Craftsman Concrete Floors has promoted eco-conscious flooring for homes and businesses since 1999. Our facilities run on 100% renewable energy, and we offset vehicle emissions with carbon credits.

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Ultimately, whether or not you have existing polished concrete floors, radiant floor heating is an option for your home or office building. Ask your concrete floor specialist about concrete floor heating options that are most suitable for your project

Professional installation of a polished concrete floor with underfloor heating is certainly an investment that requires a bit more upfront costs compared to the installation of an unheated floor, but is it worth it?

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If permitted by the local adopted code, AMSE/NB relieving capacities should only be considered for ASME vessels. The more restrictive CSA relieving capacities are always the safer choice.

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As the name indicates, T&P relief valves are designed to protect water heaters and hot-water storage vessels against excess temperature and excess pressure. Most valves are rated at 150 psi and 210° F, but their capacity ratings vary greatly. Sometimes, an additional T&P relief valve with a lower temperature and pressure rating (typically 180° and 100 psi) is installed in a plastic hot-water distribution system to protect the piping system itself. A T&P relief valve is, in essence, a dual device because it meets the code requirements of an individual temperature relief valve and an individual pressure relief valve.

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The relieving capacity of the valve’s ASME/NB rating is established by Section IV, Part HG of the “ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code.” The code reads, “Capacity certification tests of safety relief valves for water heating and hot-water supply boilers shall be conducted at 110% of the pressure for which the valve is set to operate.” So the capacity of a T&P relief valve set at 150 psi is based on its vessel pressurized to 165 psi.

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Radiant floor heating provides a similar effect in your home or office. Electric heating coils or water-heated PEX tubing are installed into the concrete slab before it is poured. Through the process of radiant heating, the thermal mass of concrete is transformed into a radiator of warm, even heat. Heat then radiates upward from the floor to evenly warm the room.

The temperature function of the valve is controlled by an internal thermostatic element. At 210°, the internal expansion within the probe causes a piston to push against the valve’s disk. The spring is overpowered and compressed, and the water escapes between the disc and seat. The extremely hot water within the tank is forced out under pressure as cold water replenishes the discharge. The cold water rushing into the vessel lowers the water temperature, and when the temperature drops back below 210°, the valve is reseated.

This has massive ramifications. Instead of making that initial purchase and paying small, yet recurring costs in your electric bill, radiant floor heating only requires one upfront investment. Once it is installed in your home or office, you won’t have to make additional, recurring payments. In fact, according to one study by the U.S. Department of Energy, radiant floor heating can lower heating costs by 25 to 50 percent. This is real money in your pocket and can make a significant difference if you are looking to heat a large home or office building.

These systems are referred to as radiant floor heating due to the scientific nature of the warming process in which heat from the concrete slab rises evenly from floor to ceiling resulting in a more uniform temperature than would be provided by forced-air systems.

The code of construction of the vessel itself can play a key role in choosing the correct valve capacity. Unfortunately, the code of construction criteria is unknown to many and overlooked by others.

Concrete floor heating solutions can be incorporated into existing polished concrete floors or into new builds in which concrete floors and finishes are planned. Hydronic radiant heat options can easily be incorporated into a new build or addition prior to pouring the concrete slab, whereas electric radiant heat options offer a suitable choice for adding warm, radiant heat to an existing polished concrete floor.

It is important to note that when the valve is weeping or dripping, the cause is usually excessive pressure. Many times this is caused by thermal expansion. A T&P relief valve is not designed to nor should it be used to continuously control thermal expansion within a closed system. Thermal expansion of hot water within a closed system should be controlled with the installation of an approved expansion tank or by other means permitted by local code.

While you will need to investigate these opportunities further, the fact remains that radiant floor heating is an attractive choice if you want to both help maintain our environment and keep a few extra dollars in your pocket. Combined with the inherent sustainability of polished concrete floors, you will certainly be doing your part to protect our world.

Radiant heated concrete floors also offer a wide range of environmental benefits. In addition to reducing forced-air energy use, radiant floor heating requires minimal building materials as there is no ductwork to conceal. The result is a smaller environmental footprint for your home or office.

Homeowners are usually very excited to learn that radiant heating systems require very low maintenance and can last up to 100 years. While boilers and pumps which heat and push water throughout the PEX tubing hydronic heating systems may require occasional maintenance to extend the longevity of the floor heating system, the tubing installed into the concrete slab generally does not require any upkeep.

Rising energy costs alone make investing in radiant floor heating a smart choice simply because homeowners can save long-term on home heating costs compared to forced-air heating systems.

Dripping may continue because of debris within the valve, such as a build-up of calcium in the seat, and over time, large mineral deposits can make the valve ineffective. When a valve is discharging a large quantity of water, the cause is almost always excessive temperature.

By purchasing radiant floor heating, you also may qualify for green building points under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) program and the National Association of Home Builders Green Building Program.

Hydronic heating systems provide localized warming of concrete floors for thermal comfort while offering significant health, financial, and environmental benefits. Create a comfortable, healthy living environment by having the floor distribute bottom-up heating via a professionally installed radiant floor heating system.

To learn more about radiant floor heating in polished concrete floors, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation. You can also email us at info@craftsmanconcretefloors.comor call (214) 663-5848.

The pressure function of the valve also is controlled by the spring, disc and seat. When the pressure exceeds the valve’s pressure rating, the water pressure overcomes the spring. The spring is compressed (just like a typical pressure-only relief valve) and the water escapes between the disc and seat.

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While the 2012 National Standard Plumbing Code makes no distinction between the use of the ASME/NB and CSA capacity ratings, the 2015 NSPC will limit the use of the ASME/NB relieving capacity ratings to ASME vessels only.

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Beyond these basic heating and health benefits, radiant floor heating in polished or stained concrete floors can save you cash. Quite obviously, this is because you don’t need to invest in an external heater or forced-air system. But along with this, radiant floor heating in polished concrete floors consumes less energy while simultaneously offering the same level of heat and comfort.

Another factor in determining the pressure rating of the T&P relief valve is the code itself. Model codes require the T&P relief valve be set no higher than 150 psi. Therefore, a water heater with a MAWP of 160 psi still requires a T&P relief valve set at 150 psi, even though the vessel is designed and built to withstand a higher pressure.

From the sheer durability to their inherent sustainability, polished concrete floors can be an excellent choice for your office or home. There’s one particular feature that can make your polished concrete floors even more sustainable and comfortable and that’s radiant floor heating.

The ASME/NB relieving capacity rating is more lenient than the CSA rating. The CSA rating is based on 15 psi of steam pressure, so the CSA rating will always be lower and, therefore, more stringent than the ASME/NB rating. ASME HLW water heaters are built to a more stringent code of construction than ANSI Z21 water heaters. The use of a valve’s ASME/NB capacity rating to protect an ANSI-built vessel could present a potentially dangerous condition.

Radiant floor heating is suitable for new builds and remodels in which a concrete floor or subfloor is installed. Several radiant heating styles, including electrical radiant floor heating and hydronic radiant floor heating systems are available, depending on your project needs.

The only way to determine the maximum allowable working pressure of a vessel is to read the nameplate that is attached to it. The pressure on the valve’s tag must be compared to the pressure on the vessel’s nameplate. The pressure rating of the relief valve must be equal to or less than the MAWP of the vessel. Most water heaters have an MAWP of 150 psi; however, some are rated higher, typically 160 psi. Some storage vessels have a lower pressure rating; they are commonly rated 125 psi.

Concrete floor heating solutions offer a wealth of benefits including energy savings, cost savings, and a host of environmental benefits, too. By leveraging radiant floor heating, you’re contributing to global sustainability. All of these benefits are experienced regardless of whether or not you already have a polished concrete floor that requires a heating solution.

Radiant floor heating offers several desirable benefits, even if you live in a moderate climate like Texas. In-floor heating solutions can provide warmth during the coldest months, lowering your electric bill and ultimately contributing to global sustainability efforts.

Heated polished concrete floors offer several major health, environment, and savings benefits. Consider the following advantages of radiant floor heating over unheated concrete floors:

Craftsman Concrete Floors provides innovative, eco-friendly concrete flooring services for both residential and commercial projects across Texas.  Whether designing a new build or renovating an existing space, our experienced team is committed to delivering meticulous customer service and satisfaction, segment-leading expertise, and an equally stunning and sustainable finished product.

Radiant floor heating mimics a heating process that occurs naturally in our environment. It is a simple and easy way to provide consistent heat in your home or office.

The relieving capacity of the valve must be equal to or greater than the Btu/hr. of the vessel. The thermal capacity of the water heater can be found on its nameplate along with the MAWP. The confusion in choosing the correct T&P relief valve resides on the relief valve’s nametag itself. T&P relief valves display two relieving capacity ratings. One is the American Society of Mechanical Engineers/National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors rating, and the other is the Canadian Standards Association/American National Standards Institute Z21.22 rating.

Investing into heated concrete floors allows you, your family, or your colleagues to focus on work or play without the distraction of a cold room. Concrete floor heating is even appropriate in Texas where the weather can turn colder at certain times of the year.

If you suspect your hydronic heating system has a damaged pump or boiler, be sure to seek repair in a timely manner to prevent potential damage to other parts of the radiant floor heating system. With minimal essential maintenance, radiant floor heating systems can keep your concrete floors comfortably heated for many years to come.

Chapter 5, Section 504.4 of the 2012 International Plumbing Code specifically requires relief valves to conform to the Z21.22 standard; the code is very concise. Some of the other model codes are not as clear as the IPC. Section 504 of the Uniform Plumbing Code only references an approved, listed device installed in accordance with the listing and the manufacturer’s installation instructions; however, the Z21.22 standard is included in Table 1401.1.

With the installation of radiant floor heating in your polished concrete floors, you will notice that the room’s temperature is constant. In fact, the temperature may feel even more constant than that of a standard forced-air system since forced-air systems release warm air that rises, cools, and then falls to the floor resulting in a mixed thermal environment.