Ceiling heating: A less intrusive renovation as opposed to a major remodel __

Ceiling heating: A less intrusive renovation as opposed to a major remodel
17. June 2024 8 min.

The construction industry, architects, planners, and installers are faced with the major task of renovating existing buildings to make them more energy-efficient in order to implement climate protection goals, sustainability and the energy transition. This also largely applies to the heating systems. Heat pumps only achieve their highest efficiency when they are operated in combination with surface heating systems. Here, ceiling heating comes into focus as an economical and intelligent solution.

Ceiling heating, such as the aquatherm black, offers a less intrusive option to more significant restoration work. Instead of major interventions in the building fabric, it enables rapid and cost-effective modernisation – even when inhabited. In this blog, we shed light on why aquatherm black is a forward-looking answer to the challenges of energy-efficient renovation, what opportunities are available to you and how you can contribute to effectively meeting the sustainability goals.

 

Why ceiling heating?

Choosing the right heating system is crucial when it comes to the energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings. In this case, the aquatherm black system is an ideal solution for ceiling heating . The adaptability of aquatherm black to existing structures enables a less invasive installation that eliminates the need for major structural interventions. Renovation can be carried out according to the "room to room" principle. As a result, buildings can continue to be used or inhabited almost without restriction.

Another important aspect is energy saving through efficient heat transfer. aquatherm black offers high energy efficiency with flow temperatures between 25°C and 35°C. By way of comparison, conventional heating systems often require flow temperatures of around 70°C. In addition, ceiling heating systems are characterised by a high radiation efficiency of up to 92%, significantly more than wall heating with 69% and underfloor heating with 50%.

Advantages of aquatherm ceiling heating

  • The radiant heat emitted by the ceiling heating ensures an even and pleasant room temperature.
  • In contrast to traditional heating systems, it does not cause dust turbulence and avoids dry indoor air. The result: a healthy and pleasant indoor climate.
  • In addition to the heat supply in winter, aquatherm black also offers the possibility of cooling in the summer months. With record temperatures on the rise, ceiling cooling is quickly paying for itself, as it is significantly more energy-efficient than air conditioning.
  • The invisible integration into the room design preserves the aesthetic character of the room and enables flexible use of space without restrictions due to visible heating elements.

 

More flexibility thanks to aquatherm black

The flexibility of aquatherm is particularly evident in the simple connection to various heating sources. For example, the surface heating system can be installed in the ceiling first and then later switched to a new heating technology using renewable energies, such as a heat pump. This adaptability gives builders and investors more freedom in scheduling renovation projects.

 

Simple, quick installation for further use of the building

Another advantage of aquatherm black is that it is quick and easy to install, even when it is in use or inhabited. This is supported by the new plug-and-clamp connections, which enable even more efficient and reliable installation of the coils. Installation requires less effort and saves significant time during renovation. Instead of using plug-and-clamp connections, another option is to implement welded connections.

aquatherm black: Your options for ceiling installation

As a planner, installer or architect, you are faced with the question of how to optimally integrate surface heating into the existing rooms when it comes to existing buildings. To this end, aquatherm offers various solutions for ceiling installations that can be adapted to the specific requirements and circumstances:

  • Drywall with metal substructure
  • Drywall with wooden substructure
  • Drywall with insert plates
  • Plastered-in solution
  • Thermally activated canopies
  • Metal cassette with clamping/hooking system
  • Metal cassettes with tape grid system
  • Metal cassette with strip grid system
  • Metal cassette with expanded metal
  • Suspended free convection
  • Free convection / direct mounting

 

Drywall with metal substructure

The installation of the aquatherm black energy coils in drywall construction with metal substructure is uncomplicated and efficient. Embedded between the support profiles, this system enables flexible adaptation to room conditions by means of individually selectable register sizes. After installation, the ceilings are simply covered with building panels.

The system ensures excellent heating and cooling performance by using the entire ceiling surface and supports low flow temperatures, making it ideal for use with heat pumps. In addition, it improves room acoustics and enables seamless integration of lighting and security technology.

Thanks to the dry construction method, you benefit from rapid construction progress and creative freedom in ceiling design.

 

Drywall with metal substructure

 

Drywall with wooden substructure

The aquatherm black grids are mounted between the supporting surface and the wooden substructure. Subsequently, the wall or ceiling is covered with building boards, for example made of plasterboard. Due to the different grid widths and lengths, the ceiling surface can be individually equipped, which creates additional scope for ceiling installations such as spotlights, suspensions for lighting and smoke detectors.

In addition to the high heating and cooling performance due to the full-surface activation of the ceiling surfaces, this system offers quick and easy installation. It is ideally suited for the use of heat pump and condensing boiler technology due to its ability to use low supply and return temperatures.

Power is delivered without draughts, and the system reacts quickly to temperature changes. Thanks to the dry construction method, you benefit from rapid construction progress and at the same time have creative freedom in the ceiling design.

 

Drywall with wooden substructure

 

Drywall construction with plasterboard or mineral fibre inserts

The installation of the aquatherm black energy grids in a drywall system with insert plates is characterised by its simplicity and speed. The grids are placed on metal inserts and securely fastened with hold-down magnets, which ensures efficient heat transfer through direct contact.

This installation allows for high heating and cooling capacities, as the grids offer optimal heat transfer through direct contact with the metal inserts. Thanks to the factory-prefabricated modules, quick assembly on site is guaranteed. In addition, low supply and return temperatures can be achieved, which is particularly advantageous for the use of heat pumps and condensing boiler technology.

The system can be easily integrated into existing ceiling systems and offers high sound absorption, especially for ceiling tiles with perforations and acoustic fleece. It is also compatible with various built-in ceilings such as lighting, fire detectors and ventilation components, allowing for extensive use of the ceiling surface.

Drywall construction with plasterboard or mineral fibre inserts

 

Plastered-in solution

The plastered solution offers an elegant and invisible way of installing surface heating. In this method, the custom-made aquatherm black grids are mounted directly on the raw ceiling and then completely embedded in a layer of plaster.

After attaching the grids and the connection piping to the wall, the plaster is applied, using all common types of plaster such as gypsum, lime, cement or clay.

This technology enables high heating and cooling capacities due to the full-surface activation of the ceiling surfaces. In addition, it ensures a silent and draught-free heating and cooling function, which contributes to a particularly pleasant indoor climate. The plastered solution is suitable for almost all ceiling surfaces and is characterised by its small space requirement.

 

Plastered-in solution

 

Thermally activated canopies

Metal ceiling sails in combination with aquatherm black grids offer an ideal solution for demanding architectural projects. These sails, as well as the grids, can be adapted in shape and size to any room geometry, offering architects and planners maximum design freedom.

The advantages of this system include high heating and cooling capacities due to an effective contact transmission surface. The factory-prefabricated grid modules allow for quick and easy installation on site, supported by the use of hold-down magnets.

The system can also be combined with centrally treated outside air and can be integrated into existing metal ceiling systems. In addition, metal ceiling tiles with micro-perforations provide high sound absorption, which helps to improve room acoustics.

 

Thermally activated canopies

 

Metal cassette with clamping/hooking system

The clamping/hooking system for metal cassettes enables efficient heating and cooling performance by inserting the aquatherm black grids into the cassettes and fixing them with thermal conductive modules. This guarantees optimum power transmission through direct contact with the sheet metal or acoustic fleece. Especially in offices or surgeries, this system offers draught-free cooling and pleasant warmth.

The advantages lie in the high heating and cooling capacity due to an excellent contact transmission surface. The factory-prefabricated register modules facilitate quick and easy installation at the point of use.

In addition, this system can be retrofitted to existing metal cassette ceilings and offers high sound absorption, especially in metal ceiling tiles with micro-perforation. In addition, it enables the integration of ceiling installations and structures, such as lighting, fire detectors and ventilation components.

 

Metal cassette with clamping/hooking system

 

Metal cassettes with tape grid system

When using metal cassettes with a strip grid system, the aquatherm black grids are inserted directly into the cassettes and securely fastened using hold-down magnets. Effective power transfer is ensured by the direct contact of the registers with the cassette plate or the acoustic fleece.

This type of installation offers high heating and cooling capacities thanks to the excellent contact transfer surface. Installation is extremely quick and easy thanks to the use of hold-down magnets and factory-prefabricated grids modules.

This maintenance-free system can be easily integrated into existing metal ceilings and offers high sound absorption, especially with metal ceiling tiles with micro-perforations. The heating and cooling output is delivered without draughts.

 

Metal cassettes with tape grid system

 

Metal cassette with expanded metal

The aquatherm black grids for heating and cooling are inserted into the expanded metal cassettes and secured with heat conducting modules. Direct contact between the grids and the expanded metal or acoustic fleece ensures good power transfer.

 

Metal cassette with expanded metal

 

Suspended free convection

When installing heating and cooling grids by means of free convection, the aquatherm black grids are placed on a permeable substructure that allows unhindered air circulation.

The custom-made grids are placed on this substructure and fixed if necessary, ensuring a high level of performance of the system. This makes it particularly effective for specific applications such as heating individual workstations in industrial environments.

The advantages of this installation method lie in the high heating and cooling capacities made possible by free convection. The system offers flexible application options and can be adapted to different room conditions. In addition, it can be easily combined with other ceiling substructures such as lighting systems, fire detectors, sprinkler systems and ventilation components.

 

Suspended free convection
Default image alt text
2 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.
Default image alt text
3 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.
Default image alt text
4 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.
Default image alt text
5 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.

 

Free convection / direct mounting


Free convection offers a high heating and cooling capacity due to the unobstructed air circulation. It is suitable for heating individual workstations in the industrial sector, for example. The aquatherm black grids are installed directly on the concrete ceiling. The grids are available in different sizes and can be customised to suit the spatial conditions.

Free convection / direct mounting
Default image alt text
2 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.
Default image alt text
3 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.
Default image alt text
4 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.
Default image alt text
5 An optional caption for the image that will be added to the gallery. Enter any descriptive text for this image that you would like visitors to be able to read.

 

Would you like to learn more about the advantages of aquatherm black? Discover all your options in our short, concise and clear video.

 

Whatch video

 

Sustainability and environmental protection with aquatherm

aquatherm is committed to sustainability and environmental protection. aquatherm black contributes to energy savings and is part of an environmentally conscious renovation strategy. Recyclable plastic is used, which is corrosion-free and chemically resistant. As a result of this and the high durability, aquatherm black makes a substantial contribution to sustainable construction. The sustainable properties of aquatherm black are comprehensively documented in Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for your project.

 

Result

The energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings is fundamental for climate protection and the energy transition. aquatherm black as ceiling heating and cooling is the effective solution that offers both ecological and economic advantages. For architects, planners, investors and installers, aquatherm black offers the opportunity to optimise their projects both in terms of energy efficiency and cost management. The integration of the innovative heating system into renovation projects makes a significant contribution to reducing operating costs while protecting the climate.

Would you like to learn more about surface heating and cooling systems? In our article you will find more information on potentials, technologies and efficient application solutions.

 

Download: Article