August 11 2008

Radiant Heating: GCS Modular Radiant Flooring Panels

GCS Radiant Flooring is a modular, hydronic radiant floor system which is designed for easy installation, simplified maintenance and energy efficiency. Like most energy efficient radiant floor systems, GCS panels heat space using a network of plastic tubes circulating preheated water (or a glycol/water solution). Think of this system as a grid of pre-milled slots designed to hold the hot water tubes in place under the finished floor. What makes these panels unique is their manageable size, easy installation and energy efficiency.

GCS Radiant Inc. claims that installation can be done by as few as one person, with a recommendation of two. Each panel is a sandwich of concrete and a plastic substrate molded to receive the hydronic tubing. Units are small enough to be easily handled by installers and are fastened by only four screws. If there are any problems with the hydronic tubes the affected panels can easily be removed (unscrewed) to make repairs. This is not the case with hydronic systems poured into slabs, as the slabs must be cut to reach the tubing.

Panels are also designed to spread heat evenly within the substrate. The concrete mix in each unit is able to absorb and spread the heat effectively and creates more thermal lag in the space, leading to more even heating and reducing the number of cold areas on the floor where tubing does not occur. The accompanying images show thermal characteristics of the radiant floor units.

It is encouraging to see material manufacturers submit their products for this type of testing and evaluation. It appears as though GCS Radiant Inc. has allowed data about heat movement in concrete surfaces to affect the design of their units. The result is a modular radiant floor system with the benefits of both and accessible and a poured concrete slab radiant system.

For more information visit GCS Radiant Inc.

August 11th, 2008 at 1:40 AM. Posted in Products + Technology. Share this post.