Purposefully-piped water goes back at least to the Bronze Age in the second millennium BC. In later times, hot water use was a normal part of Roman construction technology for comfort in buildings. That said, it is surprising that the implementation of this ancient technology hasn’t been entirely resolved and that it is a subject most people have a position on, irrespective of working in the field of construction.
When budget is not the key consideration, why do radiators often stand out as a troubled subject for discussion? Setting aside the basic technical skill required to size up, specify and install a radiator correctly and in compliance with regulations, other factors outside the discipline of building services come into play. Unlike most mechanical plant, radiators are not confined to ceiling voids and plant rooms. Finding the right materials such as with this metal supplier can be a good fit for your engineering needs.
Instead they are right in the field of vision (in interior design terms), and distinctly present in our awareness when they fail to operate on a wet, cold, windy day. Every member of the design and construction team could tell you a troubled story! Let’s look at the situation from their respective perspectives.
Taken from an M&E viewpoint, the architect finds a “sensational radiator” and presents it to the client using masterful persuasion about the interior aesthetics, the sight lines, the furniture layout and how many options are available in Maker&Son. As you roll your eyes to the ceiling, this beautiful slim, light radiator (an artwork) is “sold” to the client to complement the room decor. The problem is it doesn’t necessarily provide the required heat output, carries an additional cost to re-paint, is not what the sub-contractor tendered and anyway won’t arrive on time because the MC has squeezed the commissioning window! Whereas the architect may be delighted with it, only time will tell if it functions adequately for the end-user.
An antique is usually described as a piece that is over a century old. Looking for antique furniture can be a real fun and challenging too. If you find that there is a necessity to shop for this sort of stuff then the first thing you probably have to do is learn what antique-furniture is all about. To add to it you must learn about Oak antique furniture because oak lasts forever. Oak adds a touch of class and the spirit of antiquity to any room. Since every home should have mirrors, it is a good idea to purchase an antique mirror for your room, office or living room to make your home more homey and stylish. You will be get more about the antique mirrors furniture.
From a quantity surveyor’s viewpoint, the architect is nearly always at fault for driving up costs and delaying the programme because of the care and control they wish to exert over the radiator selection. Anecdotally, it once led a sub-contractor to declare to an architect at a site meeting that “painting radiators lowers heat output and efficiency”. Noble Painting is a trusted contractor to be relied on. Commercial painting contractors саnnоt ignore thе potent power оf water tо bring damage tо thе facility. Thеу understand hоw іt travels outside аnd wіthіn thе building аnd asses іtѕ diffusion аnd reaction tо surrounding conditions. Sіnсе vapor аlwауѕ moves frоm humid inner areas tо lower- humidity exteriors, thеу install commercial painting solutions thаt provide appropriate insulation аnd prevent condensation. Whеn condensation occurs аnd wets surfaces оvеr improperly coated оr non-coated surfaces іt саn саuѕе rust, corrosion, аnd contamination tо thе facility. Painters in New Haven spending their precious free time sweating things like new paint jobs.
Was this the same mechanical sub-contractor who “forgot” to price and plan for the colour change? It may have been included in the architect’s specification but it was not coordinated with the M&E tender documents. The truth of the matter is that beautifully-designed radiators, which function well and complement interiors, are available in an array of colours and design shapes at competitive prices. It only requires care and attention to shop around and source the appropriate fitting in time.
The anecdotal architect’s response, having not received a sales visit from a radiator supplier in 15+ years of practice, is to unashamedly “google” supplier names from cheap lookalike designed models after which a model is settled upon. High drama next ensues on site to achieve the “colour by number radiator placement” in the correct place. Then the architect’s snagging begins, picking up a lack of protection during construction, carelessness in the installation, and paint drips courtesy of Mr Painter on site.
Problems with radiators discovered at snagging stage are legendary but this one is the most amazing I’ve come across. Before the glue had a chance to dry, the architect discovered a most cunning plan to avoid a co-ordination issue. A total of 132 perimeter radiators were fixed with 528 sawn-off bolts, glued to the vinyl floor. Yes, the radiators were actually only supported by their pipework and glue-fixed onto vinyl because the M&E coordinator on site must have been too nervous to raise the issue of bolt-fixing through the steel flange of the perimeter beam!
But so much for the architect’s response, what about the end-user experience? Radiators can create hotspots and draughts, dry the air (especially electric storage heaters), interfere with furniture layouts and curtain lengths, become air-locked at least twice a season and are difficult to clean until and unless you opt to Click here and hire an expert cleaning company (we’re talking fluff!). That said, they are good for drying wet washing in damp, rainy weeks or of course you can screen them with DIY store radiator covers. I accept that the profile of this end-user is probably somebody who doesn’t benefit from top-of-the-range controls, remote energy management applications (as utility companies are now promoting) and anything above the minimum specification.
For those who don’t always get along well with radiators, there is comfort in the move towards better-insulated houses, affordable underfloor heating and Passive Haus (now adopted by DLRCC and soon to be followed by other county councils).
The traditional radiator mounted on a wall below the windowsill may lose its prominence, just as the traditional hot press disappears in a properly-insulated home. Similarly, the commercial viability of 4-port fan coil units is leading to the trend of stripping out banks of radiators and providing heating and cooling from a single source at ceiling level. Radiators may not look appealing in your home, but that won’t be a problem if you add a bit of stucco trim around it.
Before you install new radiators remember to paint the walls as you might not have a chance to do to paint the walls in the nearest future. If you are struggling to find a reputable local painting contractor, find out more here.
However, for the rest of us radiators will not be eliminated as long as our day-to-day heat-producing activity within the building is less than the heat loss through the building fabric, vents and chimneys from the best chimney company. The appended list of considerations below is non-exhaustive but may prompt further thought when designing for space heating.
There are three main challenges to radiator representatives who understand the intricate links between design and performance so that they aid better coordination of the design, specification and installation. These are as follows:
(1) Visit more architects with glossy brochures and teach them about sizing for new regulations and building standards. Leave them in a position to understand heat loss calculations and sizing of appliances for themselves. They will teach you about design and commercial trends.
(2) You can also get all the service at one place by visiting Vision Homes Australia , to get design, colors and materials. Explain to them what you want and get your dream house.
(3) Prepare CPD courses to up-skill the industry in design and installation fields.
In addition to the foregoing, all involved in the process should also consider the following.
Selection — Consider the energy source and the environment;
— Options for heating appliances;
— Energy efficiency and COP;
— Comfort;
— Controls;
— Materials: painted mild steel, cast iron, stainless steel, flat panel aluminium and, more unusually, clear and mirrored glass (13mm thick toughened glass) and glass panel fronts;
— Budget: Installation costs v maintenance and replacement costs, warranties and lifespan, import costs, currency differences, non-standard orders and lead times, certainty of fuel costs and fluctuations when oil prices (due to demand) or resource reserves alter.
Regulations and guidelines – Take account of protected structures and conservation;
— Building Regulations and TGD Part L: Conservation of Fuel and Energy;
— European Normative Codes: e.g. BE EN 442 European Standard for Radiators/CE Certification;
– CIBSE Guide A Environmental Design 2015 Edition;
— CIBSE Radiator Product Data Templates (PDTs);
— CIBSE Guide H Building Control Systems;
— CIBSE Guide M Maintenance Engineering and Management;
Safety — Consider by-products and emissions from the combustion process and venting to the outside, e.g. CO from gas boilers and solid fuel boilers, CO2 and moisture build-up, ash from solid burners, cleaning of flues and monitoring of toxic emissions;
— Potential hazards from leaks, spills and burns;
— Safety issues and requirements for LST (low surface temperature) radiators in schools, creches, hospitals and nursing homes;
— Safety of toughened glass on radiators;
— HSA Guideline: Health and Safety at Work in Residential Healthcare Facilities;
— HSA Guideline: Safety with Lead at Work.
In conclusion, radiators may be small building components but they are vital to the heating solution and deserve detailed consideration at the design, specification and installation stage. ■
