So what makes the Perfect Heat underfloor heating system so great?

To appreciate what makes the Perfect Heat system so great, we first have to look at the competition and understand their limitations.

Standard (wire based) underfloor heating elements have a heat transfer ratio of around 2% - 3%. This means that for every square metre of underfloor heating you lay, just 2% – 3% of that area will be in contact with the heating element. This presents a few problems:

To compensate for this low heat transfer ratio, the wire must achieve temperatures of around 55 – 60 degrees Centigrade. Consequently, this system can suffer from “hotspots” where occupants can trace the heat element below the floor surface.  The high core temperature also makes it unsuitable for fitting below many floor coverings such as laminate, carpet or solid wood without first burying the wire in a concrete screed – this makes the system more expensive to run, difficult to install and heat up times of the system are greatly increased.

So how does Perfect Heat solve these problems? Technology and innovation!

First the technology: At the heart of Accolade’s underfloor heating system is the amorphous metal element – a space-age development commonly referred to as “metallic glass”. It’s a superb converter of energy to heat and at just 25 microns thick (think of baking foil - but thinner!) is covered in two layers of insulation material, making it thinner, better and more robust than any wire based underfloor heating system.

 Now for the innovation: Rather than producing the amorphous metal element as a wire, we have it manufactured into a ribbon. It’s simple but ingenious - and it addresses every single problem that wire based heating systems suffer from.

The ribbons are shaped into various mat sizes (making them simple to fit) and the gaps between each ribbon restricted to totally eliminate cold spots. Problem solved.

The ribbon construction of the element provides a heat transfer ratio of between 25 – 30%. 10 x more than our wire based counterparts. This ratio means the element will easily achieve a comfortable temperature within a room much quicker and without the need for a concrete screed. Problem solved.

Because of the exceptionally high heat transfer ratio, the ribbon only needs to reach a maximum temperature of 30 degrees C to operate effectively. This lower temperature over a much larger area makes the system much more economical and will respond much quicker to thermostatic control. Problem solved.

The innovative concept of lower temperature over a larger area allows the Perfect Heat system to be laid safely below any floor surface: ceramic tile, porcelain, natural stone, wood, engineered board, laminate – even carpet! Problem solved.

Perfect Heat & insulation - the perfect combination.

Two things are required to achieve a comfortable heat within a property without wasting energy. The first is an adequate heat source and the second is to have sufficient insulation to minimise heat loss through the floor, walls, windows and ceiling.