FAQ on Radiant Architecture
How much does a radiant ceiling system cost? How does it work? How much does it consume? Find answers to these and other frequently asked questions about radiant technology.
Domande generali
How interior design is cost?
The basic philosophy of our studio is to create individual, aesthetically stunning solutions for our customers by lightning-fast development of projects employing unique styles.
What is 3D desing and how it work?
The basic philosophy of our studio is to create individual, aesthetically stunning solutions for our customers by lightning-fast development of projects employing unique styles.
How much time I will spend on planning?
The basic philosophy of our studio is to create individual, aesthetically stunning solutions for our customers by lightning-fast development of projects employing unique styles.
Can I create custom design?
The basic philosophy of our studio is to create individual, aesthetically stunning solutions for our customers by lightning-fast development of projects employing unique styles.
Thermotechnicians
Up to what height can radiant panels operate?
Short answer: at any height
Long answer: as infrared radiation is involved, it is not the distance that must be taken into account but the dispersion; both are compensated for by the temperature of the fluid and the surface area. In any case, perfectly functioning applications have been realised up to a height of 12 m.
Do you need very high water flow rates?
As a diffused terminal, it works with a smaller temperature difference than concentrated terminals (radiators and fan coils work on a ∆T of 10°C) and underfloor systems (∆T = 5°C).
Normally Radius Active works on an average ∆T of 3°C and therefore requires higher flow rates but, thanks to its circuit geometry, it has very low pressure drops and therefore does not require oversized circulators as it tends to make them work more towards the right side of their curve.
Today's circulators are all equipped with inverters and it is correct to set them at constant pressure so that the flow rate varies automatically as the number of open circuits varies.
Is there no danger of the pipes clogging?
Short answer: No
Long answer: Radius Active is completely constructed with pipes fitted with an oxygen barrier to reduce the danger of sludge formation. In any case, it is always a good general rule to install a Y-filter and a degasser or to treat the heat transfer fluid with suitable anti-algae and/or film additives.
How are the circuits balanced?
Short answer: Radius Active is completely self-balancing and does not require calibration of the circuits on the distribution manifolds except in very special cases when circuits with very long supply lines with many activators and very short supply lines with few activators coexist.
How much less consumption?
Long answer: The energy saving derives from factors relating to the general physics of the application, the details of which are to be found in other more exhaustive documents, in particular the book Radiant Architecture, but also in the specific technological characteristics of the various components of the system which optimise its performance.
Plumbers
Are all those fittings reliable?
Short answer: yes.
Long answer: the Radius fitting system is characterised by triple-ring EPDM O-ring seals that maintain their sealing characteristics over time also because they are sized to exploit only the elastic module of the material and not the plastic one. In addition, the special patented retention system with deformable staple makes it virtually impossible for them to slip off.
But doesn't the heat go up?
Short answer: no, only hot air goes up by natural convection
Long answer: traditional air-based culture has accustomed us to confusing heat with hot air. Heat is actually a vibration of the fundamental forces of nature manifested in both particles of matter and electromagnetic waves. Quite simply, when we are under the sun, we feel the heat coming down; what arrives are electromagnetic waves that vibrate predominantly in the infrared and light frequency.
With radiant ceilings, the frequency used is long-wave infrared, the same as that emitted by our skin, so it is the most natural one par excellence. However, being an electromagnetic wave, it travels at the same speed as light (about 300,000 km/s) and therefore its effect is instantaneous at any distance.
Do I have to dehumidify to avoid condensation?
Short answer: no.
Long answer: it is important to clarify a misunderstanding into which many people fall due to the erroneous approach taken in past years by several competitors due to a lack of knowledge of the principles governing the application of radiant cooling. The phenomenon of surface condensation in a radiant panel should not be controlled by removing moisture from the air (an action that must be done for comfort) but by adjusting the temperature of the panel to the moisture present. This must be provided for by the regulation which, if evolved like ours, with room probes detects the value instant by instant and elaborates a supply temperature appropriate to the condition of the moment.
Architects
What happens in cooling if a lot of people suddenly enter a room?
Long answer: the system, if correctly designed, has the ability to adapt to these transient conditions very well as it is the combined action of the operating temperature/humidity sensors combined with the speed of the panels, the control logic and the action of the air handling units that guarantees this
What are the constraints on the luminaires?
Short answer: few.
Long answer: first of all, it should be pointed out that the Radius panel normally occupies 40% to 60% of the ceiling surface area for complete hot/cold air conditioning. It is therefore easy to obtain technical space, even inspectable space, for other functions. RADIUS is also the panel that makes it possible to pass through its own hydraulic circuit more than any other panel thanks to the space available for light points and insert spotlights up to a maximum diameter of 88 mm (see general data sheet).
Does cooling and heating make surfaces crack?
Long answer: energy activation introduces a dilatation factor which, even if very small, can highlight the shortcomings of good installation workmanship. All the more reason, therefore, for the installation to be carried out by expert personnel, who know and apply all the precautions that characterise the correct realisation of plasterboard surfaces; in particular, expansion joints, siliconing or perimeter shutters, well-executed plastering and using quality materials, are the best guarantee for avoiding this type of problem (see plasterboard technical data sheet).
Customers
What guarantee do I have?
Long answer: a ten-year product liability policy, a five-year warranty for radiant panels, ...and the great experience of Roberto Messana.
Can I drill holes?
Short answer: yes.
Long answer: holes for dowels must be drilled with wall drills and a drill turned at very low speed. This makes it possible to detect the possible presence of a pipe without drilling it. In the event of accidental drilling, the pipe can be repaired with 8 or 16 mm quick couplings, which can be purchased on the site but are also readily available on the market.
How quickly does it reach comfort temperature?
Short answer: a few minutes.
Long answer: for average rooms in which simple hourly programming is carried out, the realignment time to the room set ranges from 5 to 20 minutes. In the case of more prolonged shutdowns the realignment may of course take longer but it has the advantage of occurring uniformly and in any case with a speed equal to or greater than that of a traditional air system.