Gravedigger
Member
How should the concrete floor in a pole barn be insulated for radiant floor heating? Does just the slab need to be insulated on the sides and underneath w/2"board and vapor barrier?
Pole barn radiant Heat insulation?
- Thread starter Gravedigger
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Sureshot
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I only did the sides but wish I had shelled out the cash to do underneath but at the time no one seemed to think it was needed.
KELLHAMMER
Well-known member
I did a barn floor with radiant We had the building analyzed by Radiantec they recommended 2" under the slab for the first few feet around the perimeter. We did the whole slab. And we used 1 inch rigid on the edges. Having the insulation definitely makes the slab quicker to respond to temperature demands. And theoretically stays warmer longer after it's switched off.
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pstnbly
Well-known member
You need to thermally isolate the slab, this means insulation under and around the slab. You must de-couple the slab from conductive loads or you are paying to heat the ground which is thermally very stable and will take virtually any and all BTU's it's given. I've even heard of peoples driveways and nearby ponds staying thawed in high degree day climates.
Highbeam
Well-known member
I just built my 30x60 pole barn floor this way. VB, then 2" of 25 psi foam, then mesh, then pex, then 6" of concrete. The perimeter was also covered with 2" foam all around that extends below the bottom 2" of foam. The sides are the most important but the bottom needs insulation too.
The wire mesh made a fantastic grid to measure and attach the pex tubes. I used plastic zip ties.
The wire mesh made a fantastic grid to measure and attach the pex tubes. I used plastic zip ties.
OP
Gravedigger
Member
Thanks for the info. Will isolate with insulation
BadgerBoilerMN
Well-known member
Naturally all insulation is specified according to the application and location. I would not use Radiantec as the standard.
The PEX is stapled to the XPS in most applications. there is no merit in wire unless the tube needs to be suspended -rare-.
The PEX is stapled to the XPS in most applications. there is no merit in wire unless the tube needs to be suspended -rare-.
Highbeam
Well-known member
If you use the zip tie method, make sure you trim off the excess. Don't ask how I know but I do.
Yes, the wife got zip tie tail duty while my bleeding fingers recovered from zip tie installation duty. Worked great.