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The manifolds were strategically located to stay clear of the massive warehouse shelving systems, while remaining accessible for future service. Using these pre-assembled, custom-made mats of 5/8 inch RAUPEX O2 barrier pipe, each 250-feet long and four circuits wide, the contractor was able to quickly and efficiently lay out more than 400,000 feet of piping and stay well ahead of the concrete pour. Just-in-time delivery of REHAU RAUMAT radiant mat system provided the solution. Construction of the 383,000 square foot building, including offices and warehouse/distribution space, was fast-tracked, and the architect and mechanical engineer needed to cut the installation time for the radiant floor heating system to stay ahead of concrete slab pour. The construction timeline was a major concern while designing the Kent Building Supplies distribution center in Moncton, New Brunswick. For the necessary design considerations, see ASHRAE 90433 Design Essentials for Refrigerated Storage Facilities. These applications use radiant below the slab and floor insulation to help prevent the slab from heaving and cracking due to the temperature difference between ground and freezer area. If floor temperatures dip below the dew point allowing condensation, the fertilizer degrades.įrom COVID-19 vaccines to frozen foods, the growing demand for storage at low or freezing temperatures coupled with an aging building stock of cold/freezer facilities in North America, spell unique opportunities for radiant. At Ontario-based Belmont Farm Supply, a floor temperature between 57° to 60° is essential for storing fertilizer. Sometimes the “comfort” requirements driving the radiant choice are for the products being stored, rather than the people. Because it delivers comfort at low entering water temperature, radiant is an especially compatible and efficient companion to geothermal and other zero-energy systems. A radiant system can be just as comfortable at 65° F as a forced-air system at 68° F. ![]() ![]() In addition to the rapid recovery time, the ability of the thermal mass to hold and emit heat with greater efficiency allows occupied spaces to be set to a lower temperature. In a study of a similar challenge in aircraft hangars, in-slab hydronic radiant heating was found to be up to 55% more energy efficient than the benchmark forced-air unit heaters. Even when the doors are open, a radiant floor acts as a thermal mass, retaining much of the heat and minimizing the time the forced-air system needs to run. The radiant system should be the primary heat source, providing steady, efficient heat, while the forced-air system should be localized and activated whenever doors are opened to help quickly reheat the cold air coming in. Managing energy lost through open dock doors is a unique challenge in warehouses. It’s even possible to eliminate overhead supply and return lines inside the space by using buried insulated piping. Rather than using scissor lifts to access air ducts in the rafters, radiant piping is hidden under foot and requires no maintenance. Another consideration, with the high ceilings in warehouses, is worker safety. They are beginning to understand that if they value-engineer radiant out when building their facility, it will cost them more in the long run in energy costs and HVAC equipment maintenance. Since “going up” is a great way to get the most out of the space, we need to make sure owners know all their options for efficiency and maximizing the square footage. To succeed in the warehouse business, owners need to maximize their investment. The warmest air is constantly rising above the occupied zone, adding little comfort to the workers. With conventional heating systems such as unit heaters or rooftop equipment, the ability to heat the area that should be conditioned and not the upper atmospheres of the building space is, in most cases, unrealistic. Minimizing energy use, maximizing comfort ![]() Individual zones give the owner the flexibility to easily adapt to future space use requirements. The REHAU team proposed radiant design modifications to improve the heating output and zoning and to minimize expansion joint crossings for easier slab installation. Each area had unique heating needs, which were easily addressed with the excellent controllability of radiant.
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