they fit into a continuous sheet. No additional action is required here. In addition, there is also a ruler on the side surface, thanks to which the mats for each other fit very well. The surface of the material allows you to smooth out minor defects in the floor surface, create a protective layer against the penetration of noise.

An important feature of floor heating mats is the complete elimination of heat loss during the operation of the room heating system.

Advantages

When special mats are used in the work on, you can get a number of positive qualities, among which are:

But this is only part of the advantages that mounting mats for the heating system in the house have. Without them, it would be problematic to obtain such qualities and properties, as well as to install the entire circuit.

Types of mats

There are a large number of mat classifications. All of them are divided depending on the manifested functions and qualities, and they also distinguish mats depending on how they are arranged and how they are produced.

Nevertheless, more attention should be paid to the latest version of mats for a warm water floor, as their popularity is constantly growing. They have found the greatest practical application due to the manifested advantages and performance characteristics.

Profile mats

It has already been said about the technology for the production of mats with bosses. They are presented in the form of rectangles, the thickness of which starts from 10 to 35 mm. The height of the protrusions on each plate is usually up to 20 mm. The protrusions are cylindrical or cube-shaped. Between them it is possible to lay pipes of the system, in diameter which even reach 20 mm. They are fastened so firmly and reliably that even during the process of pouring a concrete screed they do not move, but remain in the place where they were originally fixed. They are presented in two types:

Ordinary.
Laminated.

Laminated options are covered with an additional vapor barrier layer in the form of a film. In the presence of such a layer, it is not necessary to create another vapor barrier when installing warm water floors. Among the shortcomings, only the moment can be noted that such mats cannot allow flooring on them with a non-standard diameter. It is possible to note the qualities and characteristics that profile mats for the underfloor heating system have:

As for the choice of mats for, then one should proceed from certain points. The thickness of the slabs must correspond to the layer of finishing casting together with the floor covering. We must not forget about the possible layer for insulation in the ceiling. If the thickness is suitable, then you can buy mats with bosses, since their main function is to securely hold the pipes. Under any circumstances, there will be no heat loss from the operation of the heating system. All of it will be transferred to the screed and subsequently on the basis of the floor, creating comfortable conditions.

Laying order

Regardless of which mat is used for the system, in any case, a waterproofing layer of polyethylene film must be arranged. In addition, additionally fix a damper tape around the perimeter of the room along the walls.

When the preparation is completed, you can begin to lay the mats on the surface, connecting them together with a locking system. If the weight of the mats is insignificant, as well as small thickness, then a special adhesive composition is used, with the help of which the elements are interconnected.

In this case, you should do without metal fasteners in the work. Otherwise, the integrity of the thermal insulation layer of the material will be violated, as well as the waterproofing layer. So you should forget about fasteners such as screws or nails. When using foil plates in work, their assembly joints must be glued with adhesive tape. Additionally, markings can be drawn on the surface of individual mat options. When all this is done, you can begin work on the water floor heating circuit or circuits. To do this, a certain layout of pipes is chosen (“snake” or “snail”), or each of them is combined in one room.

Right choice

When it comes to choosing mats for, you should pay attention to certain points:

Require certificates. Each seller for their products must have documentation confirming its high quality. In addition, warranty obligations from the seller must be displayed. Otherwise, you may encounter fakes that will only cause a negative manifestation during operation. Cheap foam plastic is unlikely to withstand loads.
The choice of mat thickness will depend on the future screed and its layer along with the floor covering. When pre-leveling the base of the floor, it will be enough to buy thin options equipped with bosses for better installation. Such mats for underfloor heating will have the best characteristics.

It is immediately better to buy laminated products, suitable not only for dry, but also for semi-dry screed.

The efficiency of home heating depends on the correct distribution of thermal energy. In heating systems, called, the optimal distribution of thermal energy is provided by mats for a water-heated floor, used when laying flexible pipes with a hot water coolant.

The figure below shows the laying of flexible pipes for underfloor heating of an independent heating system using heat-insulating mats.

The history of the use of underfloor heating goes back to ancient times. Streams of heated air rising from heated floors heated houses in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, China and Korea thousands of years before our era. The ancient heating systems that heated the marble floors from below were branched channels of a tunnel type, laid directly under the house. The heating agent in those days was hot air, heated by burning wood or coal in the hearth near the house or in the basement.

The concept of ancient architects regarding the heating of housing with warm floors has been developed in our time. Heated floors are created not only in individual buildings, but also in apartment buildings with central heating. Residents of "high-rise buildings" are equipping autonomous heating systems that allow the laying of flexible pipes with a water coolant.

A modern underfloor heating system with a water coolant is represented by a floor covering, to which heat is transferred from a water coolant circulating through the flexible tubes of the heating circuit.

The structure of autonomous underfloor heating includes the following working elements:

Flooring made of materials with high thermal inertia (wood, parquet, carpet, marble and stone). These materials slowly accumulate thermal energy from the heating circuit and gradually release it. On fig. Below is an illustration of how different underfloor heating materials conduct heat and release it into the room. The thickness of the arrows symbolizes the power of the heat flux from the material. The best indicators are for ceramic and stone tiles; wooden boards covered with carpets transfer heat worst of all.

The heating contour from flexible plastic small diameter (16-20 mm) on which the hot water heat carrier circulates.
to reduce heat losses from the walls of the heating pipeline towards the lower concrete base.
Heat-conducting elements for transferring the thermal energy of the heating circuit upward to the finishing floor covering of the room.
Heating circuit waterproofing.

The figure below shows one of the options for arranging heating with water floor heating. The pipes of the water circuit are laid in thermal insulation layers and fixed with a cement-sand screed. The same screed transfers heat to the two-layer floor covering. The damper tape glues the waterproofing along the perimeter of the wall of the room.

Thermal insulation functions

The cylindrical surface of the flexible tubes of the heating circuit radiates heat evenly in all directions. In this case, part of the thermal radiation is directed downward towards the base on which the hot tubes are laid. Thermal energy, aimlessly spent on heating the concrete base, is comparable in terms of consumption to the energy usefully given to heat the room. The arrangement of thermal insulation in the heating circuit area is an important step in creating an efficient heating system with water floors.

The heat-insulating substrate, which is used when laying a flexible circuit with a coolant, performs three main functions:

thermal insulation of the hot surface of the heating circuit tubes from the cold surface of the concrete base, preventing the flow of heat flows towards it (heat-saving function);
redirection of heat flows coming from the heating circuit to the base, in the opposite direction - up, towards the floor covering (heat-reflecting function);
rigid fixation of flexible tubes in accordance with the selected laying pattern (“snake”, “snail”, combined schemes) in order to optimize the operation of the heating system.

Thermal insulation mats

Laying the thermal insulation of the pipeline system of the water floor is most technologically advanced when using insulation mats. The simplest version of such thermal insulation is flat mats for underfloor heating with water heating, which fully justify their name (from German Matte - a mat made of matting, hemp or other coarse material).

The tubes are laid on top of the mat and fixed on their surface in order to prevent breakage of pipelines with coolant. On fig. below shows the workflow for laying and fixing polymer pipes on top of smooth mats.

The installation process is greatly simplified if you use underfloor heating mats with embossed protrusions that contribute to the quick and correct placement of pipes according to the selected laying pattern.

The thermal insulation of the mat must meet the following requirements:

increased heat-insulating properties, providing minimal heat loss and cost-effectiveness of operation;
high strength qualities, allowing without deformation to withstand the mechanical load from the weight of the concrete screed, the weight of the pipeline system with the coolant and other loads;
moisture resistance in case of possible occurrence of condensate or leaks of the flexible pipeline;
chemical and biological stability, which does not allow rotting or decomposition during operation;
soundproofing properties;
light weight in the assembled state;
fire safety.

The following requirements are imposed on the materials of the heat-insulating mat for the heating water circuit:

low thermal conductivity;
high level of reflectivity of thermal radiation (infrared range);
resistance to static and dynamic influences during operation;
material density not less than 25 kg/cu. m;
stability of parameters at temperature differences;
ecological cleanliness;
biological resistance to the effects of fungi and harmful bacteria;
resistance to chemical aggression of concrete, corroding the reflective foil layer after pouring the fixing screed for flooring;
ease of use during installation activities.

Many improvised thermal insulation materials fully meet these requirements, however, the arrangement of thermal insulation from industrial mats allows you to achieve optimal floor heating results.

Materials for thermal insulation mats

The most popular materials for mats under water floors in private housing construction are modifications of polystyrene and expanded polystyrene. At the initial stage of the introduction of mats into heated floor systems, foiled polystyrene foam products were used. These were standard smooth 3 cm thick EPS boards with a density of 30 kg/cu. m.

A coordinate grid was applied on the surface of the plates, which simplifies the procedure for marking and laying the heating circuit tubes. The working surface of the plate with markings was covered with foil to reflect thermal radiation.

For polystyrene foil plates, the following disadvantages were noted:

the need to protect the reflective mirror of the foil surface of the slab from the chemical aggression of the components of the concrete solution poured during the formation of the screed;
the need to use fasteners to fix the tubes with the coolant on the stove;
high probability of displacement and damage to the water pipeline during grouting.

Often, when preparing thermal insulation for water floors, products made of expanded polystyrene and polystyrene are confused. According to the chemical composition, these are related materials, polystyrene foam is a type of foam.

The difference lies in the manufacturing technology, which predetermined the various physical and mechanical parameters of these materials:

the density of ordinary polystyrene does not exceed 10 kg / m3, while the density of expanded polystyrene is from 30 to 40 kg / m3;
polystyrene is a granular structure, while polystyrene foam has a homogeneous structure;
expanded polystyrene has higher mechanical strength;
polystyrene has high vapor and moisture absorption, which provokes rapid destruction of foam structures in a humid environment with temperature changes.

Polystyrene with a density of up to 40 kg/cu.m. is used for the manufacture of profiled mats with molded bosses, which allow mounting the pipeline system without fixing devices. The polymer film protects the mirror layer of the foil coating from the effects of concrete mortar. Polystyrene mats are equipped with side locks, with the help of which the plates are connected to each other when forming a continuous heat-insulating coating.

Water floor mats

There are several types of mats for water floors, let's take a closer look at them.

Foil mats

Foiled matte slabs include mats made of mineral wool, basalt fiber, expanded polystyrene, foamed polyethylene (penofol) and other materials. One side of the plate is covered with foil.

The thickness of the heat-insulating substrate depends on the type of product:

laying mats made of foam foam have a thickness of 2-10 mm;
mats based on basalt fiber are produced with a thickness of 20 to 100 mm.

During installation, the plates are laid with the foil side up so that its mirror surface reflects the incoming heat from the coolant to the floor.

To fix flexible water pipes, special devices are required: staples, clamps, metal mesh.

Products with a foil surface based on penofol are of little use for installing underfloor heating on the first floors of houses with basements. In these cases, mats on basalt fibers are used.

Thermal insulation boards with foil

In the manufacture of high-density polystyrene foam (up to 35 kg / m3) is used. A foil is applied to the surface of the mat on one side, which is covered with a polymer film. A coordination grid is factory applied to the surface of the film, which facilitates the installation of the heating circuit.

The film is laid on top of the foil in order to protect the reflective layer from the chemical aggression of the concrete mortar that comes into contact when pouring the screed over the thermal insulation.

The density of the material allows it to be securely held in it by sharp brackets for fixing flexible pipes.

Profile mats

Profile thermal insulation is polystyrene mats equipped with figured protrusions (bosses) arranged in even rows along the outer surface. The thickness of heat-insulating mats with bosses reaches 35 mm. The bosses are given a cylindrical or cubic configuration, the height of the bosses is 20-25 mm. The purpose of the bosses is to ensure a tight laying of the heating circuit pipes before pouring the screed.

The cost of products, the surface of which is filled with bosses, is higher than the prices for models with a smooth surface. However, they are popular due to easy installation, high-quality sound insulation and ease of cutting when assembling a monolithic heat-insulating shield.

Thermal insulation mat manufacturers

There are plenty of manufacturers of heat-insulating products on the building materials market.

At the same time, mats of only three leading brands are the most popular:

REHAU (Germany) produces polystyrene mats with sound and thermal insulation layers. Complete with mats, it supplies clamps for fixing the heating circuit tubes.
OVENTROP (Germany) produces smooth and shaped mats. High sound-proof and heat-shielding properties of the company's products are noted.
Energoflex (Russia) - produces roll foil polyethylene and polystyrene. The production of polystyrene foam boards with two-centimeter bosses was launched.

Video

On the example of heat-insulating mats, it is obvious how the development of production technologies changes the methods of heating a home that have been developing for decades. From simple mineral wool underlays to profiled slabs that ensure precise laying and minimal heat loss - this is the result of constant innovation from leading manufacturers of heating equipment.

An important condition for the proper functioning of a warm water floor is the use of thermal insulation, which allows you to reduce energy costs and avoid heat loss.

The most modern and convenient type of insulation, among those that are presented today on the construction market, are special mats for a warm water floor. They are different, how do they differ, and how to choose the most suitable option?

What is the function of thermal insulation

When arranging a water heating system, the most important task is to minimize heat losses and direct all heat directly to the room where the structure is installed. If you simply lay pipes on the main floor, then there will be very little sense from this system, since most of the heat energy will go down to the basement or to the neighbors on the lower floor.

Thermal insulation is designed to solve this problem, which, on the one hand, is an obstacle to the entry of cold air from the basement (if the system is installed in a private household), and on the other hand, it serves to preserve and evenly distribute heat throughout the room.

Properly selected and installed thermal insulation makes it possible to eliminate the loss of thermal energy and redirect the warm flows coming from the heating pipes upward towards the room. In addition, the insulation does not allow condensation to accumulate and prevents the formation of mold on the walls.

The classic types of insulation that were widely used before are ecowool and polystyrene. Actually, even now the inexpensive cost of these materials still attracts very economical buyers. However, progress does not stand still, and manufacturers offer more practical and convenient thermal insulation materials - special mats for a water floor.

Features of the material for the production of mats

Modern mats are produced from expanded polystyrene - a material that not only has excellent heat-insulating properties, but also has a whole list of other advantages:

It has low vapor permeability (0.05 mg (m * h * Pa). For comparison, this indicator for mineral wool is 0.30. This means that polystyrene foam does not pass water vapor well and does not accumulate moisture, it is constantly in a dry state, and as a result does not contribute to formation of condensate.
It has low thermal conductivity, keeping the heat in the room as much as possible.
It has excellent soundproofing characteristics.
Does not attract rodents and is not a breeding ground for the formation and development of microorganisms.
According to the results of the tests (alternating high and low temperatures from plus 40 to minus 40 degrees and exposure to water), the service life of products made from this material is up to 60 years.

The mats use expanded polystyrene with a density of up to 40 kg / m 3, so they perfectly withstand heavy loads. This property is especially valuable when constructing a water floor, since a rather heavy structure is laid on top of the mats, consisting of water pipes, a layer of concrete and a finishing floor covering.

The main advantages of using mats

Mats for water heating structures are a modern heat-insulating material manufactured in accordance with accepted European quality and safety standards. The plates are produced using the latest technologies and combine all the advantages of traditional heaters, and at the same time are devoid of their inherent disadvantages.

have excellent performance characteristics;
have good thermal and sound insulating properties;
suitable for both semi-dry styling and wet screed;
with prolonged use do not deform and do not change size;
equipped with a locking system, thanks to which the plates are quickly and easily stacked;
most mats have markings, which greatly simplifies the process of pipe installation;
not subject to rotting, resistant to bacteria;
do not swell from exposure to water;
safe for humans, under normal temperature conditions do not emit harmful odors;
withstand both high (up to +180 degrees) and low (up to -180 degrees) temperatures;
have a long service life, which is up to 50 years.

Please note that untreated polystyrene foam is a combustible and flammable material and emits toxic smoke when burned. To reduce this property, flame retardants are added to the insulation during production, which makes it a self-extinguishing material. In domestic products, such material is marked with the letter "C" at the end.

Varieties of polystyrene foam boards

There are four types of mats that are suitable for use in arranging water floors. Each of them has its own characteristics and is intended for laying in certain conditions.

Rolled materials equipped with a foil layer.
Styrofoam boards.
Expanded polystyrene panels with foil and film coating.
Profile mats with "bosses".

The choice of a heat-insulating coating depends on the parameters of the room, the base on which the laying is carried out, the dynamic and mechanical load that the insulation has to withstand. The plates have different heights, so it is also necessary to take into account the thickness of the future screed.

Roll foil insulation

Insulation in rolls is made from foam foam with a thickness of 2 to 10 mm. On the one hand, the material is covered with aluminum foil or polymer film, the function of which is to direct the heat flow and spread heat over the entire floor area.

This type of heat-insulating material can be attributed to mats rather conditionally, since it has low heat-insulating properties. This leads to a rather limited scope of its application. It is used only when the water floor is used as an additional heating system and the main floor already has some degree of insulation.

It is not advisable to lay rolled material on the first floors of buildings and in rooms below which there are unheated areas, since the insulation efficiency in this case will approach zero.

A certain difficulty is the installation of the pipeline on this heat-insulating material. It is required to use additional fasteners: brackets, clamps, reinforcing mesh, etc. When laying the coating, the sheets are placed end to end with each other; to ensure better sealing, the seams are glued with special foil tape.

However, despite the very modest characteristics, insulation in rolls under certain circumstances is the only possible option for insulation, for example, with a small room height, when every centimeter of area counts.

Expanded polystyrene insulation boards

Flat polystyrene foam mats can be used as thermal insulation for a water floor. The simplest and cheapest option is ordinary foam plastic, a more durable and high-quality insulation is a plate made of extruded polystyrene foam.

If you decide to stop at a more affordable foam, then when buying it, you need to focus on the density of the material. This indicator should be at least 35 kg / m 3. At lower strength values, the insulation may not be enough to support the load of the heating system.

It is more preferable to use the second option, which has higher quality indicators. The best representative of this series is Penoplex. It has a closed cell structure, is durable, and withstands loads well. To improve the thermal insulation characteristics, foil insulation in rolls can be laid on top of the mats.

Mats for a warm water floor: how to choose and install

Types, characteristics and features of mats for a warm water floor. Professional advice on the choice of insulation and recommendations for laying thermal insulation.

Profile mounting mats for underfloor heating

Increasingly, modern houses are equipped with such a type of heating as "warm floor".

Indeed, if the heat comes from below, any room acquires a special comfort.

There are several types of underfloor heating, one of which is water.

For its device, in addition to the pipes themselves, which ensure the circulation of the coolant, additional elements are required that contribute to both the economy of the system and ease of installation - special insulation mats.

What is the function of mats

The efficiency of a warm water floor largely depends on the thermal insulation system arranged for it and the correct distribution of heat pipes along it.

Its necessity is obvious - it would be unreasonable to spend a significant part of the energy on heating floor slabs that no one needs. It is she who directs the flow of heat in the right direction - up, preventing unnecessary consumption of thermal energy.

It is quite clear that mats for laying a warm floor carry quite large mechanical loads. This is the severity of the pipes themselves, filled with water, a considerable mass of the screed covering the pipeline, the floor finish, plus the dynamic loads that inevitably arise during operation.

Thus, the thermal insulation material must have a density of at least 35 kg/³ in order not to be deformed.

In order for the floor to be reliable, durable and safe for the neighbors below, it is necessary to arrange waterproofing under it. In addition, this layer should protect the mats themselves from the aggressive action of the cement.

There is an opinion that the use of mats is an optional condition when laying a warm floor. It is difficult to agree with these - significant heat losses will inevitably lead to serious financial costs.

Against the background of the total cost of the entire “warm floor” system, the price of insulating mats is not so high, and a one-time purchase will pay off handsomely during operation.

What mats are used for the underfloor heating water system

Foil mats

If the "warm floor" is arranged in addition to the main heating, it will be enough to lay foil mats.

They are made of penofol (foamed polyethylene), which is covered on one side with foil.

Such mats are laid with the foil side up, along which the heating pipes are laid.

The inconvenience of these mats also lies in the fact that additional devices are needed to fix pipes on them, for example, a metal mesh with large cells, clamps, staples or clips.

Film mats

There is a warmer version of the mats, which consist of high-density polystyrene foam (30 - 35 kg per cubic meter), foil and a protective polymer film.

On the surface of the film, markings are applied, which facilitates the process of laying pipes.

These mats are quite effective heat-insulating material.

Its density allows you to securely hold the brackets that secure the pipes. A screed fits perfectly on it, which, when set, will not crack.

This type of mats can be used under "warm floors", which will be assigned the role of the only source of space heating.

They effectively retain heat, easy to fit, thanks to the lamella system.

Flat mats

Flat foam polystyrene mats with a thickness of 40-50 mm are also used for laying under water "warm floors".

It is very important that the density of the material is about 40 kg/m³.

Such flat mats are quite suitable for rooms where the only heating is a “warm floor”.

Such material is not susceptible to damage and deformation. Pipes to these mats are fixed with special plastic brackets.

When laying such mats, it will be necessary to cover them with a plastic film, in order to avoid chemical reactions when foiled polystyrene foam comes into contact with a cement-containing floor screed mixture.

Styrofoam flat mats with bosses

These are probably the most used mats today, which are made of expanded polystyrene by hydropellent stamping and have so-called bosses, figured protrusions, arranged in even rows along the entire outer surface.

This design allows you to quickly and easily lay pipes for the coolant before test pressure testing and pouring the finishing screed. Such products deserve to be considered in more detail.

Profile mounting mats

The material from which profiled mats are made is high-density polystyrene foam. They have the form of rectangular plates with a thickness of 10 to 35 mm.

On each plate, protrusions in the form of low, 20-25 mm, cylinders or cubes are arranged in even rows, in the space between which heating elements are tightly laid - pipes with a diameter of 14 to 20 mm.

Thus, the pipes receive a reliable fixation, and the probability of their shift when pouring the finishing screed is zero.

Mats can be ordinary or laminated - have a special vapor barrier film coating on top.

Characteristics

The density of expanded polystyrene used for mats is 40 kg/m³, which allows products to withstand the entire possible range of mechanical loads.
The thermal conductivity of the material is very low, and varies from 0.037 to 0.052 W/m×K, which provides reliable thermal insulation.
Profile mounting mats, thanks to the physical qualities of expanded polystyrene and the cellular structure, successfully cope with the function of sound insulation and sound absorption. The sound absorption index with a mat thickness of 20 mm is 23 dB.
Waterproofing, in addition to the laminating coating, is provided by special centering locks located at the ends of the panels. They help to lay out a continuous surface from individual panels, securely adhere the plates to each other and eliminate the appearance of cracks along the seams.
The overall dimensions of such mats are different - 1.0 × 1.0; 0.8 × 0.6 m. The pipe laying step can also vary - from 50 mm or more, usually a multiple of 50.

How to choose

When choosing a mat for a warm water floor, it would be useful to require the seller to show a certificate of product compliance with fire and environmental safety standards.

When choosing, of course, preference should be given to mats with a laminating layer - it will give additional insulating properties. Such coatings are equally well suited for both "wet" and semi-dry screed.

The thickness of the mat must be selected taking into account the thickness of the future screed and the final finish of the floor. The thermal insulation of the room is taken into account, possibly the already existing layer of thermal insulation in the ceiling.

In some cases, you can even get by with mats for a warm water floor with bosses that do not have thermal insulation qualities - use them exclusively for reliable fixation of pipes.

Whatever mats are chosen, waterproofing from a special film material is arranged under them over the entire area of the room.

It will keep the base from the penetration of moisture from the outside on the ground floor or in a private house, and will help to avoid trouble with neighbors in case of pipe leaks.

Along the perimeter of the entire room in the lower part of the wall, the waterproofing material is glued with a damper tape for underfloor heating.

Mats are laid on top of the waterproofing and fastened together with locks provided on the sides of the plates. Some heaters, having a small thickness and low weight, can be fixed to the floor with an adhesive method.

Foil mats are glued at the joints with a special tape, which ensures their tightness.

Flat foam plates, if they do not have a tenon-groove system, are placed tightly together, and they can also be put on glue.

After the entire floor surface of the room is completely covered with mats, the necessary markings are made and proceed to the installation of water circuits.

Estimated prices for mats

To complete a general overview of floor mats, an approximate price level for them in the Central region of Russia (Moscow and Moscow Region) will be given.

Insulating mounting mats - an indispensable element of a warm water floor

The purchase of insulating mats for the installation of water heated floors will solve several problems at once. Firstly, you can save a lot on heating, secondly, you can soundproof yourself from the neighbors below, and thirdly, you can create comfort and coziness in the house.

Spring Promotion!

The company "ForsTerm" in the spring provides a discount on equipment for underfloor heating 20%. More... More.

Underfloor heating packages

WHEN ORDERING THE "WATER HEATED FLOOR" SYSTEM IN OUR COMPANY YOU WILL RECEIVE A Free specification for … More details.

Calculation of a warm floor

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Mats for warm water floor (thermal insulation boards)

The heat-insulating plate (substrate, mat) is the basis of the foundations in underfloor heating systems. The thermal power of the floor depends on it, and the convenience and quality of pipe installation is ensured ...

Density: 40 kg/m3.

Thermal resistance: 0.85m2K/W

Pipe laying step: multiple of 5 cm.

Plate size: 1000mm x500mm.

Density (insulation thickness): 30 kg/m 3

Thermal resistance: 0.65m2K/W

Boards packed in 18 sheets = 9 m2

Package size 1130 x 530 x 610 mm

Mats for underfloor heating are made of dense expanded polystyrene and have high mechanical strength. Covered with lavsan film.

The plate surface has specially molded "columns" for convenient and reliable laying of the heating pipe.

The underfloor heating underlay is equipped with side locks, which allow the formation of solid panels of slabs over the entire surface of the heated room.

Locks guarantee reliable adhesion of the plates and exclude thermo-acoustic seams.

The use of thermal insulation mats "SYSTEM FORSTERM" allows you to reduce the installation time of underfloor heating by an order of magnitude,

secure the heating pipe during laying and pouring concrete, increase the strength of the heating "pie", save up to 10-20% of operating costs,

which is especially sensitive if the floor heating is the main or only type of heating.

Peculiarities

The embossed bottom surface performs the function of sound absorption and smoothing out floor irregularities.

A ruler is applied on the sides of the plates for the convenience of fitting the plates to the configuration of the room.

Sale of mats for warm water floor, ForsTerm

The heat-insulating plate (substrate, mat) is the basis of the foundations in underfloor heating systems. The thermal power of the floor depends on it and provides convenience and

We invite partners and customers to visit our booth at the AquaTherm exhibition in Moscow!

EC "Teplosoyuz" designed and installed a heating system for an office building in the village.

The installation of the heating system of a private house of a private house of 180 sq.m. geothermal based.

Thermal insulation mats

Description
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Thermal insulation mats for underfloor heating TS-2020 and TS-3020 Made from high quality high density polystyrene foam. The mats have high surface strength, when laying mats on the surface and installing pipes, you can walk on the slabs without fear of damaging them.

Heat-insulating mats make it easier to lay pipes for a water-heated floor, reduce heat losses, securely fix heating pipes, thanks to the fixing protrusions on the bosses, there is no need to use anchor brackets.

The use of thermal insulation boards TS-2020 and TS-2030 can significantly reduce the installation time of underfloor heating, secure the laid pipe during pouring the screed and reduce operating costs during the heating season.

Specially designed expanded polystyrene boards are used to organize a continuous layer of heat-insulating moisture-resistant bases for the “warm floor” system. They are compact finished products made of dense foam plastic, stamped at the factory and covered with a film. Designed to shield the heat flux emitted by the concrete screed of the floor heating system. Heat-insulating plates (mats) are the basis of water-heated floor systems, the quality of the screed and thermal power depend on them.

Features of TS mats with bosses and specifications

High-density polystyrene foam is used for the production of TC mats. Mats are rectangular plates, 20-50 mm thick. On the surface there are cylindrical protrusions, 20 mm high. The use of mats with bosses allows laying pipes with an outer diameter of 14-20 mm. As a result of laying in mats with clamps, the pipes are securely fixed, and in the process of pouring the screed, the risk of their displacement is reduced to zero.

There are a number of positive technical characteristics of mats with bosses:

The expanded polystyrene used has a density of 40 kg/m 3 . Due to this, the product withstands high mechanical loads.
The thermal conductivity of the material is in the range of 0.020-0.040 W/mK. This low value ensures good thermal insulation.
The thickness of the heat-insulating layer of 30mm / 20mm has a sound absorption index of 26/24 dB, i.e. mats perform the function of sound and heat insulation at the same time.
Centering locks, which are located at the ends of the slab, provide waterproofing. Due to this fastening, the plates are securely connected to each other, forming a single continuous surface. This technology completely eliminates the appearance of cracks between heat-insulating plates.

The laying step is a multiple of 5 cm, which allows laying pipes with a distance between pipes of 5,10,15,20,25,30 cm.

Underfloor heating mats: Thermal insulation mats

Teplosouz - design, equipment, installation of heat pumps, solar collectors, pumps, energy-saving and autonomous electrical equipment, service and warranty service.

How to choose mats for underfloor heating

The efficiency of home heating depends on the correct distribution of thermal energy. In heating systems, called warm water floors, the optimal distribution of thermal energy is provided by mats for a water-heated floor, used when laying flexible pipes with a hot water coolant.

The figure below shows the laying of flexible pipes for underfloor heating of an independent heating system using heat-insulating mats.

Laying flexible pipes on heat-insulating mats

Heating with warm water floors

The structure of autonomous underfloor heating includes the following working elements:

Flooring made of materials with high thermal inertia (wood, parquet, laminate, carpet, ceramics, marble and stone). These materials slowly accumulate thermal energy from the heating circuit and gradually release it. On fig. Below is an illustration of how different underfloor heating materials conduct heat and release it into the room. The thickness of the arrows symbolizes the power of the heat flux from the material. The best indicators are for ceramic and stone tiles; wooden boards covered with carpets transfer heat worst of all.

Heat flow power from the floor covering of the underfloor heating system

A heating circuit made of flexible plastic tubes of small diameter (16-20 mm), through which hot water coolant circulates.
Heat-insulating substrates to reduce heat losses from the walls of the heating pipeline towards the lower concrete base.
Heat-conducting elements for transferring the thermal energy of the heating circuit upward to the finishing floor covering of the room.
Heating circuit waterproofing.
Heat distribution control system.

On fig. one of the options for arranging heating with water floor heating is shown below. The pipes of the water circuit are laid in thermal insulation layers and fixed with a cement-sand screed. The same screed transfers heat to the two-layer floor covering. The damper tape glues the waterproofing along the perimeter of the wall of the room.

Scheme of arrangement of water systems that heat the floor of the house

Thermal insulation functions

The heat-insulating substrate, which is used when laying a flexible circuit with a coolant, performs three main functions:

thermal insulation of the hot surface of the heating circuit tubes from the cold surface of the concrete base, preventing the flow of heat flows towards it (heat-saving function);
redirection of heat flows coming from the heating circuit to the base, in the opposite direction - up, towards the floor covering (heat-reflecting function);
rigid fixation of flexible tubes in accordance with the selected laying pattern (“snake”, “snail”, combined schemes) in order to optimize the operation of the heating system.

Thermal insulation mats

Laying and fixing water pipes

The installation process is greatly simplified if you use underfloor heating mats with embossed protrusions that contribute to the quick and correct placement of pipes according to the selected laying pattern.

The thermal insulation of the mat must meet the following requirements:

increased heat-insulating properties, providing minimal heat loss and cost-effectiveness of operation;
high strength qualities, allowing without deformation to withstand the mechanical load from the weight of the concrete screed, the weight of the pipeline system with the coolant and other loads;
moisture resistance in case of possible occurrence of condensate or leaks of the flexible pipeline;
chemical and biological stability, which does not allow rotting or decomposition during operation;
soundproofing properties;
light weight in the assembled state;
fire safety.

The following requirements are imposed on the materials of the heat-insulating mat for the heating water circuit:

low thermal conductivity;
high level of reflectivity of thermal radiation (infrared range);
resistance to static and dynamic influences during operation;
material density not less than 25 kg/cu. m;
stability of parameters at temperature differences;
ecological cleanliness;
biological resistance to the effects of fungi and harmful bacteria;
resistance to chemical aggression of concrete, corroding the reflective foil layer after pouring the fixing screed for flooring;
ease of use during installation activities.

Many improvised thermal insulation materials fully meet these requirements, however, the arrangement of thermal insulation from industrial mats allows you to achieve optimal floor heating results.

Styrofoam mats with embossed structure

Materials for thermal insulation mats

For polystyrene foil plates, the following disadvantages were noted:

the need to protect the reflective mirror of the foil surface of the slab from the chemical aggression of the components of the concrete solution poured during the formation of the screed;
the need to use fasteners to fix the tubes with the coolant on the stove;
high probability of displacement and damage to the water pipeline during grouting.

Often, when preparing thermal insulation for water floors, products made of expanded polystyrene and polystyrene are confused. According to the chemical composition, these are related materials, polystyrene foam is a type of foam.

The difference lies in the manufacturing technology, which predetermined the various physical and mechanical parameters of these materials:

the density of ordinary polystyrene does not exceed 10 kg / m3, while the density of expanded polystyrene is from 30 to 40 kg / m3;
polystyrene is a granular structure, while polystyrene foam has a homogeneous structure;
expanded polystyrene has higher mechanical strength;
polystyrene has high vapor and moisture absorption, which provokes rapid destruction of foam structures in a humid environment with temperature changes.

Water floor mats

There are several types of mats for water floors, let's take a closer look at them.

Foil mats

Foiled matte slabs include mats made of mineral wool, basalt fiber, expanded polystyrene, foamed polyethylene (penofol) and other materials. One side of the plate is covered with foil.

The thickness of the heat-insulating substrate depends on the type of product:

laying mats made of foam foam have a thickness of 2-10 mm;
mats based on basalt fiber are produced with a thickness of 20 to 100 mm.

Foam foam mats

During installation, the plates are laid with the foil side up so that its mirror surface reflects the incoming heat from the coolant to the floor.

To fix flexible water pipes, special devices are required: staples, clamps, metal mesh.

Products with a foil surface based on penofol are of little use for installing underfloor heating on the first floors of houses with basements. In these cases, mats on basalt fibers are used.

Foil mats made of basalt fiber

Thermal insulation boards with foil

The film is laid on top of the foil in order to protect the reflective layer from the chemical aggression of the concrete mortar that comes into contact when pouring the screed over the thermal insulation.

The density of the material allows it to be securely held in it by sharp brackets for fixing flexible pipes.

Mats with film and coordination mesh

Profile mats

What profile mats look like

The cost of products, the surface of which is filled with bosses, is higher than the prices for models with a smooth surface. However, they are popular due to easy installation, high-quality sound insulation and ease of cutting when assembling a monolithic heat-insulating shield.

Thermal insulation mat manufacturers

There are plenty of manufacturers of heat-insulating products on the building materials market.

At the same time, mats of only three leading brands are the most popular:

REHAU (Germany) produces polystyrene mats with sound and thermal insulation layers. Complete with mats, it supplies clamps for fixing the heating circuit tubes.
OVENTROP (Germany) produces smooth and shaped mats. High sound-proof and heat-shielding properties of the company's products are noted.
Energoflex (Russia) - produces roll foil polyethylene and polystyrene. The production of polystyrene foam boards with two-centimeter bosses was launched.

Mats produced by OVENTROP (Germany)

Mats for water floor heating

Why do we need mats for a water heated floor? Types of mats and their features. How to properly lay them under a warm water floor.

Expanded polystyrene boards are an innovative building material that is very popular today in the preparation of underfloor heating systems. This is the best way to reduce the energy consumption of equipment containing heating elements. Another task is to ensure the safety of the work of employees and the premises in which this equipment is located.

Advantages of polystyrene boards

Excellent thermal insulation properties. Due to the low degree of thermal conductivity, a high level of heat-saving properties is achieved.
Good soundproofing. The product consists of cells, which allows you to achieve increased noise reduction values.
Resistance to adverse factors. Expanded polystyrene plates withstand the action of saline solutions, do not rot. This significantly increases their service life.
Ease and simplicity of installation. With a relatively low weight, polystyrene foam products boast excellent strength. Laying is carried out on the ceiling, which allows you to attach heating flexible pipes to them. As a result, this increases the reliability of the entire underfloor heating system.
Durability. Throughout the use of the material retains its original performance characteristics.
Environmental friendliness. The production uses environmentally friendly materials that are safe for the human body and animals.