Underfloor central heating spreader plates
 

I'm about to fit UFCH in my new extension. Does anybody know who
makes/sells "heat spreader plates" - aluminium trays with a channel for
15mm pipe to sit in?
I've only found Polyplumb after hours of googling.

As an aside I've come to the conclusion that UFCH is a bit like
kitchens and double glazing - it's seen as "exotic" and the market is
infested with companies who will do it all for you at an outragious
price. They mostly devote half of their websites to telling you how
good UFCH is but finding proper information is a nightmare. Rant over.

Thanks,
Calvin

On 1 Aug 2005 00:21:00 -0700, "Calvin" wrote:

I'm about to fit UFCH in my new extension. Does anybody know who
makes/sells "heat spreader plates" - aluminium trays with a channel for
15mm pipe to sit in?

A decade ago I got ours from Hepworth who also gave away a good
design guide.
http://www.hepworthplumbing.co.uk/He...ct%20Guide.pdf

--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

In article . com,
says...
I'm about to fit UFCH in my new extension. Does anybody know who
makes/sells "heat spreader plates" - aluminium trays with a channel for
15mm pipe to sit in?
I've only found Polyplumb after hours of googling.

There are a number of online suppliers of UFCH components, so you don't
need to go to a specialist contractor if you know what you want. BES
http://www.bes.co.uk/ sell Polyplumb and Danfoss UFCH components,
including the Polyplumb heat spreader plates. Another to try is IPPEC
http://www.ippec.co.uk/erol/index.html used by a colleague in a barn
conversion.

As an aside I've come to the conclusion that UFCH is a bit like
kitchens and double glazing - it's seen as "exotic" and the market is
infested with companies who will do it all for you at an outragious
price. They mostly devote half of their websites to telling you how
good UFCH is but finding proper information is a nightmare. Rant over.

UFCH is essentially a very simple system. It needs a bit of thought as
to how to lay out the pipes (patterns, spacing, number of circuits, etc)
and I guess if you want to be absolutely certain about it, do flow rate
and temperature calculations. Usually I think there's enough latitude in
the installation that you don't need to be that precise and can tune the
system in place. That's the only added value a contractor provides, and
most if not all UFCH OEM manufacturers will do the calcs and prepare
some CAD plans if you ask them (including Polyplumb).

Some systems are more complex (needlessly) than others, some only work
with sealed systems, some are limited to small floor areas, etc, but
there's not much more to it.

I've looked (unsuccessfully) to find an online supplier from Germany or
Italy where most of this stuff is made, and is very much more commonly
used. Prices shouldn't carry the premium they do here.

-Antony

"Antony Jones" wrote in message
.. .
In article . com,
says...
I'm about to fit UFCH in my new extension. Does anybody know who
makes/sells "heat spreader plates" - aluminium trays with a channel for
15mm pipe to sit in?
I've only found Polyplumb after hours of googling.

There are a number of online suppliers of UFCH components, so you don't
need to go to a specialist contractor if you know what you want. BES
http://www.bes.co.uk/ sell Polyplumb and Danfoss UFCH components,
including the Polyplumb heat spreader plates. Another to try is IPPEC
http://www.ippec.co.uk/erol/index.html used by a colleague in a barn
conversion.

As an aside I've come to the conclusion that UFCH is a bit like
kitchens and double glazing - it's seen as "exotic" and the market is
infested with companies who will do it all for you at an outragious
price. They mostly devote half of their websites to telling you how
good UFCH is but finding proper information is a nightmare. Rant over.

UFCH is essentially a very simple system.

UFH is not simple if you want it to work properly. An outside weather
compensator to anticipate temperature gains and losses is essential for good
comfort conditions, and economy. As is a Grundfoss Alpha auto variable
speed pump. Manifolds are essential to distribute the pipes to the zones,
which are usually one or two rooms. Electric wall stats can be used for
local control switching solenoid valves on the manifolds for each zone, or
use mechanical Danfoss variable flow stats, as in BES, and eliminate the
electric solenoids and stats.

Have the weather compensator set the temperature of a thermal store and use
an Alpha pump to pump this water to the manifolds.

Just connecting the flow and return from a boiler to the manifolds and
inserting a blending valve between taking the temperature down to 45-50C, is
the wrong way to do it.

On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 00:01:16 +0100, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:


UFH is not simple if you want it to work properly.

It is perfectly simple - even the Romans managed it. It requires
some careful planning to get the sizes right but that's all.

An outside weather
compensator to anticipate temperature gains and losses is essential for good
comfort conditions, and economy.

No it isn't - its usually used as a plumbers bodge to get around the
inability of the self proclaimed "heating specialists" (aka plumbers)
to do simple maths.

As is a Grundfoss Alpha auto variable speed pump.

How do all those systems without one work?

or
use mechanical Danfoss variable flow stats, as in BES, and eliminate the
electric solenoids and stats.

You have just got back from the pub again I presume?.

Have the weather compensator set the temperature of a thermal store and use
an Alpha pump to pump this water to the manifolds.

On second thoughts you are still there.


--
Peter Parry.
http://www.wpp.ltd.uk/

"Peter Parry" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 00:01:16 +0100, "Doctor Drivel"
wrote:

UFH is not simple if you want it to work properly.

It is perfectly simple - even the Romans managed it.

That's fine if you can afford two permanent slaves.

It requires some careful planning
to get the sizes right but that's all.

An outside weather
compensator to anticipate temperature gains and losses is essential for
good
comfort conditions, and economy.

No it isn't

It is.

As is a Grundfoss Alpha auto variable speed pump.

How do all those systems without one work?

Badly

or
use mechanical Danfoss variable flow stats, as in BES, and eliminate the
electric solenoids and stats.

You have just got back from the pub again I presume?.

It is clear you haven't aclue about UFH.

Have the weather compensator set
the temperature of a thermal store and
use an Alpha pump to pump this
water to the manifolds.

On second thoughts you are still there.

Nothing worse than a know-it-all amateur. A know-it-all who knows eff all.
Boy and they really think they are right.