Newbuild - UFH upstairs as well as down?

kenmc

Hi, looking for the pros and cons of a new build with UFH upstairs too. Obviously it has an impact on the build fabric, I believe it can only be block or SIP.

What other pros and cons should I be aware of?

Still waiting for planning permission, so nothing yet set in stone, but have Energy consultant on board, hoping to go with A2W HP, UFH on ground and possibly first floor, but open to suggestions. Are solar tubes redundant with A2W or should we spec them in also?

Thanks
Kenmc

MicktheMan

kenmc wrote: »

have Energy consultant on board,

Ask him / her as they are in the best position to advise.

kenmc

they advised me to talk to people who live with UFH, see what their experiences are. Hence the post.

Billydoc

I've A2W system. UFH downstairs and Upstairs. House built in 2011. Can't fault it.

BryanF

Ask the assessor What is your kWh/m2 demand is and whether a towel rad up stairs in the bathroom would suffice

Edit: assuming Mvhr etc

kenmc

BryanF wrote: »

Ask the assessor What is your kWh/m2 demand is and whether a towel rad up stairs in the bathroom would suffice

Edit: assuming Mvhr etc

yes, MVHR planned also, sorry, should have stated that in the first post.

I guess my question is more aimed at the "living with" rather than "meeting regulations" side of the line - at the moment I've got upstairs UFH as a "nice to have" but not a "must have", and if budget requires, it could be dropped. Is this mentality wrong, and should I look to move it into "must have"?

If we don't put UFH upstairs what are the other options - do we need to have rads up there, or will sufficient heat rise from the lower floor to make upstairs comfortable without any heat source?

BryanF

kenmc wrote: »

yes, MVHR planned also, sorry, should have stated that in the first post.

I guess my question is more aimed at the "living with" rather than "meeting regulations" side of the line - at the moment I've got upstairs UFH as a "nice to have" but not a "must have", and if budget requires, it could be dropped. Is this mentality wrong, and should I look to move it into "must have"?

If we don't put UFH upstairs what are the other options - do we need to have rads up there, or will sufficient heat rise from the lower floor to make upstairs comfortable without any heat source?

Ufh requires coordination, and must though-out, with a well insulated & air-tight envelope
Rads are a little cheaper, traditional used, and so understood by most plumbers/ home owners.

Get your energy assessor of the fence and find out what your actual heat demand is, which will In turn dictate whether you need ufh upstairs.

bruschi

kenmc wrote: »

yes, MVHR planned also, sorry, should have stated that in the first post.

I guess my question is more aimed at the "living with" rather than "meeting regulations" side of the line - at the moment I've got upstairs UFH as a "nice to have" but not a "must have", and if budget requires, it could be dropped. Is this mentality wrong, and should I look to move it into "must have"?

If we don't put UFH upstairs what are the other options - do we need to have rads up there, or will sufficient heat rise from the lower floor to make upstairs comfortable without any heat source?

I have UFH upstairs and wouldnt have it any other way to be honest. Personal preferences and all that, but I find it great. Working of a horizontal ground source geothermal heat pump system. A bit more expensive to put in, but not that expensive to run.

stickybookmark

kenmc wrote: »

If we don't put UFH upstairs what are the other options - do we need to have rads up there, or will sufficient heat rise from the lower floor to make upstairs comfortable without any heat source?

I seriously doubt you could get away with no heating upstairs in Ireland, unless you're building a passive house?

mrsWhippy

For those of you who have UFH upstairs, what sort of construction fabric do you have on the first floor, and what type of flooring in the bedrooms?

Thanks

Borzoi

stickybookmark wrote: »

I seriously doubt you could get away with no heating upstairs in Ireland, unless you're building a passive house?

Have UFH on ground and first. Never turn it on upstairs, rooms are generally around 18C

stickybookmark

mrsWhippy wrote: »

For those of you who have UFH upstairs, what sort of construction fabric do you have on the first floor, and what type of flooring in the bedrooms?

Thanks

Concrete slab FF with normal sand & cement screed poured over it. No insulation in the FF. Will be tiles (probably wood-effect tiles) in all bedrooms to maximise UF heating efficiency

BarneyMc

stickybookmark wrote: »

Concrete slab FF with normal sand & cement screed poured over it. No insulation in the FF. Will be tiles (probably wood-effect tiles) in all bedrooms to maximise UF heating efficiency

Without insulation layer I assume it will be a slow reaction heat release and also how will you pin down your UFH pipes?

Dardania

ANy concerns with noise passing - going to put insultaion under in the ceiling void at ground level?

stickybookmark

BarneyMc wrote: »

Without insulation layer I assume it will be a slow reaction heat release and also how will you pin down your UFH pipes?

The plumber stapled them directly onto the concrete slab. UFH pipes are already installed. We're finished to wall plate level.

stickybookmark

Dardania wrote: »

ANy concerns with noise passing - going to put insultaion under in the ceiling void at ground level?

No in my brother's house they have concrete slab FF and no insulation and you can't hear noise from upstairs when you're downstairs and vice versa. The concrete slab FF provides the sound insulation without needing additional insulation.