Cosy surface heating in a converted old barn in the heart of the village
In Breitensee, Germany, the Bötsch family have created their dream home by converting an old barn in the centre of the village into a beautiful detached house. The "dry" Fonterra Reno surface heating system keeps the building wonderfully warm.
Modernisation with Fonterra Reno
The key arguments for opting for this Viega system were its low construction height and "gentle" installation which did not require moisture to enter the building. Moreover, surface heating is the most efficient way to distribute heat. Primary energy consumption is cut by ten to twelve percent. Clients with new buildings have known and appreciated this for some time. Yet surface heating systems are still uncommon in buildings requiring modernisation. The conversion of the barn into a comfortable home is proof that with systems such as Fonterra Reno there are no technical reasons which prevent the use of surface heating in refurbishment projects. Moreover, subject to correct calculation, this method of heat distribution, including installation, is more cost-effective than the use of radiators.
Preserving the building structure
As a dry construction system, from a technical perspective Fonterra Reno was the ideal choice for the historic timber construction with beam ceilings and plank flooring since the structure would react sensitively to the ingress of moisture, for example floating screed. At the same time, the system panels for the PB-pipes help to stabilise the floor construction comprising OSB and wedi panels. When considering the costs, radiators were not only compared with surface heating. The screed with drying phases which would otherwise have been necessary was also included in the calculation – leaving the surface heating system the clear winner.
The heat in the 200 m² home is distributed via three manifold bars with 12, 7 and 5 heating circuits. As such heat input was successfully boosted, particularly in the areas near the windows of the generously sized living/dining room with adjacent conservatory. A further advantage is the simple hydraulic balancing. The system is controlled by room thermostats.