Radiant heating

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Radiant heating is a heating system which heats a building through radiant heat, rather than other conventional methods including convection heating. The technology has existed since the Roman use of Hypocaust heating. The heat energy is emitted from a warm element (floor, wall, overhead panel) and warms people and other objects in rooms rather than directly heating the air. The internal air temperature for radiant heated buildings may be lower than for a conventionally heated building to achieve the same level of body comfort (the perceived temperature is actually the same).

The radiant heating systems can be divided into:

• underfloor heating systems - electric or hydronic
• wall heating systems
• radiant ceiling (overhead) panels
• Overhead gas fired radiant heaters

Underfloor and wall heating systems often are called low-temperature systems, as the area of the heating surface is rather big and temperature of heating surface shouldn't exceed 29-35°C (depending on room type). Radiant overhead panels are mostly used in production and warehousing facilities or sports centers, they hang a few meters above the floor and their surface temperature is much higher.