Structure of an old baroque church protected with radiant heating
No heating, uninsulated roof truss, single-glazed windows – from an energy efficiency perspective construction back in 1682 when "St. Trinitatis" church was built in the German city of Ruhla was a bit of a disaster. However the structure was a work of art. This is why the city administration and many citizens in Ruhla agreed that it needed to be preserved and established a friends' association. Thanks to financial aid from the federal and state government, it was possible to refurbish the listed church and modernise it for future generations.
To this end, the Fonterra Tacker radiant heating was installed. After all, it was moisture in this, until now, unheated church which presented the greatest threat to the historical structure. Heating was also required given that it was planned to use the building as a centre for cultural events.
Surface heating guarantees base temperature
Due to the irregular nature of usage, constant heating makes little economic sense. Heating up the building just prior to events on the other hand would cause condensation and result in further damage. The solution: The radiant heating and cooling system Fonterra Tacker ensures a consistent base temperature of 6 to 8°C and keeps the room temperature above the dew point. If concerts or similar are scheduled to take place in the church convection heating units are used a day in advance. They heat up the building at a rate of 1 K an hour to a pleasant 18°C. This slow increase reduces the risk of condensation.