GAIA CLIMATE SOLUTIONS LTD
UNIT 4
BRICKFIELDS BUSINESS PARK
WOOLPIT
BURY ST EDMUNDS
SUFFOLK IP30 9QS
Tel: 01359 242400
Fax: projects@gaia.co.uk
Suppliers of: Electric Underfloor Heating, wet underfloor heating, frost protection, commercial underfloor heating, domestic underfloor heating
Here at Gaia, we’re a company with over 35 years’ experience offering total underfloor heating systems in commercial and residential properties across the UK and Ireland. We specialise in the design, supply and installation of both wet and electric systems as well as frost protection. Offering a wide range of underfloor heating solutions, our teams can advise and design the most suitable system for you, whether it’s a new build or refurbishment project; providing a professional service from initial project stage through to project completion.
We cover all projects from self-build, residential and commercial new builds, multiple apartment buildings, care and educational facilities.
We pride ourselves in building lasting relationships with customers who we continue to serve and celebrate in the success of the projects we deliver for them.
Our Systems: Electric Underfloor Heating / Wet Underfloor Heating / Frost Protection
Heat Pump Compatible: Please contact us for further information on how we can design the right system for you.
In an electric underfloor heating system, a series of wires are installed beneath or within your flooring as a means of heating the room.
The electric system you install will depend on the size of the room and how well insulated it is. What the flooring below is like, whether it’s insulated and the type of flooring you’ll have on top. Options include loose-fit wiring, flexible enough to fit into small or awkward spaces, electric cable systems, or heating mats you roll out to cover larger areas.
Electric floor heating can be added without breaking up the old floor when a property is renovated. It’s quick and easy to install, making a new build project quicker to complete.
With a wet underfloor heating system, a series of pipes connected to your boiler circulate warm water throughout the floor to heat the space, similar to radiators. Alternatively, you can connect the underfloor water pipes to a solar hydronic heating system, air-source or ground-source heat pump. The pipes will be connected to your heat source using a manifold (essentially a central system allowing all the pipes to work together). The bigger the system, the more pipes it will have and the more complex the manifold will be. The system will also be fitted to a thermostat (or thermostats, if you’re having more than one zone) so that you can regulate the temperature.
We have various systems for you to choose from depending on your projects needs. We offer the full Gaia system which fits perfectly into screed, aluminium plates or grooved overlay; and we also systems from top brands Polypipe, Emmeti, Omnie and Myson. As a result, whatever your project requirements, we have a system to suit your needs.
We offer a wide range of frost protection and ice and snow melting systems for your project. From providing safe walking areas and driving during winter times through to protecting buildings and pipes from frost damage – we have the solution. If you want to install a system with the peace of mind that it will last through harsh winter conditions, our frost protection systems are fit for the job.
Our frost protection and snow melting systems are used throughout the world regularly protecting to temperatures of -30 deg Celsius.
Training professionals on how to specify and install underfloor heating systems is an essential part of the service we provide.
We offer a variety of CPD material on Electric underfloor heating, Wet underfloor heating and Frost Protection systems, designed to improve your professional knowledge and skills. It’s a platform for us to share our expertise on each heating system.
Our systems are fitted in new developments and renovations all across the UK and Ireland.
Further information and product advice is available on the Gaia Climate Solutions Website.
GAIA - First Floor Underfloor Heating – Your Questions, Answered
When it comes to underfloor heating, many people assume it’s suitable for the ground-floor only. However, that’s not actually the case!
In recent years, underfloor heating has been increasingly used as a heating system for whole buildings, installed to deliver even, consistent warmth on the ground floor, first floor and even in a loft conversion.
But, as first floor underfloor heating is still a less common practice, you may have a few questions about including it in your project – including which system is most suitable, can it be retrofitted and does it work with joisted floors.
So, in this blog we’re answering the most popular questions that architects, contractors, M&E consultants, builders and developers may have about underfloor heating on the first floor.
Can you install electric underfloor heating on the first floor?
Yes! Electric underfloor heating is an ideal system for first floor heating.
Electric underfloor heating consists of mats or cables which are installed beneath the floor and connected to the electricity supply. When switched on, they heat the floor, warming a room from the ground up.
Both mats and individual cables (often paired with a decoupling membrane) are lightweight, thin and discreet, meaning they have minimal impact on floor height which is perfect for first floors where space may be limited. Plus, its easy installation process means it can be simply factored into the build.
Electric underfloor heating is also the ideal future-proof system as it meets the requirements of electrification – a government-supported ambition to move the heating industry towards electricity and away from fossil fuel gas heating. This is key for developers working on projects which may take around five to 10 years to complete and need to meet the needs and regulations of today and the future.
Can you install wet underfloor heating on the first floor?
Despite what some may think – yes!
It was previously believed that wet – or hydronic – underfloor heating was unsuitable for the upper floors due to its impact on floor height. This is because wet underfloor heating can sometimes require additional work during installation, resulting in expensive excavation or raising the floor to an unacceptable level.
However, new low-profile systems mean that wet underfloor heating is a great heating system for the first floor of a building.
A low-profile grooved overlay system is the most suitable wet underfloor heating option for the first floor. The slim grooved overlay boards can be installed over an existing level solid substrate, with the wet underfloor heating pipe placed inside the grooves. As this requires minimal floor build up, it has little impact on floor height.
The boards are made from EPS insulation with an aluminium foil layer which helps evenly dissipate heat. The pre-formed grooves ensure uniform spacing for easier installation and even warmth, as well as helping to achieve the recommended heating output for the first floor.
We’ve worked on a number of projects which feature low-profile wet underfloor heating upstairs, including Redcliffe Place in Tunbridge Wells for which we provided a grooved insulation system that encased the pipe and reduced installation time.
Just like electric underfloor heating, wet systems are also an ideal future-proof solution for long-term projects as they can be paired with heat pumps to help meet the electrification ambition, as well as adhere to the energy efficiency rules of the Future Homes Standard.
Wet underfloor heating into grooved overlay upstairs
Wet underfloor heating into screed downstairs
Can you retrofit underfloor heating on the first floor?
Underfloor heating is great for first floor retrofit projects.
Electric underfloor heating is the more common choice for first floor retrofit projects as it’s typically more low profile, so requires limited disruption to the existing floor height – and it’s quick and easy to install.
Due to a more complex installation process, wet underfloor heating is typically better for new-build projects, especially on the first floor. But, if a complete renovation is taking place, installation of low-profile wet underfloor heating can be factored into the renovation process to cause less disruption.
Can underfloor heating be used with joisted floors?
Underfloor heating can be installed on wooden joisted floors which are typically used in the upstairs of a building.
Wet underfloor heating can be installed with aluminium plates which are made to be installed with timber joisted floors. The plates can be placed between the joists to support the pipework. They have pre-formed grooves which hold and evenly space a 16mm wet underfloor heating pipe beneath the floor.
We recently completed a project for Hambridge Homes – Pearsall Terrace in Crystal Palace – which featured a bespoke aluminium plate system. The standard size is typically 400mm, but we delivered an aluminium plate system for 600mm joists of the upper floors of the plots.
Can underfloor heating be used with carpet on the first floor?
Developers, builders and contractors may want to ensure the heating system installed is compatible with the design choices their clients may make – and carpet is a popular option for the first floor of many projects, especially in bedrooms.
Underfloor heating is suitable for use with a wide range of flooring options, including carpets.
Low-tog carpets are the most suitable and we recommend both the carpet and the underlay come to less than 1.5 tog combined.
Underfloor heating can also be used with tiles, vinyl and wood flooring which may be used in bathrooms, bedrooms or hallways on upper floors.
Looking for underfloor heating?
If you’re seeking underfloor heating for your project – whether that’s for the first floor or anywhere else within the project – our helpful team are always on hand to help.
We design, supply, commission and install wet (hydronic) and electric (dry) underfloor heating for developers, architects, contractors, M&E consultants and builders across the UK and Ireland.
With experience working on a wide range of projects – new builds or retrofits, residential or commercial – we can help you find the right heating system for your project.
Get in touch today to find out more.
GAIA - The UK gas boiler ban – what you need to know
As the UK moves ever closer to its commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050, discussion of a gas boiler ban has permeated the industry.
Whilst a gas boiler ban was initially proposed for 2035, the change in government has altered these plans again, leaving some people unclear on the new guidelines.
As leaders in the heating industry – with 35 years’ experience designing, supplying and installing underfloor heating for clients across the UK – we have taken a look at what you need to know about the gas boiler ban.
What is the gas boiler ban?
According to EDF Energy, almost a third of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to heating, with 95% of UK homes being centrally heated and most relying on gas or oil-fired boilers.
To reduce this – and meet the UK’s Net Zero target by 2050– the previous Conservative government introduced a plan to ban gas boilers in new-builds as part of the Future Homes Standard, an initiative set to come into play in 2025.
The Future Homes Standard outlined that all new-builds must be delivered ‘zero-carbon ready’ by using low-carbon heating systems and producing 75-80% fewer carbon emissions. This rendered gas boilers unsuitable for installation in new homes.
This was followed by a ban on the sale of new gas boilers by 2035. Whilst removing working gas boilers would not be required, those replacing a broken gas boiler would have to use a different method to heat their home instead, subsequently phasing gas boilers out.
However, in January 2025, the new Labour government decided not to go ahead with the gas boiler ban by 2035. Instead, they will financially incentivise people to choose alternative low-carbon heating solutions, such as heat pumps, solar panels or underfloor heating.
However, with the Future Homes Standard set to be implemented this year, gas boilers will still be deemed unsuitable for new homes…
How will the gas boiler ban affect my project?
If you’re undertaking a retrofit project, gas boilers can remain in the home. The Warm Homes Plan outlines that the government will not force the removal of a working boiler.
However, with Net Zero targets looming and the heating industry turning to more sustainable options, you may wish to future-proof by installing a more low-carbon heating solution.
If you’re involved in building a new home – whether you’re a developer, architect, contractor, M&E consultant or builder – you will need to ensure your project adheres to the Future Homes Standard.
This means you will not be able to install a gas boiler and will instead need to source low-carbon heating, such as electric underfloor heating, wet underfloor heating, air-source or ground-source heat pumps or solar panels.
Whilst there is still work to do to ensure the switch to greener alternatives is easier and more cost effective, there have already been a number of changes which have made a difference.
The government scrapped the ‘one-metre rule’ which prevented heat pumps from being installed too close to a neighbouring property without planning permission. This means it’s no longer necessary to acquire planning permission to fit a heat pump, making installation much simpler.
The Boiler Upgrade Scheme was introduced in April 2022 to make installing heat pumps more affordable. The scheme provides grants of up to £7,500 towards the cost of installing a heat pump, with the aim of making the costs of sustainable heating similar to those of a gas boiler.
Plus, the Warm Home Plan outlines that the government will work alongside the industry to further reduce the costs of installing heat pumps.
BEAMA – the leading trade body for manufacturers and providers of energy infrastructure and systems in the UK – have created the Accelerating Electrification campaign.
It aims to foster sustainable growth and investment within the UK electrical supply chain, as well as show how electric solutions can help deliver the government’s low carbon growth strategy and decarbonise the nation’s energy, heat and transport infrastructure.
What are the alternatives to gas boiler heating?
There are a number of suitable low-carbon, future-proof alternatives to gas boiler heating, including:
Underfloor heating
There are two main types of underfloor heating – wet and electric.
Electric underfloor heating is powered entirely by electricity. It involves electrical mats or cables which are installed beneath the floor, warming a room from the ground up.
Wet underfloor heating consists of a network of flexible pipes installed beneath the floor. The pipe system circulates warm water which heats the floor above it. Traditionally, wet underfloor heating was connected to a gas boiler, but it can now be paired with a heat pump for an even more low-carbon, energy-efficient heating solution.
Both wet and electric underfloor heating systems are considered to be around 30% more energy efficient than a traditional radiator and boiler system. They run at a significantly lower temperature of around 35°C, whilst radiators run at around 70°C. This lower operating temperature means it is quicker to heat up, using less energy to produce the same, if not better, warmth.
Heat pumps
Heat pumps are being championed by the government as a key alternative to gas boilers.
They take heat from the air or ground and transform it into warmth for a building. There are two main types of heat pump: air source heat pumps, which extract heat from the outside air, and ground source heat pumps, which take heat from pipes within the ground.
Heat pumps are a renewable and sustainable energy source, and are considered to deliver around three to four times more heat energy than the electrical energy they use, making them very efficient.
With the Future Homes Standard on the way, we’re expecting the popularity of heat pumps to grow – especially when paired with underfloor heating.
Looking for underfloor heating?
If you’re seeking underfloor heating for your project, our helpful team are always on hand to help.
We work with developers, architects, contractors, M&E consultants and builders across the UK and Ireland, designing, supplying, commissioning and installing underfloor heating for their projects.
With our extensive industry knowledge and expertise, we can help you find the right heating product for your project.
Get in touch today to find out more.
