www.fermacell.co.uk

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Fermacelland Jupiter provide innovative underfloor heating solution

CONTRACT FLOORING

CaseStudy December 2009

Project: Swanage Apartment Building by Swan Country Homes Architect:David Crosland

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Fermacell 2E22 25mm thickFlooring Elements, combined withJupiter recycled wood fibre heatingelements, has created a low-heightunderfloor heating solution thatsubstantially outperformed theacoustic requirements of Part E of the Building Regulations forseparating floors. Not only this, but it has also saved a brick courseat each floor level.

Swan Country Homes, developersof the eight expensively appointed 2 bed apartments and two luxurypenthouses on Broad Leys, optedfor the Fermacell/Jupiter solutionin preference to a more complexRobust Detail solution. The latteroption required either pipeworkbeing installed in between joistsand putting a floating floor on top,or laying down a resilient batten, or cradle and batten system withchipboard on top.

This innovative new approach haspaid dividends for the developer.Only two overlaid components wereneeded – dramatically reducingbuild time and providing the perfectsubstrate for a multitude of floorfinishes; whilst maintaining thethermal transparency required by modern efficient underfloorheating systems.

Pre-completion testing producedacoustic performances whichcomfortably exceeded Part Erequirements. The minimumairborne sound result was 11dB over the requirement, whilst the minimum impact sound result surpassed theguidelines by 14dB.

Chris Smith, managing director of Jupiter Underfloor Heating,commented: “On the face of it ourquote appeared to be moreexpensive that that of thecompetitors. However, our proposalrequired only 55mm depthcompared to the minimum 100 to145mm depth needed for the robustdetail construction. By saving abrick course at each floor level,Swan Homes was able to makesubstantial savings on build cost.

“We worked very closely withFermacell on this project in order tocome up with an alternativesolution to the traditional tried andtested route. Fermacell were soconfident about the performance ofthe Fermacell/Jupiter proposal thatthey guaranteed to underwrite theproject and, if it failed to meet theagreed criteria, to rectify anyproblems at their expense.

“Given that the system wasunproved, the decision by MarkSwan, managing director of SwanCountry Homes, to award thecontract to us was admirable.”

Richard Brown, technical executivewith Fermacell commented:Fermacell UFH overlay 2E22combines the heat transfer benefitsof a wet screed system with thespeed of installation and flexibilityof wooden board systems such aschipboard.

“Fermacell Flooring Elements havea much lower thermal resistancethan chipboard, therefore theresponse time of the heatingsystem is much quicker, and whenyou turn the heating down – or off –there is minimal delay. In addition,Fermacell is not an insulator, andso can make UFH systems moreefficient – the pipe temperature canbe up to 5 degrees lower, savingenergy and money.”

Mark Swan commented: “Floorheating system components needto be compatible in order to providean efficient, integrated solution. We certainly achieved that throughthe joint initiative put forward by Fermacell and Jupiter.”

“Our primary aim as a company isto create sustainable qualitydevelopments with a strongemphasis on social andenvironmental sustainability. Ourholistic approach to housebuildingmeans that we are open toproviding creative solutions such asthe floor heating system within theBroad Leys complex. Not only didthe Fermacell gypsum fibreboardenable us to save a brick course ateach level of the building, but itenabled us to comfortably surpassthe required acoustic sound teststandards laid down by Part Erequirements.”

“Fermacell UFH overlay 2E22 combines the heattransfer benefits of a wet screed system with thespeed of installation and flexibility of woodenboard systems.”

A luxury Swanage apartment development by Swan Country Homesis benefiting from a unique solution utilising the Jupiter Ideal ECOunderfloor heating system in conjunction with Fermacell FlooringElements over suspended timber floors.

For further information please contact Fermacell on 0870 609 0306 or visit www.fermacell.co.uk