The science behind WarmzBord products
WarmzBord products are engineered with performance at their core. Backed by decades of experience in product design and manufacturing, our team has developed a range built around four key principles: simple installation, rapid warm-up, high heat output, and excellent performance with low-temperature heat pump systems. Manufactured in our Taunton facility in Somerset, every WarmzBord product is designed and made in the UK, allowing us to maintain rigorous quality standards, ensure consistent performance, and provide reliable support to our customers.
This guide explores the thinking and design principles behind how these products deliver consistent, reliable results on site, along with a Product Selector that describes the application of each product.
Using the right materials for good heat transfer
Heat from UFH pipes creates peaks (hot spots) above the pipe and cooler troughs between runs. Effective diffusion spreads this heat laterally, reducing temperature variation across the floor.
A screed does this due to its thickness, while aluminium does it due to its high thermal conductivity. Smoother heat distribution is critical because floor surfaces are limited to 29°C at any point (some floor finishes have lower limits), so reducing peaks allows more of the floor to operate near this limit, increasing overall heat output.
This is why WarmzBord incorporates high-performance aluminium heat diffusers throughout its ‘dry’ Cover systems. 200 micron thick diffusers contain significantly more aluminium than the 50 to 100 micron foil commonly used elsewhere, and with the LT systems, helping to spread heat more effectively across the floor surface.
Heat transfer to the floor surface
Once heat has been spread laterally, the next step is getting it efficiently into the floor surface. In ‘dry’ construction systems (without screed), this means minimising thermal resistance between the aluminium heat diffusion layer and the finished floor.
It is also critical to eliminate any air gaps within the build-up, as air is a very poor conductor of heat and can significantly reduce performance.
To that end, WarmzBord uses cementitious cover layers, which are significantly more thermally conductive than timber-based boards, such as MDF. This improves heat transfer to the surface, enhances overall system performance, and provides a more dimensionally stable platform that is more resistant to moisture movement.
WarmzBord’s PipeSure® alignment technology also helps maintain thermal performance by ensuring the cover panel, heat diffuser and pipe channels align precisely during installation. This creates consistent contact between layers, reduces the risk of installation errors and helps ensure heat is transferred efficiently from the pipe to the floor surface.
Faster warm-up and response times
Traditional screeded systems rely on heating a large thermal mass before heat reaches the room. While effective, this can increase response times.
As WarmzBord ‘dry’ systems use highly conductive aluminium diffusers and low thermal mass construction to transfer heat rapidly from the pipe to the floor surface, it allows the system to respond more quickly to changes in demand, improving comfort and helping to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. Low output systems will have a slower response.
Managing downward heat loss
Insulation beneath the underfloor heating system is essential. While some downward heat loss is inevitable, effective insulation ensures more heat is driven upwards into the room, improving heat output, reducing warm-up times, and lowering running costs.
There is, however, a balance to strike in how a panel is made. Insulation improves efficiency, but more conductive materials, like cement-based boards, enhance heat transfer to the surface.
WarmzBord addresses this by combining both: composite panels that integrate insulation with conductive, rigid cementitious layers to deliver efficiency and performance together.
All these factors ensure that WarmzBord systems achieve high performance, fast warm-up and worry-free integration with low temperature heat pumps.
Product Selector
Find the right WarmzBord system for your project.
WarmzBord SLIM
Low-profile retrofit board with a printed cover and PipeSure®, for floating timber and a range of finishes.
Learn moreWarmzBord SLIM LT
16mm low-build retrofit board – finish your way, with an upgrade path to the full SLIM system.
Learn moreWarmzBord DECK
Structural board that replaces floor decking over joists for new build and renovation.
Learn moreWarmzBord DECK LT
Economical structural board over joists up to 600mm centres; upgradeable to DECK.
Learn more