LOAD BEARING SURFACES
Let it take the strain
LOAD BEARING SURFACE OVERVIEW
Underfloor heating systems have traditionally been slow to respond, necessitating that they are left running continually. This is due to the mass of the screed present between the heating pipework and the air that the system is trying to heat. Screeds also tend to have a high specific heat capacity, i.e. it takes a lot of energy to change the temperature of a given mass of screed by 1°C.
To complement the fast heat-up times offered by our panel, JUPITER have developed a range of load bearing surfaces which are our dry-installed alternative to screeding. Our load bearing surfaces are much thinner than screeds and so present less material for the system to heat up before the air in the space can start to be heated.
As there is no screed to dry out, our approach also offers tremendous advantages to your building program. Final floor finishes can typically be installed 24-48 hours after JUPITER have left site. Our replacements for a screed are also very well suited to historic and conservation projects where they serve to massively reduce the amount of moisture added to the delicate building fabric.
When Jupiter first appeared on the UK market from Germany in 2004 the handful of other suppliers were not offering products to go on their heating panels–they would simply suggest floor grade chipboard. Realising that offering a high performing load bearing surface was an integral part of a ‘system’, Jupiter immediately began promoting Fermacell gypsum fibreboards to complement the heating panels. Nearly 15 years later, Jupiter have an unrivalled range of screed alternatives for every floor finish and every budget.
The Screed Replacement Tile system is the ultimate low profile alternative to a screed. Although only 18mm thick, it is stronger than a screed and yet heats up and cools down within minutes. Our SRT system is formed of tongue-and-groove tiles laid in brick-bond format and glued together but not to the substrate. The SRT system can accept any floor finish and requires no specialist knowledge to install. Use of the SRT system also guarantees a tile or stone floor finish will not crack or fail, without the requirement for a decoupling membrane.
The ever-popular choice when a general use load bearing surface is required. Suitable for almost all floor finishes Fermacell is a rapidly installed floor preparation system made from 20mm thick gypsum fibreboard. Boards are now a more manageable 1200 x 600mm and are simply glued and screwed together.
DimaMat is our only liquid-based product and, at only 3mm thick, is an ultra-thin load bearing surface suitable for tiled floor finishes. Other finishes require a slightly greater build-up, typically 6mm thick. Comprised of a self-adhesive decoupling mat and a water-mixed compound, DimaMat can be installed over large areas very quickly and can be covered with floor finishes after only 4 hours.
Firmax is a 12mm thick cement panel system (made up of 2 x 6mm boards) that are delivered with self-adhesive faces. The system is installed by laying two, staggered layers of the boards, adhesive face to adhesive face, and hitting them with a rubber mallet to activate the adhesive. This system delivers high point loads and is very useful for self-builders.
