VarioComp, like other inslab underfloor heating systems, uses water-filled pipes to distribute warmth throughout the childcare centre. The radiant heat it provides is both healthy and comfortable, ensuring the ideal heat distribution for the human body (warmest at the feet, coolest near the head). Unlike traditional in-slab underfloor heating, VarioComp is installed on top of the concrete slab and features additional insulation on the sides and bottom, reducing heat loss and enhancing efficiency. Its 18mm Fibre Gypsum panel, combined with Variotherm screed mixture over the pipes, ensures quick responsiveness, allowing the system to be easily adjusted to meet the desired comfort levels of the whole kindergarten. The Modular Floor can bring the entire facility back up to a comfortable temperature in a short space of time after long operating intervals such as over the weekend or during the holidays. Central Heating New Zealand designed, specified, and installed 300 square meters of Variotherm underfloor panels, utilising 1,500 meters of piping with 100mm spacing to ensure optimal heat distribution throughout the facility. Even heat output is achieved, with a space design temperature of 20°C in all areas and a maximum floor temperature of 29°C in any occupied area. The system’s heat distribution is managed by four 10-way manifolds, with each zone being controlled by its own controller, accommodating different temperature levels and requirements throughout the kindergarten. Powered by two 16kW air-to-water heat pumps and supported by a 100L Fiorini buffer tank, this system provides a continuous and reliable heat supply, ensuring all heating needs are met efficiently and effectively.
