Polystyrene mats for heated floors. Expanded polystyrene boards for heated floors. The main features of mats for heated floors

The efficiency of heating a home depends on the correct distribution of thermal energy. IN heating systems, called, the optimal distribution of thermal energy is provided by mats for water heated floors used during installation flexible pipes with hot water coolant.

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

The history of the use of heated floors 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. Ancient heating systems that heated marble floors from below were branched tunnel-type channels laid directly under the house. The heating agent in those days was hot air, heated by burning wood or coal in a fireplace near the house or in the basement.

The concept of ancient architects regarding heating homes with heated 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 systems heating systems that allow the laying of flexible pipes with water coolant.

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

Autonomous underfloor heating includes the following operating elements:

Flooring made from 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. In Fig. below shows how various materials underfloor heating coatings conduct heat and release it into the room. The thickness of the arrows symbolizes the power of heat flow from the material. Best performance– for ceramic and stone tiles, wooden boards covered with carpets transmit heat the worst.

The heating circuit is made of flexible plastic of small diameter (16-20 mm), through which hot water coolant circulates.
to reduce heat losses from the walls of the heating pipeline towards the bottom concrete base.
Heat-conducting elements for transferring the thermal energy of the heating circuit upward to the finishing floor covering of the room.
Waterproofing of the heating circuit.

The figure below shows one of the options for arranging heating with water floor heating. The water circuit pipes are laid in layers of thermal insulation and fixed with 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 room wall.

Thermal insulation functions

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

The thermal insulating substrate, which is used when laying a flexible circuit with 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 heat flows from flowing towards it (heat-saving function);
redirection of heat flows coming from the heating circuit to the base in the opposite direction - upward, to the side flooring(heat-reflecting function);
rigid fixation of flexible tubes in accordance with the selected laying pattern (“snake”, “snail”, combined patterns) in order to optimize the operation of the heating system.

Insulation mats for thermal insulation

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

The tubes are laid on top of the mat and fixed on their surface to prevent the pipelines with the coolant from breaking. In Fig. Below is the laying and fixing workflow polymer pipes over smooth mat.

The installation process is greatly simplified if you use mats for heated floors with raised protrusions that facilitate quick and correct placement of pipes according to the chosen laying pattern.

Thermal insulation from mat must meet the following requirements:

increased thermal insulation properties, ensuring minimal heat losses and economical operation;
high strength qualities, allowing to withstand mechanical load from weight without deformation concrete screed, weight of the pipeline system with coolant and other loads;
moisture resistance in case of possible condensation or leaks of the flexible pipeline;
chemical and biological stability, preventing rotting or decomposition during operation;
soundproofing properties;
light weight when mounted;
fire safety.

The following requirements apply to heat-insulating mat materials for a 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 of at least 25 kg/cubic. m;
stability of parameters under temperature changes;
environmental cleanliness;
biological resistance to the effects of fungi and harmful bacteria;
resistance to chemical aggression of concrete that corrodes the reflective foil layer after pouring the fixing screed for the floor covering;
ease of use during installation activities.

Many available thermal insulation materials fully comply with these requirements, however, the arrangement of thermal insulation from mat industrial production allows you to achieve optimal heating results for the floor covering.

Materials for heat-insulating mats

The most popular materials for mats for water-based floors in private housing construction are modifications of polystyrene and expanded polystyrene. On initial stage For the introduction of mats into heated floor systems, foil-clad polystyrene foam products were used. These were standard smooth slabs 3 cm thick made of polystyrene foam with a density of 30 kg/cube. m.

A coordinate grid was applied to the surface of the slabs, simplifying 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.

The following disadvantages were noted for polystyrene foam foil boards:

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

Often, when preparing thermal insulation for water-based floors, products made from polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam are confused. By chemical composition This related materials, expanded polystyrene is a type of polystyrene foam.

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

the density of ordinary foam plastic does not exceed 10 kg/cub.m, while the density of polystyrene foam is from 30 to 40 kg/cub.m;
polystyrene foam has a granular structure, polystyrene foam has a homogeneous structure;
expanded polystyrene has higher mechanical strength;
polystyrene foam 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/cub.m is used for the manufacture of profile mats with molded bosses, allowing the installation of a 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 to form a continuous heat-insulating coating.

Mats for water floors

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

Foil mats

Foil matte boards include mats made from 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 penofol 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 slabs 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 you need special devices: staples, clamps, metal grid.

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

Thermal insulating boards with film

High-density polystyrene foam (up to 35 kg/cubic m) is used in production. Foil is applied to the surface of the mat on one side and covered with a polymer film. A coordination mesh is factory applied to the surface of the film, making it easier to install the heating circuit.

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

The density of the material allows it to be securely held by sharp staples for securing flexible pipes.

Profile mats

Profile thermal insulation consists of polystyrene mats equipped with shaped protrusions (bobs) 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 tight laying of the heating circuit tubes before pouring the screed.

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

Manufacturers of thermal insulation mats

Manufacturers of thermal insulation products on the market building materials plenty.

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

"REHAU" (Germany) - produces polystyrene mats with sound, - and thermal insulation layers. The mats are supplied with clamps for securing the heating circuit tubes.
“OVENTROP” (Germany) – produces smooth and profile mats. The company's products have high sound-proofing and heat-protective properties.
Energoflex (Russia) – produces rolled foil polyethylene and polystyrene. The production of polystyrene foam boards with two-centimeter bosses was launched.

Video

Using the example of heat-insulating mats, it is obvious how the development of production technologies is changing the methods of heating a home that have evolved over decades. From simple mineral wool underlays to profile boards that ensure precision laying and minimal heat loss - this is the result of constant innovative implementations leading manufacturers of heating equipment.

The construction of a water-heated floor requires specific materials, which are subject to special operational requirements. This article will not consider building materials for - this will be covered in detail in a separate publication. We will look at the types of mats on which pipes are laid. Why they are needed and what requirements apply to them, read on.

Heating using a “warm floor” system will only prove its effectiveness if reliable thermal insulation is laid underneath it. Agree, there is no point in wasting precious kilocalories on absolutely unnecessary warming up the floor slab with its huge heat capacity. Thus, the key task of mats is to create a reliable thermal insulating a layer through pipes that directs the heat flow upward.
The substrate under the pipes obviously experiences very serious mechanical static and dynamic loads. pipes filled with water themselves weigh a lot, plus the weight of the concrete screed, the finishing coating, and the load from external influences on the floor. To maintain its integrity, avoid deformation and become a kind of damper lining for pipes, the material for the mats must have a density of at least 35 kg/m³.
The mats laid under the pipes also do an excellent job of effectively providing additional sound insulation to the premises.
Good mats should also have a film waterproofing layer. This - more one barrier in case of possible leaks, and protecting them from the aggressive effects of the cement screed.

There is a category " would-be masters”, which deny the importance of mats, arguing that thermal insulation of the base will be sufficient. However, such neglect will only lead to unnecessary heat loss, which could have been avoided. The cost of the mats, if we take into account the entire “budget” of a heated floor, is very low, and the costs will be fully justified in the near future by significant savings when paying energy bills.

Types of mats used for water heated floors

Several types of mats are produced, differing in the material of manufacture, method of fastening, and purpose for specific types of premises.

Foil mats

Foil mats are made from foamed polymers (most often polyethylene, penofol) and have a layer of foil on one side. They must be covered with the foil part facing out, and pipes for the coolant are laid on this surface.

The option is not the most successful, and is only possible if the base of the floor already has a sufficient level of thermal insulation, and the heated floor itself is considered only as an addition to the existing heating system. Absolutely not applicable this type of mats in apartments on the first floors, under which basements or basements are located. They are also ineffective in private one-story construction.

Another significant disadvantage is that laying pipes on top of such coatings will require special additional structures - metal mesh, “combs”, etc.

Thin mats made of extruded polystyrene

Flat mats made of extruded polystyrene (EPS) 40÷50 mm thick with a foil coating are quite suitable for water heated floors, but with some reservations. The high density of EPP is important - about 40 kg/m³. The material itself does not have waterproofing, so it will be necessary to cover it with plastic film before laying the pipes.

A slight inconvenience on some mats of this class is the lack marking lines, so you will have to apply them yourself. But fastening the pipes in place is very simple - using special brackets.

The use of such mats allows you to install a warm floor, which can become the main source of heating in the room.

More advanced are EPS mats made of high-strength material, which, in addition to the foil layer, also have a film coating with a marking grid applied to it, which significantly simplifies the process of laying pipes in accordance with a pre-drawn diagram.

Such mats are also extremely convenient for laying on the floor. They roll out of rolls like a tractor caterpillar, turning into a dense monolithic surface without any cracks. To pair adjacent rows, special grooves are provided - lamellas. Attaching to such mats is also carried out using staples or “combs”.

Expanded polystyrene profile mats

Of course, the most convenient for a warm water floor are polystyrene foam profile mats. They are made using stamping technology, which allows them to be given a complex configuration. On top surface This material has shaped protrusions various shapes(rectangular, cylindrical, triangular, etc.) with a height of 20 to 25 mm (so-called bosses).

Heating pipes are tightly placed into the grooves formed between the bosses, thereby obtaining excellent fixation, completely eliminating the displacement of the pipes during pouring the screed.

On sale there are polystyrene foam mats with bosses without a laminating film coating, but it is better to opt for matah with coating - they are a little more expensive, but their reliability is significantly higher, since they simultaneously serve as a waterproofing layer.

Such mats have many advantages:

The density of polystyrene foam used in their production is 40 kg/m³, which allows them to easily withstand all mechanical loads.
The thermal conductivity of the material is extremely low, from 0.035 to 0.055 W/m² × ºС - they retain heat well, preventing unnecessary heating interfloor ceilings or poured subfloor.
Both the physical characteristics of EPS and the complex cellular configuration of the mats make them excellent sound absorbers– the room receives additional sound insulation.
As already mentioned, the film layer has good waterproofing qualities. In addition, a special system of end centering locks of the mats allows them to be assembled into a continuous surface, without gaps at the joints that can allow moisture to pass through.

Usually mats are produced standard sizes 1.0 × 1.0 or 0.8 × 0.6 m, with a thickness (without bosses) from 5 to 50 mm. The placement of the protrusions allows you to strictly maintain the pipe laying pitch - from 50 mm or more, with a distance divisible by 50.

Don’t be shy about asking for certificates of conformity in stores. technical specifications(TU) and current environmental and fire safety requirements. You should not purchase mats that do not have a manufacturer’s warranty. The trouble is that the market is oversaturated with cheap fakes made from fragile foam, unable to withstand the loads placed on a water floor.
If you have a choice, then, without hesitation, you should purchase mats with lamination. They are equally good for traditional screed and semi-dry screed.
The required thickness of the mats is selected taking into account the thickness of the future covering screed and the finishing floor covering. The overall thermal insulation of the room and the degree of insulation of the already laid base must be taken into account. In some cases, when the floor has received reliable thermal insulation in advance, you can completely get by with thin mats with profile bosses- only to facilitate the process of laying out pipes according to the diagram.

And in conclusion, a video with tips on how to choose pipes for heated floors

Video - Errors in installing heated floors

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 comfortable view insulation are mats for warm water floors, presented in a wide range on the construction market.

It’s sometimes quite difficult to understand the variety of thermal insulation materials, isn’t it? Each manufacturer tries to demonstrate best sides of their product, sometimes keeping silent about possible shortcomings.

We will help you choose optimal solution for insulation of water floors. The article describes different types mats based on polystyrene foam, given practical advice according to their selection and installation. We also identified manufacturers whose products have won the trust of consumers and are in active demand.

When installing a water heating system, the most important task is to minimize heat losses and direct all the 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 use from this system, since most of the thermal energy will go down to the basement or to the neighbors on the lower floor.

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

Properly selected and installed thermal insulation allows you 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 prevents condensation from accumulating and prevents the formation of mold on the walls

The classic types of insulation that were widely used in the past are ecowool and polystyrene foam. Actually, even now the inexpensive cost of these materials still attracts very thrifty buyers.

However, progress does not stand still, and manufacturers offer more practical and convenient ones - special mats for water floors.

Features of the material for the production of mats

Modern mats are made from a material that not only has excellent heat-insulating properties, but also has a whole list of other advantages.

Main advantages:

Low vapor permeability(0.05 mg (m*h*Pa). For comparison, for mineral wool this figure is 0.30. This means that polystyrene foam does not allow water vapor to pass through well and does not accumulate moisture, is constantly in a dry state, and as a result does not contribute to the formation of condensation.
Low thermal conductivity, which means maximum heat retention in the room.
Soundproofing characteristics.
Does not attract rodents and is not a breeding ground for the formation and development of microorganisms.
Durability. 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 can withstand heavy loads perfectly.

This property is especially valuable when, since a fairly heavy structure consisting of water pipes, a layer of concrete and a finishing floor covering.

Weight of the water heated floor system per 1 sq.m. is about 200 kg, the thickness of the layers is approximately 150 mm. The main load falls on the bottom layer. The high density of polystyrene foam ensures the strength of the mats and allows them to support a heavy structure (+)

The main advantages of using mats

Mats for water heating structures are a modern thermal insulation material manufactured in accordance with accepted European standards for quality and safety.

The slabs are produced using latest technologies and combine all the advantages of traditional insulation materials, and at the same time are devoid of their inherent disadvantages.

Advantages of mats:

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

It must be taken into account that untreated polystyrene foam is a flammable and fire-hazardous material and emits toxic smoke when burned.

To reduce this property, fire retardants are added to the insulation during production, which makes it a self-extinguishing material. In domestically produced products, such material is marked with the letter “C” at the end.

Types of polystyrene foam boards

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

Types of mats:

Rolled materials equipped with a foil layer.
Expanded polystyrene boards.
Panels made of expanded polystyrene 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 it is installed, the dynamic and mechanical load that the insulation must withstand. The slabs have different heights, so it is also necessary to take into account the thickness of the future screed.

Rolled foil insulation

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

This kind thermal insulation material can be classified as a mat very conditionally, since it has low thermal insulation properties. This causes a rather limited scope of its application.

Foil insulation is used only when a water floor is used as an additional heating system and the main floor already has some degree of insulation.

Roll insulation is the simplest and most inexpensive type of thermal insulation, but it can only be used under certain conditions

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.

Installation on this heat-insulating material poses a certain difficulty. It is required to use additional fasteners: staples, clamps, reinforcing mesh, etc.

When laying the covering, the sheets are placed end-to-end with each other; to ensure better sealing, the seams are taped with special foil tape.

However, despite the very modest characteristics, insulation in rolls under certain circumstances is the only possible option insulation, for example, in low-height rooms, when every centimeter of space counts.

Polystyrene foam insulation boards

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

If you decide to go with more affordable polystyrene foam, then when purchasing it you need to focus on the density of the material. This figure must be at least 35 kg/m3. 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. It has a closed cell structure, is durable, and can withstand loads well.

To improve the thermal insulation characteristics, foil insulation in rolls can be laid on top of the mats.

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Main advantages:

Meets all European standards. Self-extinguishing raw materials are used.
It is possible to lay both semi-dry and wet screeds.
Increased density of the material, so it does not change size over time.
They are equipped with special bosses that allow for quick installation of pipes.
Excellent thermal and sound insulation.
Safe and harmless to people.
They do not allow moisture to pass through without swelling.
They have locks making them easy to assemble.
Withstands temperatures from minus 180 C to plus 180 C.

Expanded polystyrene comes in several types:

Foamed polyethylene mats with foil coating- the cheapest option. It has good heat and sound insulating properties. Not very resistant to moisture, easily wrinkles.

Foil polystyrene mats- most a good option for heated floors. Has excellent insulating properties of heat, sound, water, and is resistant to chemicals, has the most low level thermal conductivity among its analogues and withstands temperature surges. More expensive of all substrates due to its properties, thickness and ease of installation.

Extruded polystyrene foam mats- material in the form of mats or slabs with or without foil coating, with a thickness of 2 to 5 centimeters. Has excellent mechanical properties, resistant to high temperatures, relatively inexpensive. Also, polystyrene foam can be either smooth or with bosses. Thanks to the bosses, laying underfloor heating pipes is much faster.

Buy mats for warm water floors

Do you want to buy mats for a warm water floor made of polystyrene foam? In the Teplodoma-msk online store you can purchase any mats for water heated floors at a low price from a warehouse in Moscow.

A warm floor consists of many components, but the most important are thermal insulation and waterproofing. High-quality waterproofing allows you to avoid flooding of neighbors or structural units in the event of a breakdown, and good thermal insulation helps reduce utility bills. One of the modern materials for insulation under heated floors are special mats, which are very easy to install and operate. But they are different and it is important to be able to distinguish them depending on the task.

Features: pros and cons

Main function thermal insulation material for installing any type of heating, including underfloor heating, is to reduce heat loss, as well as redirect heat to the room itself where such a floor is installed. When installing pipes without insulation, the efficiency will be extremely low, because most of the heat will go into the ceiling from below: to neighbors or to basement. This is precisely why thermal insulation exists, which not only performs the task of preserving heat in the room, but also prevents the penetration of cold air from below, especially from the basement (mainly on the first floors in private residential buildings).

Thermal insulation also performs the function of uniformly distributing heat throughout the room.

Properly selected and, importantly, installed thermal insulation directs flows warm air preferentially upwards and prevents condensation from accumulating. The thermal insulation property is also important, which almost completely prevents the appearance of mold on walls and partitions.

Previously, they used quite classic types of insulation, such as polystyrene foam and ecowool. At the moment, these materials have not lost their client, since their cost is relatively low, and technical properties they have remained virtually unchanged, if not improved by new technologies. But at the same time, with the progress of technological progress, more convenient and practical options thermal insulation materials – mats for heated floors (water).

The main material for the production of modern mats is polystyrene foam.

It is distinguished by its excellent thermal insulation properties. But, besides this, it has another advantage - good vapor barrier. In other words, expanded polystyrene does not allow steam to pass through and does not accumulate moisture, which leaves it dry all the time, and this prevents condensation. It also has low thermal conductivity, which has a positive effect on maintaining heat in the room.

One of the properties of this material is sound insulation. For country houses, it is also notable for the fact that it is an “inedible” material, which prevents the appearance of various rodents and microorganisms. Average term service life is 50-60 years, subject to the temperature thresholds specified on the packaging by the manufacturer. The density of this material reaches 40 kg/m3, which makes it suitable for heavy loads. This has a good effect when installing heated floors, since not only is a mesh of reinforcement or rods laid on the mats, but also a layer of concrete and leveling mortar is poured (on top of the water pipes).

For the design it is better to use carbon fiber cable.

Mats for heated floors (water) are a modern thermal insulating material, which is manufactured in accordance with European standards (quality and safety). They are produced using the latest advanced technologies. By technical specifications combine the advantages of conventional insulation materials, eliminating the disadvantages.

The main advantages of mats are:

decent thermal insulation and sound insulation properties;
allow both semi-dry installation and installation in a damp (even wet) screed;
during long-term use they are not subject to deformation or change in size;

Modern mats have a locking system that allows them to be connected much faster and better and prevents the structure from slipping;
most of the materials produced are marked, which significantly facilitates the process of installing pipelines;
do not rot, do not retain bacteria;

not exposed to moisture;
non-toxic (at normal temperatures, from -180 to +180 degrees), safe for humans;
The service life is about 50-60 years.

It should be taken into account that unrefined polystyrene foam is considered a flammable and fire-hazardous substance and, when burned, releases poisonous gas.

In order to reduce this feature, fire retardants are added to the material during production, which makes it a self-extinguishing substance. In Russian-made products, this kind of material is marked with the letter C at the end.

The heating element must be used with extreme caution. Among the disadvantages, it can be noted that it can cause a fire.

Varieties

There are 4 types of mats that are suitable for installing heated floors. Each of them has its own characteristic features and serves for laying in specific situations.

The following types are distinguished:

narrow-roll materials equipped with a foil layer;
expanded polystyrene boards, consisting of expanded polystyrene with foil coating, sometimes film coating is also found;
profile mats with special design features(bobs).

The selection of a thermal insulating coating depends on the characteristics of the building, the coating on which the masonry is made, the mechanical load that the insulation will have to endure, as well as the dynamic load on the insulation. The slabs have different sizes, including height, for this reason you must also take into account the thickness of the upcoming screed.

Narrow-roll foil material

Made from material with a width of 2 to 10 mm. On one edge the insulation is covered with duralumin foil or a polymer layer, the role of which is to direct the thermal jet and distribute heat according to total area floor. This type of thermal insulation material can be classified as mats extremely conditionally, since it has low thermal insulation quality. This determines a rather narrow range of its operation. It is used only when the heated floor is used as an additional heating structure and the main flooring already contains one or another level of insulation.

It is by no means rational to place rolled material on the first floors of buildings and in rooms, at the bottom of which there are unheated areas, since the productivity of insulation in this case will begin to approach sad indicators. Installing the pipeline in this heat-insulating material also involves some difficulty, since it is necessary to use auxiliary fastening components: staples, clamps, reinforcing mesh, etc. When installing the coating sheet, they are placed end-to-end with each other. In order to ensure best insulation The seams are taped with special foil tape. But despite its extremely modest properties, material in rolls under specific conditions is considered the only acceptable type of insulation, for example, with a small building height, if every meter of the site counts.

Expanded polystyrene insulating boards

It is possible to use thin polystyrene foam mats as thermal insulation for heated floors. A very light and inexpensive type is ordinary polystyrene foam, the most reliable and high-quality material is tiles made of extruded polystyrene foam. When you decide to go with the most inexpensive polystyrene foam, when purchasing it you need to concentrate your interest on the density of the material. This coefficient must be no less than 35 kg/m3. If this value is less, then the material may not be enough to support the load of the heating structure.

You can also use another type that has significantly better performance. Penoplex is considered the optimal representative of this series. It has a closed coarse-cell texture, is durable, and can withstand overloads well. In order to improve the thermal insulation characteristics, foil material in rolls can be placed on top of the mats.

The sides of the slab are equipped with special locks that simplify their installation. In the trade you still come across material with previously applied markings. The pipes are attached using plastic brackets, which are easily driven into the slabs in a suitable location.

Expanded polystyrene panels with foil

This type of insulation is nothing more than mats made of expanded polystyrene, where a foil or other layer has already been applied. They are produced either in the form of separate tiles equipped with a locking connection, or in the form of panels fastened together with a single film coating. In one case, when laying the tiles, they are fastened together with waterproof tape, in the other, the mats are easily laid out on a plane. On the outside of the panels there is a coordinate network with a pitch of 50 to 100 mm. Marking can help you figure out how best to lay pipes, and also makes it possible to quickly lay pipes according to the chosen scheme.

Staples can also be used to secure pipes here.

A type of installation with a reinforcing mesh that is laid on top is also possible.

Profile mats with bosses

The most ideal, practical and comfortable material. The mats are specially invented for installing heated floors. The material from which they are made is still the same - polystyrene foam, however, due to the use of improved hydropellet stamping technology in the manufacture, there are special protrusions (bobs) on the mats.

The bosses can be of various shapes: round, tubular, cubic, polyhedral and others.

The protrusions, located at a specific distance from each other, guarantee a safe connection and fixation of the pipeline in the required position. When using these mats, there is almost no possibility of pipes moving during their installation and subsequent pouring of concrete.

The coating of the mats depends on the modification and manufacturer. Certain types of thermal insulator are produced, in principle, without any spraying, but it is possible to purchase models with a top film layer or a stretched waterproofing shell. This coefficient does not have any greater influence on the properties of the product. For comfort and ease of installation, the material is equipped with special locking connections, which, among other things, guarantee excellent tightness of the joints. The mats form a continuous plane in the absence of cracks and gaps, on which any type of screed can be placed.

Another indisputable advantage of profile mats made of expanded polystyrene is that they form an excellent noise barrier: the material makes it possible to significantly reduce the degree of hum to 25 dB.

How to choose?

Today you can choose any heating element and mat, for example, with clamps, with pimples, foam plastic, two-core, thermoplastic (thermoplastic), etc.

When selecting insulation, it is necessary to pay attention to such characteristics as waterproofing properties and the ability of the material to withstand constant and dynamic overloads.

It is also necessary to take into account the diameter of the pipes and the properties of the building in which the heated floor is being installed. Thus, roll material due to its low waterproofing properties, it is not suitable for installation on lower floors. It should also be used with caution in apartments where people live below, since in the event of a pipe leak, it will not be able to contain water, and the moisture will flow directly onto the neighboring living space.

Sheet mats and foil-clad polystyrene foam structures, on the contrary, have excellent waterproofing properties, which eliminates the possibility of leakage. In addition, they belong to materials whose thermal conductivity is very low, which is why their use guarantees the highest degree of heat transfer to the floor.

When organizing a heated floor, the property of the material such as load retention plays no small role.

Profile mats made from polystyrene foam with a density of up to 40 kg/m3 can handle this perfectly. Thin slabs and foil mats also have significant density. These insulation materials can be safely used in an apartment or in an individual building when laying a heated floor, which will be used as the main heating. But narrow-roll material also loses from the point of view of this position: its density is not enough to support loads, so it can only be used for the purpose of organizing auxiliary heating.

Another parameter that needs to be taken into account is the thickness of the mat. If one or another thermal insulation was previously laid on the floor, it is allowed to use the thinnest slabs. In addition, when choosing, you still need to take into account the level of the room, the diameter of the pipeline, the layer of the upcoming screed and the external floor covering.

Device

Regardless of what type of mats will be used for the heated floor, a layer of waterproofing should be placed under it. This is necessary to preserve and protect the lower layer from moisture, and also to form a strong barrier that can prevent flooding of the lower floors of the structure in the event of a leak. A highly compacted polyethylene layer can serve as waterproofing. bitumen coating or passing insulation. If film is used, it should be attached to the walls with damper tape. This strip is installed along the entire perimeter of the building after laying the mats.

The easiest type of installation is the use of profile mats.

They must be placed on a layer of waterproofing and fastened together with a lock. Next, pipes are inserted into the openings between the bosses using a selected laying method and by simply pressing the legs are secured in the required position. Installing thin polystyrene boards also does not cause any difficulties: the panels are either fastened with locks or simply glued, and their joints are secured with waterproof adhesive tape.

Narrow web material causes the most installation problems. It is placed in such a way that the foil shell is on top. The thermal insulator should also be attached to the base, and the joints between the tiles should be sealed with mounting tape. Next, markings are applied to it and pipes are placed. The pipeline is fixed using clamps or clips.

The difficulty of laying is that the thinnest and lightweight material very mobile. For this reason, it is necessary to tie it very carefully so as not to move the system attached to it. It is necessary to take into account that when laying mats of each type, it is allowed to use only plastic fastening components - iron parts have every chance of ruining the entire system of mats and disrupting their density. The installation of the pipeline system can be carried out only after all work on laying thermal insulation has been completed without exception.

Manufacturers and reviews

Heated floor mats are produced by numerous foreign and Russian companies. But the best positions belong to only four companies, whose products are in great demand and have numerous positive reviews builders and customers.

Insulation materials from a German company have good material quality characteristics. Oventrop and Knauf.

On sale are: profile mats with bosses, dry floor slabs, prefabricated narrow-roll and folding insulation in a polypropylene shell.

Another German manufacturer of thermal insulation is a holding company Rehau, whose swearing also causes increased attention from buyers. The main product is polystyrene foam mats with bosses, equipped with layers of thermal insulation and sound insulation.

Russian manufacturer swear words Neptun IWS produces mats with bosses. The insulation is very inexpensive for its segment. Polystyrene foam boards with a special film on top. The kit includes holders that allow you to quickly and efficiently install this type of insulation. These mats perform the functions of both a thermal insulator and a waterproofer, but their sound insulation is much worse than that of their competitors.

Which is better: comparison with others

The choice of mat depends, first of all, on the design of the structure, as well as on financial costs. The cheapest heat insulator is ordinary mineral wool in rolls with a duralumin layer, but the most expensive is insulation with bosses. From an installation point of view, the fastest way would be to install mats with bosses, but in terms of price, it’s more profitable to use rolled material. Sheet mats for heated floors with a duralumin layer are average in all respects: they are not so complex, but installation is not elementary either, and their price is higher than for rolled materials.

Warm water floors are the most economical and effective solution compared to others.

Comparing it with an electric heated floor, the main difference is safety. An electric heated floor consists of infrared rods, but in some cases these are IR plates (this is the most repairable solution). If there is direct mechanical damage to the water mat, the room below can be flooded, but in the case of damage to the electric floor, a short circuit may occur (the structure will have to be completely changed).

The installation is approximately the same, from which we conclude that when troubleshooting the problem, the financial costs will be equal, but if you can put a patch on a water-heated floor, then this will not help with an electric one. The service life of a high-quality heated floor is 35 years (water) and 20 years (electric). Well-known brands include Rehau, which has long established itself in the construction market, as well as Unimat. These companies provide a long warranty and warranty repairs at the expense of the company. And if suddenly a defect is discovered after installation, construction works are also included in the company’s invoice, but it is better to check such information with the manufacturer and seller.

Conclusion

No specialized knowledge is required to install heated floors. However, for selection, it is better to contact a specialist who will select materials for a specific room. Also in the field of floor insulation, a plumber can help, who will directly install the main (pipe) structure.