F.A.Q’s
How does Climaboard work?
Applying the laws of physics, Climaboard takes advantage of "the Coanda effect", in which the tendency of a moving fluid, either liquid or gas, is to attach itself to a surface and flow along it. Hence, Climaboard is usually mounted inside rooms on the exterior or structural walls where the warm air generated at skirting board level rises following the surface of the wall. This thin layer of hot air forms an insulating layer that prevents cold air radiating from the walls. The walls in turn absorb heat and then homogeneously release heat radiation into the room. Comfort is felt within the room even at relatively low air temperature making the system extremely cost-effective. Hence Climaboard is a heating system that reacts very quickly, heating rooms starting from the coldest point, providing maximum comfort at a lower than average temperature.
What fuel does Climaboard use?
Climaboard works with any source of piped hot water including heat pumps. It can operate safely and effectively at water temperatures from 40oC to 85oC. Where it is just not possible to site a boiler we can insert electrical resistance elements running at 200 Watts/meter.
What does Climaboard cost to run?
This depends on the size and construction of the building, the local climate, the type and cost of fuel, boiler type, room usage and many other factors such as altitude and type of windows. Because of these variables we cannot give absolute figures for operating costs. However, for the following reasons we can state that Climaboard will show a cost saving over most other forms of heating. The important points to bear in mind are:
Hydraulic version
1. Climaboard can be heated by hot water produced by almost any method, for example gas, wood or oil powered boilers or electrical heat pumps. It can operate safely and effectively at water temperatures from 40oC to 85oC. So there is no restriction on choice of heating fuels and methods. Climaboard is a very efficient converter of heat in the pipes to heat in the room. At 40oC it runs at approx 95W per meter and at 70oC it runs at 240W per meter.
2. Climaboard is a very quick and efficient means of delivering heat into a room. It uses much less water than other systems. With less water to heat up, the desired temperature is reached very quickly using less energy, hence less cost.
3. Tests at the Politecnico di Milano show that Climaboard delivers heat very evenly around a room to ceiling heights of up to 3 meters. This is due to the method of operation. In the same way that underfloor heating heats from floor level, there is less of an accumulation of heat below the ceiling which means that it requires about 30% less energy to achieve the desired comfort level. Hence the expression “comfort at a lower average temperature”.
Electric version
For homes without room for a boiler, Climaboard can be heated by electric power alone using internal electric resistance elements. These operate at 200 Watts per meter, which is 1 Kilowatt per hour or 1 “Unit” (1 Unit of electricity = 1 Kilowatt/hour) per every 5 meters of Climaboard. Hence, if the cost of electricity is Euro 0.084 per Unit, Climaboard will cost a maximum of Euro 0.0168 per meter per hour to run.
For example, for a 60m2 apartment with 6600 W heat loses, 33 meters of Climaboard are required to reach the target temperature – typically 21oC. Once it has attained that temperature the thermostat will start to operate, switching the power off and on as required to maintain 20oC. How much “on” and “off” time will depend on the insulation and the usage of the room, factors such as how many times and how long the doors or windows are opened. A typical home might have an “on time” for power of around 8 to 12 hours per day. Hence, for our example room if we assumed the cost of electricity to be an average of €0.084 per Unit, the running cost would be:
1 m Climaboard= 0.0168 € per meter per hour
0.0168 € x 33m x 8 hours = €4.43 per day
0.0168 € x 33m x 12 hours = €6.65 per day
This version is especially attractive for cottages where the boiler-room installation is quite costly and difficult.
Can Climaboard replace radiators?
Climaboard can be readily installed to replace radiators. It doesn’t matter if the water inlet and outlet pipes emerge from the walls or the floor, a skilled plumber can use standard plumbing components and techniques to connect to Climaboard in almost any situation. For very awkward situations we have special flexible fittings that can be used to connect up.
What approvals does Climaboard have?
Climaboard is approved to EN441 and 442 for water based and electrical heating systems.
Can I get Climaboard in colors other than white?
Yes, Climaboard is available in any color you want and can be matched to any surface effect such as wood grain or marble from a sample or digital photograph. It can be painted just like radiators with good quality high temperature paint.
Is Climaboard dangerous to pets and small children?
No, Climaboard isn’t dangerous to pets and small children. When heated by water up to 75oC (the recommended maximum) or with single electrical resistance elements at 200W/meter, the external temperature of the skirting board does not get hot enough to burn on momentary contact. However, as with ordinary radiators we strongly advise against prolonged contact and recommend that suitable precautions be made to prevent small children from coming into contact with the skirting.
How can I calculate the required meters of Climaboard that I need for a space?
The first step is to calculate the thermal losses of the space measured in Watts or Kcal. That means that Climaboard should produce those Watts in order to reach the target temperature – typically 21oC.
The heat output of Climaboard depends of the input water temperature. At water temperature of 70OC Climaboard produces 240 Watts per meter.
So, in a 15,4 m2 room with heat looses 1540 W and input water temperature 70oC we will need:
1540 W : 240 W= 6,4m of Climaboard.
Should Climaboard be installed around of all the walls of a room?
No, that depends on the thermal losses of the room. A well insulated house will need less Climaboard than a bad insulated house. Usually Climaboard takes space of 2 walls of a room. In the rest walls of the room empty Climaboard (without heat exchanger inside) may be installed, if interior design is required.
How often does Climaboard® need purging of silt, sludge or limescale?
Climaboard is very unlikely to become obstructed by silt, sludge or limescale, even in hardwater areas. It is certainly far less likely to suffer from these problems than a radiator system because the entire circulation system consists only of copper pipes – no other metals are involved. That’s why Climaboard is supplied with a 10 year warranty on parts and materials.
