Infrared film on the ceiling: relevant and practical

Choosing a decorative coating for an infrared ceiling

The most important thing when choosing a ceiling covering is to avoid creating a large air gap between the infrared film and the decorative material itself. Difficulties arise if the floor slabs initially have a large angle of curvature and they have to be leveled using plasterboard structures. This is a very laborious work and the installation of metal profiles in the process can damage the film.

Before laying a warm ceiling, it is necessary to eliminate the differences in the surface level. This problem can be solved with plastering.

For a spacious room, the ideal option is a stretch ceiling. For its installation, narrow aluminum or plastic profiles are used, the installation of which is carried out only along the perimeter of the walls, without affecting the overlap area. A high-quality micro-perforated stretch ceiling allows warm infrared streams to pass in the best possible way.

It is possible to install euro lining in a wooden house. Such material is suitable for small rooms so that the installation of the battens does not affect the overlap area. The lining must be of good quality so that it does not lose its appearance and shape during operation. Also, in a wooden house, metal plates for the ceiling will look original, in addition, they have optimal heat transfer.

Restrictions on the use of IR films

Limitations of the choice of infrared heating type can be:

• the maximum temperature of the film, laminated flooring, parquet board, carpet can be laid on a warm floor using a low-temperature film that heats up to 27˚С. tiles, expanded clay coating require a higher temperature of the order of 45-50˚С;
• large rooms require high power and, therefore, amperage, which is not always possible in residential premises;
• high ceilings prevent the cost-effective use of infrared radiation;
• it is used as the main source of heating in areas with a mild climate, in other cases it can be used as local heating, additional to the main one.

Advantages and disadvantages of "film" heating

In search of an alternative way to heat rooms, scientists drew attention to heat transfer in the environment, which occurs due to the action of infrared rays. Interpretation of a natural process formed the basis for the creation of an infrared film

Film infrared heating systems transfer energy to the floor covering, which redirects it into the room. The installation of an infrared heating film is much easier, more convenient, and faster than the installation of all currently known types of underfloor heating. Film floors do not need to be poured, which greatly facilitates the installation process. After the waterproofing has been laid, the laminate can be laid on top of them immediately. Infrared film floors are completely safe. They are used in the arrangement of not only residential premises, but also kindergartens and hospitals. When using IR systems for heating, convective air currents are not created, dust does not rise or spread. The specificity of the operation of infrared systems allows them to be used as an effective means for heating loggias, entrance groups, terraces, open recreation areas. Film floors are suitable for use in wooden buildings. They can also be stacked in attics, because do not load the floor.To control the infrared heating system, a thermostat is installed; to automate the process, sensors are placed on the floor that record the temperature and transmit a signal to the control device.

The use of infrared film for arranging a warm floor has become widespread due to a number of advantages:

Versatility. Almost any floor covering can be installed on top of the heating layer. With the help of the film, you can insulate walls and ceilings.
Simplicity of styling. To create a warm floor system, you do not need to dismantle the old base, but you will be able to perform the procedure yourself. No specialized equipment is required.
Heating temperature regulation. A thermostat with a wide range of modes is connected to the heating system

Additional control settings are possible: timer function, division of the room into different zones of heating intensity, etc.
Underfloor heating mobility. When moving to another place of residence, the structure can be easily removed and spread on another surface.
Compactness of the system. The thickness of the IR coating (up to 0.5 mm) practically does not affect the height of the floor, which is especially important for rooms with low ceilings.
Low inertia. The film “turns on” quickly and the effect becomes noticeable after a few minutes.
Warm-up uniformity. The room is heated throughout the entire volume, there are no "hot" and "cold" zones.
Maintaining a healthy microclimate. Infrared rays do not dry out the air or burn oxygen. Manufacturers of "film heating" point to the therapeutic effect of infrared radiation

The air is ionized and purified from bacteria.

Due to modularity, the breakage of one section of the film does not lead to a malfunction of the entire system.

The heating foil can withstand significant dynamic loads. It can be installed in public buildings with high traffic. The service life of the infrared heating system is 15-20 years

The innovative technology also has negative qualities:

The electrostaticity of the heated surfaces increases, and objects begin to attract more dust.
After turning off the heating system, the room cools down quickly.
When installing, it is important to take into account the arrangement of the furniture. Where bulky furniture and large appliances will stand, IR-film is not installed

Failure to comply may result in overheating of the system.
The work of a warm floor leads to an increase in energy consumption.
The coating is afraid of moisture and contact with sharp objects.

Laying "film" heating should be done carefully and in compliance with safety standards.

Varieties of infrared films

From a constructive point of view, all IR films are similar and have a common operating principle. However, for various types of premises and operating conditions, it is customary to use certain options for film warm floors. The differences between ICs are primarily due to the fact that different companies are engaged in their production.

Consider the types of IR films according to the maximum heating temperature and their compatibility with various floor coverings:

high-temperature infrared warm floors for tiles. The maximum heating temperature of such systems reaches 50 ° C. They are incompatible with floor coverings that are more susceptible to heat (linoleum, laminate);

In terms of their structure and principle of operation, all infrared films are similar to each other, the main difference is the maximum heating temperature

• low-temperature infrared warm floors for linoleum and laminate. Such systems can heat up to 27 ° C;
• universal infrared systems that are compatible with all types of flooring.

The second parameter by which IR films are classified is the type of heating element. Today, there are two main types of IR floors, depending on the heating element:

• carbon;
• bimetallic.

The specific power of the infrared floor is the last indicator, which is very important when choosing a heating. Consider three main types of IR films, depending on this parameter:

with low power (130–160 W / m²) - used in cases where it is necessary to organize heating of a room with a small area. Compatible with "light" floor coverings;

Infrared films from different manufacturers may differ in their appearance and technical parameters.

• with an average power (from 170 to 220 W / m²) - they are mounted in more spacious rooms. Perfect for the following flooring options: porcelain stoneware, tiles;
• with high power (above 220 W / m²) - installed in industrial buildings. They are also used for floor heating in saunas and various workshops.

Features of carbon and bimetallic IR films

The carbon films used for underfloor heating are more expensive. Heating elements in such a system are made of a special carbon material with a fibrous structure. In some cases, they are provided with a protective layer of graphite. Spraying from this material contributes to an increase in the strength characteristics of the system, and also affects the duration of its operational life.

The basis of the material is represented by a lavsan film. The carbon film infrared floor is installed on horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Scheme of bimetallic infrared film for heating

Bimetallic IR film differs from carbon one in that it has heating elements consisting of two metal interlayers (aluminum and copper). As a base for the material, a double polyurethane film is used, which has good elasticity.

The installation of a bimetallic system is complicated by the fact that an earthing switch cannot be connected to the system. Also, the bimetallic structure is incompatible with ceramic flooring. It is a low-temperature version, so its recommended heating level does not exceed 27 ° C.

Famous brands and manufacturers

It is quite natural that the modern market is represented by a large number of different companies producing infrared films. Let's consider several known options:

zebra

One of the best examples of a domestic manufacturer. The film type heater is manufactured in Chelyabinsk. This is a convenient material for installation. One package of the heater contains 15 square meters of tape material, which can be easily cut into the required lengths. The cutting step is from 0.6 to 6 m. When performing self-assembly, this is very convenient, since it is possible to mark and cut the material to the required length at the work site. For self-arrangement of underfloor heating with infrared film, the set contains everything you need to complete the work.

Caleo

The company from South Korea is considered the second most popular in Russia. Infrared film for underfloor heating from this manufacturer combines good quality and low price. There is one significant drawback - increased fragility and tendency to deformation. For this reason, the installation of the material should be done carefully. The company produces an infrared heating film with a thickness of 0.4 cm, with a power of 180-220 watts.

Rexva

This company is located in South Korea, produces heating infrared films with a power of up to 350 W, rolls of 50, 80 and 100 meters. The manufacturer uses an anti-spark mesh in the construction, the material is reliable and resistant to breakage.

Heat Plus

The manufacturer produces a reliable film for underfloor heating with a guarantee of up to 15 years. The width of the rolls is 0.5-0.8 m, the thickness of the material is 0.4 cm, the power is 150-220 W.There are also more "powerful" films for open terraces and loggias with power consumption up to 400 watts in the company's assortment.

Monocrystal

Ultra-thin infrared emitting surface. The role of heating elements is performed by black graphite strips, sealed into a polyethylene material and receiving voltage from a copper conductor. The system is characterized by good efficiency and minimal energy consumption.

Coating IR films for the ceiling outside

When choosing an IR film for heating a room, it is necessary to pay special attention to the quality of the system, which must correspond to a number of basic parameters:

• the base must be made of high quality film, the polymer used must be fireproof;
• the conductive strip must be undamaged and made of copper materials, the minimum permissible width must be 15 mm;
• the silver strip must necessarily have a clear outline, without gaps, while it must go 2 mm onto the copper bus;
• the location of carbon emitters should be striped or solid, geometric shapes have no effect on the operation of the ceiling heating system;
• external lamination of the infrared film must be made of the same polymer as the base, it is not recommended to use materials with a lower thickness;
• standard films must withstand exposure to temperature conditions up to +80 ° С, high-temperature materials - up to +110 ° С;
• if high quality materials were used in the production process, then there should be no deformation during operation;
• A high-quality IR film should heat up evenly in a short period of time - about 5-10 seconds.

As practice shows, the wider the film is, the niche is the probability of its overheating during operation.

Important! If the polymer is transparent, then it deforms much faster during operation.

Where can heaters be located?

Infrared heating of premises is organized by separate heaters or foil surfaces, which are mounted in the floor, walls or under the ceiling. Ceiling heating (film on the ceiling) is popular due to its analogy with solar natural heating. Radiation directed from the ceiling is evenly distributed over the surface of the room and causes heat transfer from all objects in it. Furniture, dishes, walls, baseboards become heating radiators.

Despite the ceiling location of the heating source, the warmest zone is located near the feet. Since the ceiling is free of any objects, it can be fully used for installing infrared films.

With floor and wall heating, the film is mounted only where there is no furniture and household appliances. On the one hand, this reduces the cost of arranging heating, on the other hand, it reduces the amount of emitted energy.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of an infrared floor

The heating film has a lot of advantages, thanks to which it is in demand everywhere and is used not only in apartments and private houses. The advantages include ease of installation, since it is not required to lay a concrete screed.

The advantages include the combination of the ability to combine the underfloor heating system with any kind of flooring, for example, ceramic tiles and even carpet, with a minimum film thickness that will not affect the floor level.

The main advantage of an infrared floor is that it is easy to install.

Advantages are also in:

1. Low inertia of heating, due to which there is a rapid warming up of both the film and the room.
2. Abrasion resistance to increased loads on the finish.
3. The uniformity of heating the room.
4. Abrasion resistance to sudden changes in temperature.
5. Optimal cost.
6. Opportunities to significantly reduce electricity consumption when heating a room by 30%.
7. Possibility to install heating on the wall.
8. Low intensity electromagnetic field.

The absence of a detrimental effect on human health, the ability to eliminate an unpleasant odor from the room, and the exclusion of overdrying the air in the room, which allows you to create an optimal microclimate, are also relevant. Installation, connection and dismantling are easy, simple and quick, and therefore do not need to contact qualified specialists.

Mounting

If such a system is planned as the only heating element, it is necessary to install mats on 70-80% of the surface. In the case where additional heating is provided, then it is sufficient to cover 30% of the ceiling area.

Before installing the heating film, you need to calculate the power of the total planned coverage area. This must be done to select the correct power thermostat. For example, a conventional thermostat consumes 4 kW., And 1 sq. m. of film - about 0.2 kW. In this case, the area of ​​the infrared ceiling should be no more than 20 sq. M.

Next, you need to make high-quality thermal insulation. In concrete apartment buildings, this is necessary so that the heat does not go to the neighbors from above. In a wooden house, it is also necessary to insulate the beams in order to avoid heat dissipation in the wood and its drying out.

Foamed polystyrene in a roll, covered with foil on one or both sides, is used as thermal insulation. The material is attached to the ceiling with plastic refractory dowels. The joints are glued with foil tape. Next, you can mount an electric warm ceiling.

Infrared canvases are mounted at a distance of 20 cm from the walls. In a wooden house, it is recommended to make an indent of 30-40 cm. There should be a distance of 5 cm between the strips. Refractory dowels are also used as fasteners. The thermal film is laid parallel to each other. Installation must be calculated in advance according to the scheme, avoiding laying canvases over sleeping places and over electrical appliances (TV, microwave oven, kitchen hood, etc.)

After fixing the canvases, you need to connect the system. To do this, the terminals are connected to the copper buses and clamped tightly with pliers, and the connection points are insulated. To connect the infrared bands, an electrical copper wire with a cross section of 2.5 square meters is used. mm and more. Then you need to connect the entire system to the thermostat. It is located at a distance of 1-1.5 m from the floor. To hide the wires in the wall, you need to make a strobe with a drill or puncher. In the future, you need to hide it with plaster. Installation is ready, it remains to check the heating. It is better to do a "test drive" of the ceiling before sealing the groove.

Features of ceiling heating systems

Installation of film heaters on the ceiling allows you to get the following scheme of work. When the device is turned on, it emits infrared waves aimed straight down. Radiation goes towards the floor and is absorbed most of all by it. The rest of the waves affect furniture and other interior items. As a result, they all begin to work harmoniously, and then give off heat. The maximum room temperature will be at floor level. At a height of 1.7 m, it will be several degrees lower. This temperature distribution is ideal for human health and wellness.

If you want to combine a stretch ceiling and PLEN, then experts advise to additionally install a protective layer of drywall. It will absorb the remaining heat, and the stretched film will remain unchanged. Another advantage of installing film heaters on the ceiling is the minimum risk of their sudden deformation.

How does infrared heating work?

electromagnetic background, heat radiation

The low-temperature film heater works in the same way, the maximum heating temperature of which is no more than 50˚С.Regardless of the manufacturer, any IP (infrared film) consists of three components:

• a heating element that converts electricity into heat;
• foil, thanks to which heat is distributed with equal force over the entire surface;
• double-sided lamination with PET film, which performs the function of insulating and protecting against mechanical stress.

Heating starts after the heater is energized. Passing through the heating components, the current is converted into thermal energy, which is transferred by the contact method from the emitter to the double-sided PET film, and its both sides begin to emit heat waves. Thus, the source of radiation is precisely the IP, and not the foil or heating elements.

What happens if the foil is used as a ceiling heating when covered with plasterboard, for example? The primary radiation of the film will heat the drywall, and already it will begin to emit infrared waves into the surrounding space, heating the objects located there, and then the air. The same will happen in the warm floor system, only there the radiation flux will go from bottom to top. Again, the primary radiation is IP, and the secondary radiation is the floor covering.

Characteristics of infrared heating film on the ceiling

Infrared ceiling heating is a foil with heating elements inside. At the moment when the electricity supply will be carried out, this film will heat up to +45 ° C in a matter of minutes. The transmission of infrared waves is carried out in the same way as with sunlight. After the decorative ceiling is heated, the heat will be directed to the floor, from which it will be reflected in the future.

Thanks to ceiling infrared film devices, not only the air in the room will be heated, but also the existing furniture. Thus, heat will constantly accumulate in the living room, which will subsequently be given off from the surface of objects.

In a room at a level of about 1-1.5 m, it is necessary to install a thermostat, thanks to which the operation of the infrared film heater system, which is mounted on the ceiling surface, will be adjusted.

As a rule, the owner of a living space independently sets the level of the desired temperature regime. The moment the set temperature level is reached, the infrared ceiling heater stops working. It should be borne in mind that after the equipment stops operating, the process of maintaining the set temperature regime will be carried out. Thus, each time after switching on, the infrared film ceiling heater will work on the electrical network for about 10 minutes.

Among the technical characteristics, the following points should be highlighted:

• the width of the film web can vary from 0.5 m to 1 m;
• the maximum thickness is 1.2 mm;
• maximum temperature heating of installed elements - +50 ° С;
• required voltage - 220 V;
• weight of 1 sq. m of infrared film heater is 50 g.

Many people believe that by installing this type of heating, the floor surface will be constantly cold.

It is important to understand that due to the heating of objects, the lack of heat near the floor will be compensated

Installation of infrared film

Mounting the IR film to the ceiling requires preparation of the ceiling surface. A heater and a heat reflector are attached under the overhanging surface, and a waterproofing layer is equipped if necessary. To combine the functions of a reflector and a heat insulator, foil insulation is used (penofol, izolon, foil basalt mats). Polished foil reflects almost all heat radiation and returns it to the interior living space.

For installation of the film on the ceiling of a balcony or loggia, 5 mm thick penofol is used.The rolled insulation is attached to the ceiling with brackets, the foil side is inside the room. The joints are glued with foil tape.

I'm getting started with the installation of the film. It is cut to the required size, on the one hand, the electrical contacts are insulated, on the other, they are connected to a heat source. Separate films are connected in parallel to each other.

This is how the infrared film is cut

How to fix the film? The film IR emitter is a set of carbon plates. On the sides of the working surface of the plate there are places for fasteners (transparent fields).

Install a thermostat and check the operation of the system, and only then hang the ceiling trim. The recommended distance between the decorative cladding and the heating foil is 1 - 1.5 cm.

Infrared ceiling heating is used both as an additional heat source and as the main one. IR heaters are indispensable for heating individual work areas located outdoors or inside large cold rooms. The cost of paying for the use of electric infrared emitters is comparable to paying for gas heating.