Onix Tubing Installation Manual

Watts Radiant: Onix Installation Manual page 11
Cautions for Hardwood
Floor Installations:
If the radiant heating system cannot be
installed prior to the hardwood instal-
lation, an alternative form of heat
needs to be provided while the floor is
being installed. Temporary, unvented
sources of heat (such as a propane
fired salamanders ) are not appropri-
ate as they can put excessive amounts
of water vapor into the building.
Asphalt paper should never be used
when installing a radiant floor heating
system, as some types of paper may
give off an unpleasant odor when they
are heated. If in doubt as to the pres-
ence of old asphalt paper when doing
a building renovation, a floor core
sample needs to be taken. Watts
Radiant does not recommend the use
of underfloor radiant installations
under asphalt paper.
As a rule of thumb, standard 3/4"
hardwood floor coverings with a 3/4"
subfloor does not pose a problem to
normal heat transfer. The efficiency of
a radiant floor begins to be affected
when the total thickness of wood cov-
ering is between 2"—3". This range is
dependent on the heating intensity.
Lower heating intensities allow for
thicker wood coverings.
There is added caution for wood floors
when installed in a Sandwich applica-
tion. The National Hardwood Council
allows the hardwood to be installed
directly on top of the radiant tubing.
However, it is advised to first install a
1/2" or 3/4" subfloor over the radiant
system to help protect the tubing from
nails and other attachment devices.
Caution should be taken when
selecting flooring nail sizes and
installation locations. Use a floor-
ing nail that will not penetrate
past the subfloor.
The National Hardwood Council allows the hardwood to be installed directly on top of the radiant tubing.
However, it is advised to first install a subfloor over the radiant system to help protect the tubing from
nails and other attachment devices.
Plywood
Subfloor
Foil-Faced
Batt insulation
Onix
Sleeper
Upper
Subfloor
Joist
Hardwood
Floor Covering
Sleeper
Upper
Subfloor
Hardwood
Floor Covering
Foil-Faced
Polyisocyanurate
Onix
Slab
Earth
Floor Coverings