#BEST FLOORING FOR RADIANT HEAT PROFESSIONAL#

Species with a higher number are less stable and are less suitable for use over radiant heat. Less stable species such as hickory, beech, and maple are less suitable for use over radiant heat. The types of wood flooring best suited for under-floor radiant heat systems should be accounted for to ensure long-term performance.īoth in solid and engineered flooring options, certain species are known for their inherent dimensional stability such as mesquite, black cherry, black walnut, and others.

The end-user should be made aware of the importance of proper usage and maintenance of the humidification system and data loggers to ensure adequate temperature and relative humidity levels are maintained year-round.

Placement of these sensors should be determined with the assistance of the radiant heating system installer to gain the most accurate floor temperature readings.

In-floor or under-floor data loggers are recommended to be installed by the flooring contractor to ensure the temperature and humidity conditions do not exceed flooring tolerances.

#BEST FLOORING FOR RADIANT HEAT PROFESSIONAL#

The wood flooring professional should confirm and document if a supplemental humidification system is present and operational before the specification or installation of the wood flooring.

A supplemental humidity control system will often be necessary, and should be specified into the project, to properly support the wood flooring manufacturer’s environmental requirements, or when not specified, to support ambient airspace conditions between 30 percent to 50 percent RH, and 60° F-80° F, per NWFA Installation Guidelines.

With the heating source placed directly below the installed wood flooring, the moisture content will forcibly be reduced during the heating season if supplemental humidification is not added.

All wood flooring should be properly matched to the expected live-in conditions in which it will perform.

These are some of the most important variables to keep in mind when specifying or installing a wood floor over any radiant heating system: The ability of the radiant heating system to either adequately heat the facility, or to simply warm the floor, without damaging the wood, must be taken into account when specifying a radiant heating system within any facility. The ability/inability of a wood flooring material to transfer heat will directly affect the radiant heating system design.

How the wood floor performs over the radiant heat is equally as important. Human comfort, however, is only one part of the equation. To provide an adequate thermal environment for the end-user, many factors must be taken into account, including the size of the room, the construction of the home, R-value of the windows, HVAC systems, the number and age of the occupants, and the interior finishes that may be directly affected by these requirements.Īccording to ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), a floor temperature that creates optimal human comfort for most people lies just about at 75° F as shown in this graph. Thermal comfort is defined by building scientists and health care professionals as “a condition of mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment.” Radiant heating and cooling systems are commonly used when addressing human thermal comfort (even though radiant cooling systems are never recommended for use under wood flooring). End-users may feel uncomfortable when coming in contact with floor surfaces that are too warm or too cool. The temperature of the floor surface is the key to determining what level of comfort is necessary.

Radiant heating may be either hydronic (water/fluid flowing through pipes) or electric (electric resistance heating elements).

Radiant heating as a technology is the method of intentionally using the principles of radiant heat to transfer radiant energy from an emitting heat source to an object. Radiant (underfloor) heating is a type of heating system that is placed below the floor of a building.

Best flooring for radiant heat