GB2370049A

GB2370049A - Under floor heating

Info

Publication number: GB2370049A
Application number: GB0117586A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl Steven Taylor
Original assignee: YORKSHIRE BUILDING SERVICES
Current assignee: YORKSHIRE BUILDING SERVICES
Priority date: 2000-12-13
Filing date: 2001-07-19
Publication date: 2002-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-19
Also published as: GB0030313D0; GB2370049B; GB0117586D0

Abstract

An insulating multi-layer bubble membrane laminated to aluminium foil 6 forms an insulating layer between both the side walls 3 and joists 2A and 2B, and also between the top of the floor 22 and the underside of the floor. Pipe 20 meanders around between joists 2A and 2B supported by clips 16. The floor is heated by pumping hot water around pipe 20.

Description

Title of the Invention Flooring construction and clip.

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a flooring construction of the kind where a sinuous array of heating pipe is required to be laid beneath a floor of a dwelling etc. It is of course necessary to support the runs of heating pipe, and a known system is to lay a screed of material between adjacent rafters and to lay a multi-channel pipe support tray on the screed, with the pipe laid one (or more) into channel selected by the installer for pipe support purposes. This arrangement is satisfactory but involves relatively high installation costs.

Object of the Invention A basic object of the present invention is the provision of an improved flooring construction, and also a clip.

Summary of a First Aspect of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a flooring construction comprising : (i) a series of parallel rafters; (ii) a membrane of film insulation laminated to aluminium foil extending between adjacent rafters in a plane below upper edges of the rafters to define a pipe cavity, and, upon encountering a rafter, being bent generally to inverted"U"-shape firstly upwardly, then across the upper edge of the rafter and then downwardly ; and (iii) a plurality of clips each comprising a central saddle of dimensions such that the clip can

be fitted over the upper edge of a membrane-clad rafter, with a pair of support arms projecting from opposite sides of the saddle and providing a recess to support a pipe run.

Advantage (s) of the Invention The construction in accordance with the first aspect avoids the need for screeding between rafters, and for the provision, and subsequent installation, of ribbed/grooved pipe support trays, as the membrane may be supplied in conveniently handlable roll form, and extended continuously eg across all the rafters of the room of a dwelling. The clips are then simply push-fitted onto the clad, upper edges of the rafters, at suitably spaced-apart locations eg every 2ft or 3 ft along the rafters, for adequate pipe support. The clips are then ready to receive the pipework, after which panels forming the flooring are fitted, preferably with edges of the membrane turned upwardly to be secured behind subsequently fitted skirting.

Preferred or Optional Feature of the First Aspect The membrane is of multi-layer bubble film.

Summary of a Second Aspect of the Invention According to a second aspect of the invention, of independent significance, there is provided a clip comprising: (i) a saddle provided at a central part of the clip; (ii) integral side arms extending to opposite sides of the saddle; and (iii) each side arm being recessed to receive a portion of a pipe.

Preferred or Optional Features of the Second Aspect The clip is produced in a synthetic plastics material.

The saddle and arms are integral.

The saddle is of square, inverted"U"-shape.

The recesses of the support arms are semicircular.

Brief Description of the Drawings One embodiment of flooring construction in accordance with the first aspect, and clip in accordance with the second aspect, are shown by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of flooring in accordance with the first aspect, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a clip in accordance with the second aspect.

Detailed Description of the Drawings In Figure 1, a flooring construction 1 comprises a series of spaced-apart, parallel rafters 2, including an end rafter 2A adjacent a wall 3, and intermediate rafters 2B, all rafters being sealed on their lower edges 4, and having upper edges 5.

A membrane 6 of multi-layer bubble film 7 insulation laminated to aluminium foil 8, supplied in the form of a roll 9 of width W is, starting adjacent a wall 3, laid across the rafters, with inverted square'U'-shape bends 10 engaging upper edges 5 of the rafters. Each bend 10 comprises an upward portion 11, a cross portion 12, and a downward portion 13, so that a planar portion 14 of the membrane 6 is located beneath the upper edges 5 of the rafters, so as to define a pipe cavity 15 between adjacent pairs of rafters in a plane below the upper edges 5 of the rafters.

As illustrated in Figure 1, multiple rolls 7 are employed, with adjacent membrane edges 23 butted together, until the entire area of the flooring has been covered with membrane 6, whilst an edge 6A of the membrane 6 is turned up behind the skirting 22.

A plurality of clips 16, each comprising a central saddle 17 of inverted square'U'-shape and of width such that the saddle will clip onto the upper edges 5 of a membrane clad rafter, are then fitted at suitably spaced locations along each rafter, three clips 16 being illustrated in Figure 1.

A pair of support arms 18 project from opposite sides of the saddle 17 of each clip 16, each support arm 18 providing a semi-circular recess 19 adapted to support a portion of central heating piping 20. After fitting the piping 20, the flooring 1 is completed by the fitting of floorboards 21 and the skirting 22.

Claims

1. A flooring construction comprising a series of parallel rafters ; a membrane of film insulation laminated to aluminium foil extending between adjacent rafters in a plane below upper edges of the rafters to define a pipe cavity, and, upon encountering a rafter, being bent generally to inverted"U"-shape firstly upwardly, then across the upper edge of the rafter and then downwardly; and a plurality of clips each comprising a central saddle of dimensions such that the clip can be fitted over the upper edge of a membrane clad rafter, with a pair of support arms projecting from opposite sides of the saddle and providing a recess to support a pipe run.

2. A flooring construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the membrane is of multi-layer bubble film.

3. A flooring construction substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawing (s).

4. A clip comprising a saddle provided at a central part of the clip; integral side arms extending to opposite sides of the saddle; and each side arm being recessed to receive a portion of a pipe.

5. A clip as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the clip is produced in a synthetic plastics material.

1

6. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the saddle and arms are integral.

7. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the saddle is of square, inverted"U"shape.

8. A clip as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recesses of the support arms are semicircular.

9. A clip substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawing (s).