Thermal performance of radiant heating floors in furnished enclosed spaces

The radiant floor heating systems offer distinctive advantages in several special applications and allow to use low temperature heat. A renewed interest has grown in the study of the thermo-physical behaviour of such systems and the influence on health; consequently more accurate design methodologies, taking into account the various relevant parameters, have been developed. However, such methodologies usually refer to “empty spaces” so that working conditions turn out different from those projected. Preliminary theoretical studies [M. Corcione, L. Fontana, G. Moncada Lo Giudice, Riscaldamento a pavimento radiante. Uno studio teorico sul comportamento termico, CDA Condizionamento dell’aria Riscaldamento Refrigerazione 3 (2001) 51–58.] have shown that the presence of furniture in the environment can cause material changes of the system performance and of the operating temperature obtained in the environment. In this paper the thermal performance of radiant floor systems is examined in detail through an experimental study, on a scale model. Experimental measures have been conducted in several conditions of thermal insulation of the enclosed space, of floor covering and outside temperature. For each configuration, tests have been made changing number and typology of the furniture pieces. The furniture influence on the system performance and on the obtained operating temperature has been verified, and the effect of their presence has been evaluated.