As the UK housebuilding sector adapts to evolving regulations, energy-efficient, low-carbon heating systems are becoming a non-negotiable part of future developments. With updated Building Regulations already in force, now is the time for housebuilders to invest in technologies that meet today’s compliance demands while supporting long-term sustainability. Gerry Shephard, Business Development Manager at Ambiente, explains why underfloor heating is central to that strategy. 

Gerry Shephard, Business Development Manager at Ambiente

A system built for tomorrow’s standards 

Regulatory change is accelerating as the UK moves towards its legally binding Net Zero target by 2050. One key update came in June 2022 with revisions to Part L, which introduced a maximum flow temperature of 55°C for heating systems in new-build homes and qualifying refurbishments. 

Underfloor heating (UFH) is inherently well-suited to these requirements. Thanks to its large surface area, it operates efficiently at much lower temperatures, typically between 35°C and 45°C. This makes it an ideal pairing for low-carbon heating sources while delivering potential energy savings of up to 40% compared with conventional radiator systems. 

Beyond performance, UFH enhances thermal comfort. It heats from the floor upwards using radiant energy, creating fewer draughts and maintaining a consistent, comfortable environment, unlike convection-based systems, which cycle warm air toward the ceiling. 

Low-carbon technology pairings 

In new homes, air source heat pumps (ASHP) are quickly becoming the standard choice for low-temperature heat sources. However, in many instances, particularly in mixed-tenure or phased developments, a boiler may still be specified in the short term. UFH provides the flexibility to accommodate both, while allowing for future heat source upgrades without major system overhauls. 

When specified correctly, UFH systems can be designed with adaptable pipe spacing and flexible manifolds. This gives developers the option to integrate alternative heat sources down the line. Radiators, on the other hand, are far less adaptable—when paired with lower-temperature systems like ASHP, they often need to be upsized significantly, leading to additional costs and waste. 

The main tip for success is to ensure the chosen underfloor heating system supplier can support the project with CAD drawings, including pipework layouts and heat loss and output calculations. This critical stage will ensure the system is correctly designed. A specialist supplier will also have the expertise to accommodate any specific parameters set by the heat pump manufacturer, further ensuring the system can deliver maximum overall efficiency. 

Precision and comfort combined 

When specifying heating systems for new-build developments, it’s no longer enough to focus solely on average room temperatures or single thermostat readings. Instead, spatial air temperature, the measure of temperature consistency across a room, provides a more accurate indication of how a space will feel to its occupants in real life, rather than just the calculations. For housebuilders and developers, spatial air temperature is an important consideration to achieve the ideal balance of thermal comfort and energy efficiency. 

Recent research from Energy House 2.0 has reinforced the importance of this principle. In rigorous tests at both -5°C and +5°C, UFH demonstrated the smallest temperature variation, just 0.8°C and 0.7°C respectively, when operated using a SAP-compliant heating pattern. In comparison, other heating technologies showed up to 4°C fluctuations, while traditional radiators displayed minimum spatial differences of 2.2°C. 

This high level of performance makes hydronic UFH a standout solution, particularly when paired with low-carbon heat sources such as air source heat pumps (ASHP). The stable, consistent heat output achieved through UFH maximises the coefficient of performance (COP) of ASHPs, supporting compliance with updated Building Regulations and helping to meet the low-temperature demands of the Future Homes Standard. For developers looking to deliver homes that are compliant but also comfortable, efficient and future-ready, UFH offers clear, evidence-backed advantages. 

Added value 

When it comes to creating healthy, future-ready homes, radiant heating stands apart, especially in the form of hydronic UFH. Unlike traditional systems, it delivers consistent warmth across every surface, eliminating cold spots and helping maintain optimal indoor humidity levels. 

Because warmer air retains more moisture, homes heated this way are less prone to condensation and the mould growth it can trigger. With no reliance on forced convection, underfloor heating also reduces the circulation of dust and allergens, supporting better air quality throughout the property. 

As housebuilders continue to respond to consumer demand for sustainable, future-ready homes, UFH can be relied upon to deliver the ideal combination of comfort, compliance and performance. From helping meet regulatory targets to future-proofing developments for next-generation technologies, underfloor heating is more than just a desirable feature; it’s an essential heating system solution for low-carbon dwellings. 

For further details about Ambiente underfloor heating systems click here.

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Carson Remmington, Ambiente’s Business Development Manager, provides an overview of how hydronic (water-based) underfloor heating enables more flexible and efficient use of the interior layout by freeing up wall space and how this trusted technology reduces environmental impact.

Maximising internal space

Reflecting the ongoing desire for more connected and versatile living environments, open or broken-plan living spaces remain a popular choice. They have redefined how homeowners interact with their homes, often merging cooking, dining, and relaxation areas into one seamless space. While heating systems and floor plans are usually only discussed in relation to heating zones for thermostats and controls, the conversation about heat emitter selection and the benefits underfloor heating offers is hotting up.

Underfloor heating removes the visual and spatial limitations imposed by wallhung emitters. Everything is hidden beneath the floor covering, allowing features such as open-plan areas and on trend floor-to-ceiling windows to be embraced. Clear wall spaces also provide complete freedom to position furniture, fixtures, and fittings without constraints, making it easier to optimise room layouts and create functional, stylish living spaces, especially within more compact homes.

Floor covering freedom

Adding to the flexibility and freedom underfloor heating provides, hydronic systems are compatible with most floor covering choices, even carpets. The key is to ensure that the finish is factored in at the very beginning of the system design, together with other key parameters.

This approach ensures the chosen floor covering doesn’t adversely affect the output of the final underfloor heating system, allowing the two elements to complement each other to maximise system efficiency. This is especially important when the floor finish will vary from room to room, such as carpet in the living room and natural stone in the kitchen.

Understanding the floor covering(s) thermal resistance factors will ensure the underfloor heating system design factors in the required spacing of the pipework and the rate at which the water will need to be pumped around the loops to meet the heat loss.

While almost every floor covering is compatible, ceramics and natural stone are the most popular choices to pair with underfloor heating. This is mainly due to the density of the materials and, subsequently, low thermal resistance, which allows the heat from the pipework to travel quickly through and heat the space above. The whole floor essentially becomes a big radiator, meaning naturally cold finishes such as stone become comfortably warm underfoot.

Improved indoor air quality

Underfloor heating reduces a property’s impact on the environment and significantly improves indoor air quality, making it easy to incorporate health and well-being into the fabric of the building.

Underfloor heating delivers heat differently from traditional convection (radiator) systems. It particularly benefits those with allergies and asthma. Underfloor heating actively reduces the movement of dust by utilising radiant heat, making it one of the healthiest ways to heat a property.

When heat radiates from the whole floor surface, it also eliminates cold spots from a room where mould could develop, ensuring that interior finishes remain in the very best condition and further reducing the impact on anyone suffering from a respiratory condition. Underfloor heating is the ultimate solution to create a future-proof heating system, from ensuring regs are met and energy bills are controlled to creating a luxuriously comfortable and healthy environment.

Meet the Building Regs with ease

Hydronic underfloor heating promotes energy efficiency through low-temperature heating, aligning with Part L of the Building Regulations and the proposed upcoming standards. It helps meet sustainability targets while maintaining comfort. By design, underfloor heating systems integrate smoothly with air and ground source heat pumps, as well as solar thermal systems, ensuring efficient operation and ticking all regulatory boxes without compromising thermal comfort.

These renewable heat sources typically produce much lower flow temperatures than standard gas or oil boilers. So, when paired with the most suitable heat emitters, the lower flow temperatures translate to savings on energy and overall heating costs.

Underfloor heating is also set up to meet the proposed demands of incoming standards and the already enforced Part L regulations for newly built homes and large-scale refurbishment projects. As underfloor heating covers a larger surface area, when well designed, these systems excel in energy efficiency by operating at a lower temperature of 35-40°C compared to the 80°C required by traditional radiators. This lower operating temperature improves efficiency and results in substantial energy savings for occupants. So, seamlessly integrating warmth into the home’s structure, hydronic underfloor heating elevates comfort and opens up endless possibilities for stylish, efficient and functional interiors.

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Leading the way in low-temperature heating innovation, Ambiente has launched its latest high-performance underfloor heating system, JoFloor® 28, which strikes the ideal balance of optimal heat distribution and ease of installation within suspended timber floors.

Setting a new standard in both structural integrity and thermal efficiency, the JoFloor® 28 structural underfloor heating system has been designed to address the unique challenges presented when fitting underfloor heating in suspended timber floors.

This solution incorporates Alu-Foil within both the base and top panels, which enhances thermal conductivity, boasts an impressive heat output of 74 Watts of output per m² and increases response time. Importantly, the Alu-Foil ensures even heat distribution across the entire floor surface, ensuring every corner of the space benefits from consistent warmth.

Designed with ease of installation and structural integrity in mind, the JoFloor® 28 system’s foundation is a 22 mm tongue-and-groove P5 flooring-grade chipboard base panel, grooved to receive the AmbiFlex P12 pipe and finished with Alu-Foil. Staggered pipe routes ensure the boards are less likely to weaken or warp over time, maintaining the floor’s structural and thermal performance.

The underside of the 6mm JoFloor® 28 cover panels features a bonded Alu-Foil layer, while the reverse top layer of the panel is printed with a striking orange design. The boldly printed surface outlines the piping network to provide guidance on safe screw points for fixing the board down to the base. Once in situ, the JoFloor® 28 system is ‘floor finish ready’ to accommodate carpet, wood and vinyls, further easing installation.

If laying tiles Ambiente recommends the JoFloor 28 tile board – a high-output board with an Alu-Foil layer.

For further details about JoFloor® 28 and to explore Ambiente’s complete range of underfloor heating systems, product training, system design and technical support, visit ambienteufh.co.uk.

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