Torfloor Batten Install Guide

IG UFH 03.1

Before Starting
As OMNIE continues to develop and improve product information and instructions it is recommended you check the OMNIE website (www.omnie.co.uk) for the latest Datasheets & Install Guides that may have been superseded post delivery of your system. Please read all stages of this install guide before proceeding with the installation.

Before Starting

As OMNIE continues to develop and improve product information and instructions it is recommended you check the OMNIE website (www.omnie.co.uk) for the latest Datasheets & Install Guides that may have been superseded post delivery of your system.

Please read all stages of this install guide before proceeding with the installation.

Storage & Initial Site Preperation
NOTE: If it is necessary to store the system once you have taken delivery, ensure it is kept in the following conditions: A dry, weather tight area Out of direct sunlight Away from sharp objects or chemical spillages All chipboard, woodboard or plywood must be stacked horizontally and raised off the ground It must not be exposed to moisture or high humidity Ensure that the area is correctly prepared, dry and protected from the weather. Check all battens are: Level and even Clean from debris Without any surface deviations such as knots or nails

Storage & Initial Site Preperation

NOTE: If it is necessary to store the system once you have taken delivery, ensure it is kept in the following conditions:

A dry, weather tight area
Out of direct sunlight
Away from sharp objects or chemical spillages
All chipboard, woodboard or plywood must be stacked horizontally and raised off the ground
It must not be exposed to moisture or high humidity

Ensure that the area is correctly prepared, dry and protected from the weather.

Check all battens are:

Level and even
Clean from debris
Without any surface deviations such as knots or nails

Stage 1
Lay the panels room-by-room (Stages 1 to 7), starting from the room furthest from the manifold. Lay the first panel in the room into a corner, leaving a minimum 10mm gap between the end and edge of the panel and the walls. The two groove edges of the panel should be placed in the corner. Measure the moisture content of the TorFloor panels and plywood layer this should be no higher than 8-10% ideally acclimatised together before installation. NOTE: When working with any wood or insulation based products, dust and particles can become airborne and pose a hazard to health. This is particularly relevant when machining, cutting or routing. Please follow all the relevant health & safety rules regarding required personal safety equipment and extraction/ventilation requirements are also followed.

Stage 1

Lay the panels room-by-room (Stages 1 to 7), starting from the room furthest from the manifold.

Lay the first panel in the room into a corner, leaving a minimum 10mm gap between the end and edge of the panel and the walls. The two groove edges of the panel should be placed in the corner.

Measure the moisture content of the TorFloor panels and plywood layer this should be no higher than 8-10% ideally acclimatised together before installation.

NOTE: When working with any wood or insulation based products, dust and particles can become airborne and pose a hazard to health. This is particularly relevant when machining, cutting or routing. Please follow all the relevant health & safety rules regarding required personal safety equipment and extraction/ventilation requirements are also followed.

Stage 2
Lay the first panel in a room into a corner, leaving a minimum 10mm gap between the end and edge of the panel and the walls. The two groove edges of the panel should be placed in the corner. the opposite end of the panel must sit on the centre line of a batten.

Stage 3
Lay the following panels in a run, ensuring the end of each panel falls on a centre line of a batten. Use the off-cut of each run to start the following run of panels. When cutting the TorFloor panels, TRADA recommends that the shortest length of panel should be supported across a minimum of three battens. For example, if the supports are set nominally at 400mm centres, the shortest panel length should be 800mm. It is recommended that carpenters should NOT fit very short lengths which are supported by only two battens, one at each end, unless supported by noggins.

Stage 3

Lay the following panels in a run, ensuring the end of each panel falls on a centre line of a batten. Use the off-cut of each run to start the following run of panels.

When cutting the TorFloor panels, TRADA recommends that the shortest length of panel should be supported across a minimum of three battens. For example, if the supports are set nominally at 400mm centres, the shortest panel length should be 800mm. It is recommended that carpenters should NOT fit very short lengths which are supported by only two battens, one at each end, unless supported by noggins.

Stage 4
All panels must be glued with appropriate PVA adhesive on BOTH sides of the tongue and groove and fully driven together (in order to withstand loads specified in EN12871). The panels should then be screwed and glued to the joists. At each joist, 5 no. fixings should be used x 3 screws equidistant between each routed channel then 2 screws 25mm from each top edge taking care when drilling near the pipe. A pilot hole should be drilled at these points with no.8 Particleboard screws to fix the panels to the joists. The screws should be 2.5 times the panel thickness in length. Screws should preferably be hand-tightened. NOTE: Do not glue/screw boards which are access panels for flow and return pipe work until the pipe has been installed.

Stage 4

All panels must be glued with appropriate PVA adhesive on BOTH sides of the tongue and groove and fully driven together (in order to withstand loads specified in EN12871).

The panels should then be screwed and glued to the joists. At each joist, 5 no. fixings should be used x 3 screws equidistant between each routed channel then 2 screws 25mm from each top edge taking care when drilling near the pipe. A pilot hole should be drilled at these points with no.8 Particleboard screws to fix the panels to the joists. The screws should be 2.5 times the panel thickness in length. Screws should preferably be hand-tightened.

NOTE: Do not glue/screw boards which are access panels for flow and return pipe work until the pipe has been installed.

Stage 5
Before installing the pipe work, it is advised to sweep or vacuum the floor area as debris may have fallen into the channels.

Stage 6
Referring to the OMNIE CAD design, insert the pipe into the TorFloor panels. The minimum temperature for laying the pipe should be +5°C. For access panels, drill a 12.5mm hole at a 20 degree angle through the TorFloor panel at the point at which the flow pipe needs to drop into the batten space.

Stage 6

Referring to the OMNIE CAD design, insert the pipe into the TorFloor panels.

The minimum temperature for laying the pipe should be +5°C.

For access panels, drill a 12.5mm hole at a 20 degree angle through the TorFloor panel at the point at which the flow pipe needs to drop into the batten space.

Stage 7
Feed one end of the pipe through the hole from above through to the manifold, notching or drilling as required. Where there is limited access, a plain access panel can be created and/or 12mm interconnecting fittings used providing these are fully accessible upon completion of the finished floor. All pipework within the batten space must be insulated. NOTE: If the pipework is kinked during the installation, the coil must be replaced or the pipe repaired with an OMNIE connector and then pressure tested. No connections should be made unless fully accessible following the completion of the finished floor. Glue and screw any access panels as per Stage 4.

Stage 7

Feed one end of the pipe through the hole from above through to the manifold, notching or drilling as required. Where there is limited access, a plain access panel can be created and/or 12mm interconnecting fittings used providing these are fully accessible upon completion of the finished floor. All pipework within the batten space must be insulated.

NOTE: If the pipework is kinked during the installation, the coil must be replaced or the pipe repaired with an OMNIE connector and then pressure tested. No connections should be made unless fully accessible following the completion of the finished floor.

Glue and screw any access panels as per Stage 4.

Stage 8
Repeat Stages 1 to 7 for each room.

Stage 9
Once the panels and pipe have been installed, the circuits should be hydraulically pressure tested. It is preferable for the pipe to be kept under pressure while the covering deck is laid. If this is not possible, the pressure test must be carried out for a second time once the covering deck has been installed.

Stage 10
A 6mm flooring grade ply covering laid in the opposing direction to the TorFloor panels glued and screwed to complete the structural deck. The covering should be positioned so that each ply panel overlaps the tongue and groove edges of the TorFloor panel by 300mm.

Stage 11
To glue the covering down, apply sufficient PVA glue in a serpentine pattern to the 50mm wide strips of exposed TorFloor panel. Do not apply glue to the foil strips of the TorFloor panel. To ensure a good contact between the overlay and TorFloor panels, Screw (screws at least 25mm long) the ply at 150mm centres 18mm from the edge of each ply sheet then at 150mm centres across the whole panel preferably in the centre line between the pipe runs, Making sure to avoid any of the pipework straights & loops. NOTE: It is best practice to predetermine and mark the pipe & screw positions on the top surface of the ply layer to avoid the straights and loop ends of the pipe runs.

Stage 11

To glue the covering down, apply sufficient PVA glue in a serpentine pattern to the 50mm wide strips of exposed TorFloor panel. Do not apply glue to the foil strips of the TorFloor panel.

To ensure a good contact between the overlay and TorFloor panels, Screw (screws at least 25mm long) the ply at 150mm centres 18mm from the edge of each ply sheet then at 150mm centres across the whole panel preferably in the centre line between the pipe runs, Making sure to avoid any of the pipework straights & loops.

NOTE:
It is best practice to predetermine and mark the pipe & screw positions on the top surface of the ply layer to avoid the straights and loop ends of the pipe runs.

A Quick Guide to Filling the System
1. If the manifold is being used to pressure test all circuits at once, close both primary isolation valves. 2. Connect a pressure tester to any drain valve, vent the system of air and increase the pressure to 6 bar. 3. Once at this pressure, leave for 60 minutes. If the pressure has dropped examine the pipework. It may be necessary to pressure test individual circuits to determine if there has been damage to the pipe. 4. If the pressure is maintained and passes the test, record the results on the pressure test certificate. Have the test witnessed and certified by a third party. 5. Maintain this test pressure whilst the floor deck and finish are being laid. SEE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION GUIDE (DOCUMENT CODE: IG UFH 17) FOR FULL INSTRUCTIONS

A Quick Guide to Filling the System

1. If the manifold is being used to pressure test all circuits at once, close both primary isolation valves.

2. Connect a pressure tester to any drain valve, vent the system of air and increase the pressure to 6 bar.

3. Once at this pressure, leave for 60 minutes. If the pressure has dropped examine the pipework. It may be necessary to pressure test individual circuits to determine if there has been damage to the pipe.

4. If the pressure is maintained and passes the test, record the results on the pressure test certificate. Have the test witnessed and certified by a third party.

5. Maintain this test pressure whilst the floor deck and finish are being laid.

SEE MANIFOLD INSTALLATION GUIDE (DOCUMENT CODE: IG UFH 17) FOR FULL INSTRUCTIONS

Notes for Wood Floors
When hardwood floors are laid, the moisture-content of the timber should be 8-10%. Please check with the flooring supplier that the proposed floor is suitable with underfloor heating. Tongued and grooved joints in the floor deck should be glued with PU adhesive or a PVAc adhesive conforming to durability class D3 of BS EN 204. It is essential that a clear gap of at least 10mm is left all the way around the periphery of a timber floor deck, under the skirting to accommodate any swelling of the floor deck due to change in moisture content. All wedges used during the floor deck installation, to press panels together, must be removed when the floor deck is complete. During the initial heat up, the mixing valve should be set to supply temperature between 20°C and 25°C which needs to be maintained for at least 3 days. After this period, the flow temperature can then be increased to the design maximum and should be held for a further 4 days to complete the process.

Notes for Wood Floors

When hardwood floors are laid, the moisture-content of the timber should be 8-10%. Please check with the flooring supplier that the proposed floor is suitable with underfloor heating.

Tongued and grooved joints in the floor deck should be glued with PU adhesive or a PVAc adhesive conforming to durability class D3 of BS EN 204. It is essential that a clear gap of at least 10mm is left all the way around the periphery of a timber floor deck, under the skirting to accommodate any swelling of the floor deck due to change in moisture content. All wedges used during the floor deck installation, to press panels together, must be removed when the floor deck is complete.

During the initial heat up, the mixing valve should be set to supply temperature between 20°C and 25°C which needs to be maintained for at least 3 days. After this period, the flow temperature can then be increased to the design maximum and should be held for a further 4 days to complete the process.

Torfloor Batten Install Guide

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