SOUND-INSULATING, PREFERABLY FLOATING FLOOR WITH HEATING ELEMENTS

Abstract: Sound-insulating, preferably floating floor having heating elements, comprising a plurality of superimposed sheets (1) of homogeneous, binder-free, highly refined wood pulp or other fibrous material having a supply and distribution system for warm water heat incorporated therein.

Description: SOUND-INSULATING, PREFERABLY FLOATING FLOOR WITH HEATING ELEMENTS The present invention relates to a preferably floating floor of a sound-insulating type, in which there is incorporated a heating system and other technical duct systems. More specifically, the invention relates to a preferably floating floor having sound- insulating properties which satisfies public authority requirements with respect to sound insulation in storey partitions and wherein at the same time there is incorporated an economical heating system based on the distribution of heat from warm water. Warm water floor heating systems are so-called low-temperature floor heating systems. Such systems are becoming increasingly more common in homes in Norway and can in principle be compared with a traditional central heating system, but where the radiators are incorporated into the floor instead of being placed on a wall. Thus, by laying the pipes out over the total floor surface, the whole floor will act as a "radiator". Since the average temperature of the water which is caused to circulate in this water-fed floor heating system is below 30°C, the term "low-temperature floor heating system" is used. If such water- fed floor heating systems are to be able to utilise low water temperatures and at the same time be energy-efficient, a number of criteria should be met: - the heat loss must be low, which will result in the heat requirement being low; it should be used on large heating surfaces; it should be possible to have efficient, individual heat control; the material layer in the floor surface should have low thermal diffusivity (i.e., low thermal conductivity and heat capacity); - the thermal resistance of the materials lying on top of the heating pipes must be low; the temperature distribution across the heating surfaces must be good; and the heating pipes must have good, conductive contact with a good heat- conducting material. In order to arrive at the inventive floor which, in addition to the warm water heating system, must also satisfy public authority requirements with respect to noise insulation in storey partitions, tests have been carried out in which such water-fed heating systems have been combined with different types of sound-insulating materials. Surprisingly, it has been found that with the inventive floor not only are the required sound insulation and the desired heating effect obtained, but that, in fact, an improved sound insulation is obtained due to the manner in which there two systems work together. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a sound-insulating, preferably floating floor having heating elements, and this floor is characterised in that it comprises a plurality of superimposed sheets of homogeneous, binder-free, highly refined wood pulp or other fibrous material having a supply and distribution system for warm water heat incorporated therein. In a preferred embodiment, the heating system comprises water pipes, laid in loops and circuits that are known per se, wherein the water piping is laid in grooves in elongate elements of a metal in sheet form, which grooves in turn are laid in grooves in the sound-insulating sheets. The material used for the elongate elements having grooves for the placing of the water pipes is preferably aluminium, and most preferably return aluminium. Correct sizing will enable good contact to be obtained between the water piping and the groove in the elongate metal element, and this will result in good distribution of the heat. As mentioned above, an improved sound-insulating effect has been observed when using such elongate metal elements in addition to the purely sound-insulating wood fibre sheets, which may be attributable to the fact that an additional material gives "sound penetration and sound passage conditions" which result in a reduction in the overall transmission of sound in the storey partition. The invention will be illustrated in more detail with reference to the attached figures, wherein: Figure 1 shows a conventional pattern per se for the laying of a warm water cable; - Figure 2 shows the use of heat distribution sheets in the form of elongate metal elements; and J 3 Fig. 3 shows the laying of such heat distribution plates that have water pipes laid therein, and which are in turn placed in grooves in the sound-insulating material. The sound- insulating part of a storey partition is built up of three wood fibre sheets 1, without being limited to that number. On this floor a network of water pipes or tubes 3 having inflow 3' and outflow" are laid 3" in a pattern that is known per se. In Figure 2 it is indicated how the water piping 3 is incorporated into the elongate heat distribution elements 5. Figure 3 is a cross-section through the system where three sheets 1 have been laid one on top of the other. In the top sheet of the top layer of sheets 1 grooves 6 are made, designed for receiving the grooves 4 in the heat distribution sheets 5. The water piping 3 is then in turn placed in the grooves 4. As regards the material in the heat distribution sheets 5, aluminium has been found to be advantageous, both from an economical and technical point of view. In a preferred embodiment, return aluminium is used. This gives a somewhat poorer, technical result, although it is nevertheless more than satisfactory per se, but at the same time a considerable financial saving is achieved, which far outweighs the somewhat poorer technical quality. It was mentioned above that tests using a combination of warm water heating of a floor and sound insulation of the floor, in a combination as described above, resulted in sound-insulating properties beyond what was to be expected when using wood fibre sheets only. This is probably due to the fact that the horizontal "wings" on the heat distribution sheets, because of the inhibited passage of sound, act as "reflectors" and thus further reduce the sound penetration and so increase the sound insulation. It has been mentioned above that homogeneous, binder-free sheets of highly refined wood pulp are used. This is an environmentally friendly and anti-allergenic material which at the same time is relatively inexpensive to produce. Thus, the inventive combination, both as regards the sound-insulating part and the heat supply part, provides an environmentally friendly, inexpensive means of using both alternative heat sources and also to a great extent return materials, in that the work is carried out without undesirable additives and at the same time the technical requirements with respect to building construction are met.

Claims: P a t e n t c l a i m s 1. Sound-insulating, preferably floating floor having heating elements, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of superimposed sheets (1) of homogeneous, binder-free, highly refined wood pulp or other fibrous material having a supply and distribution system for warm water heat incorporated therein. 2. A floor according to claim 1, characterised in that the heating system (2) comprises water pipes (3), placed in loops and circuits that are known per se, wherein the water piping (3) is laid in groove (4) in elongate elements (5) of a metal in sheet form, which groove (4) is in turn laid in groove (6) in the sheets (1). 3. A floor according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the elongate elements (5) with grooves (4) are made of aluminium, optionally return aluminium.

Inventors: CHARLESEN TOR H, CHARLESEN, TOR, H.
Applicants: CHARLESEN TOR H, HUNTON FIBER AS, CHARLESEN, TOR, H.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: F24D3
IPC codes: E04F15, F24D3