Monday 20 August 2018


TRENCH HEATING INFORMATION

The trench heating system is an underfloor heat radiation system, unlike the wall, mounted radiator. It is a convenient and space saving model that can be run either on water or electricity. A long, rectangular trench is dug beneath the ground and the system comprising an insulated steel box casing is fixed snugly into that space. The steel box casing contains either water pipes or electrical elements that make up the convector unit that is responsible for convection and distributing of hot air. The trench system also has key parts called the grilles. These parts of the system are seen as they act both as covering for the system and also as channels through which cold and hot air enter and leave the system respectively. The grill also gives a decorative, aesthetic look to the room it occupies.

The heating radiator was first invented between 1855 and 1857 by the Prussian-born Russian, Franz San Galli and has remained a must-have in many homes to combat the cold seasons. Thermal energy is transferred from one medium to another via convection. Radiators are heat exchangers. The trench heating system comprises mainly the convector unit and the grille which allows for airflow. The trench heater draws in cold air through the grilles and gives it out as hot air, heating up rooms or enclosed places.



In order to have maximum heat output, grilles should be cleaned periodically because they tend to accumulate dirt and dust particles, and this could reduce the amount of air that goes in or out of the heater.

The heat output of radiators can be monitored and regulated through Room thermostats, Thermostatic radiator valves and more recently, Smart control. The performance of radiators is determined by the EN 16430 testing procedure. This procedure also tests for noise and pressure.

An advantage of the trench heating system is that it allows for even distribution of air across a room, preventing draughts and cold spots. For rooms with floor to ceiling windows, trench heaters are great because there is no condensation. The grilles of trench heaters come in different designs and finishing and therefore add to the aesthetic look of the room. Trench heating systems because they are fitted beneath the floor, are unobtrusive and do not take up space unlike the wall mounted radiators. Hence, customers can have their trench heaters custom designed.



Possible locations for trench heaters are beneath patio doors and thresholds, beneath bay windows, since they do not cause condensation and they can even be run up a flight of stairs. These can always be decided by the customer. 

Trench Heating Radiators can be fan assisted to increase the Radiators BTU output for the same size frame.

Jaga are renowned for quality of design and construction in their Trench Heaters and back up their trench heating with market leading warranties.

Jaga trench heating radiators can be bought at trenchstyle.co.uk and trenchheater.co.uk

Friday 17 August 2018


TRENCH HEATING
Trench heating cannot be discussed without first explaining what a radiator is. Radiators as heat exchangers designed to transfer thermal energy from one medium to another for the purpose of space heating.  Merriam Webster dictionary defines a radiator as any set of various devices (as a series of pipes or tubes) for transferring heat from a fluid within to an area or object outside. The English dictionary also describes a radiator as a finned metal fixture that carries hot water or steam in order to heat a room. Simply put, a radiator is any device capable of exchanging heat or simply put, a radiator is a space heater.

Brief History of Radiators
The first person to ever use the term radiator to mean a heating device was Denison Olmsted of New Haven, Connecticut in 1834. He used it as a patent for a stove that could radiate heat through a heat exchanger. The heating radiator was invented by a Prussian-born Russian, Franz San Galli between 1855 and 1857. It is quite understandable that the inventor of this wonderful device is Russian since the coldest place on the planet is Russia. The bitter cold would have been a great incentive to warm up bones while busying himself with the radiator for two years. Radiators have since the invention, been one of the oldest and most effective ways of heating buildings apart from the traditional fireplaces. Radiators transfer heat mainly by the heat transfer method of convection and can, therefore, be called convectors. The term ‘convector’ is used to describe a set of devices in which their source of heat is not directly exposed. Wall mounted radiators and trench heaters are common devices used in heating buildings nowadays and they operate following the convection method.

The Trench Heating System
 Trench heating is a system of heating that provides an even distribution of heat along the perimeter of any room and prevents draughts, condensation, and cold spots. As implied by the name, a trench is dug in the floor and a simple convector unit is connected up to the heating system and completed with the Grille (it is in simple terms a grating or screen of metal bars or wires, placed in front of something as protection or to allow ventilation or discreet observation.), the single most important feature that a trench heater has.  The amount of heat likely to be generated from this heating method depends largely on the size of the trench. Trench heaters are long and rectangular in shape, designed for the convector unit to fit in snugly. The width and the length of the trench determine the heating element or convector unit that it contains and invariably determines the amount of cooler air that can be drawn in through the grilles to allow for exchange after convection. Subtle fan systems are installed in trench heaters to allow for a greater influx of air and consequently heat to prevent the size of the trench from being a problem.
A trench heater has to have multiple grilles in contact with the tube or casing carrying the liquid or steam pumped through the radiator to increase the surface area available for heat transfer or exchange within its environment. Trench heating is most commonly installed around the edges or perimeter of a room and the location of the heating grille can be chosen by the home or room owner depending on the layout of the room or building as a whole. Features like floor to ceiling glass windows or bay windows do not pose a problem during installation for this reason.




How Does a Trench Heating System Work?
Trench heating can be either water-based or electric. In each case, water pipes or electrical elements encased in conduits, run in trenches dug beneath the floor of the room. The trench heating system is made up of a pre-insulated steel boxed casing containing an aluminium finned copper tube-heating element. This casing is kept inside a trench or hole in the ground. While cold air easily flows into the trench through the grilles, provision has been made for hot water to pass through the element in the casing. The air going into the trench is warmed up through natural convection as it rises past the element out through the grille.
The fan assisted trench heating system is only different in that an integral fan draws air into the trench and pushes the hot air out. The water-based system is designed to run off a conventional boiler, but it is very important to check that this boiler has enough capacity. The function of the trench heating system will be impaired if airflow is obstructed by dirt or damage to the grilles. Dirt or damage renders that portion of the radiator ineffective as a heat exchanger. Therefore, it is strongly advised that during summertime, trench heaters should be protected with a special cover to prevent dust. During cold seasons, the cover can be removed so that the grilles can function properly.

Possible Locations of Trench Heating System
They can be run up a flight of stairs or around the edges or perimeter of a room. They can also be fitted upstairs because the design system is such that it can be customised as per the preference of each customer. For rooms with floor to ceiling windows or bays, trench heating systems can be laid at the foot of windows so it does not cause blockage of any part of the window. They can also be fitted across the threshold of patio doors. Trench heating systems can be used in domestic or commercial buildings, in offices, hotels, restaurants, banks and residential properties.

Advantages of Trench Heating Systems over Wall-mounted Radiators.
Trench heating systems have quite a number of advantages over the wall-mounted radiator. They are the most practical form of heating glazed façades and offer the most options. They are efficient in that they use a ‘low water’ high heat output element. This need to heat very low amount of water proves very effective when used together with ground source and air source heat pump systems. Trench heating is a system that takes away the need to have standard radiators fitted on the wall. Wall-mounted radiator, as the name implies, is a radiator that is fitted to walls. As an older type of radiator system, the traditional wall-mounted radiator can be a popular choice for heating around glazed-in façades, due to its “proven track record” in heating, the fact that most people understand what it does and how it does it. However, conventional radiators pose several problems when used to heat glazed façades; they are not often aesthetically pleasing, they can be obtrusive and can obscure façades. They also tend to use up floor space and can be very susceptible to damage.
While Trench heating systems are space saving, taking up minimal floor space, wall mounted radiators take up a big chunk of space that could have been used for something else. They are not invisible, but mostly out of sight unlike the wall mounted radiators. Trench heating is also energy efficient and this makes it very economical to run.
They are efficient and quick to heat, they add aesthetic value and some sort of sophisticated look to the layout of any room they are installed in. This is because the grilles come in different materials such as wood or aluminium and in various designs. Also, trench heating systems are not as disruptive and therefore they are less expensive to install especially when building a new home from scratch. With trench heating, any finish material such as wood, rug or carpet can be used for your floors without any specific limits. They are also not as expensive when renovating a house or fitting into an already built house. Trench heating systems also dispense heat evenly in rooms such that there are no cold spots or occurrences of draught. Trench heaters are also perfect when powerful minimal heat is required. Trench heating systems are also silent in operation and require very little maintenance.
In addition to all these, trench heating systems also have health benefits. They are usually recommended in homes where one or more of the residents suffer from asthma or other types of allergies. Wall mounted radiators would cause more air turbulence that would be created by trench heaters. The lesser the air turbulence trench heaters create, the lesser the circulation of allergens and dust particles, hence creating a clean environment not just for the residents with asthma or other allergies but for residents who do not suffer from any allergies. Also, the risk of condensation building on widows with trench heating systems is reduced, making makes them ideal for use in conservatories or buildings that have floor to ceiling windows.


Disadvantages of Trench Heating
Trench heating systems have few disadvantages as opposed to their advantages, one of which is that they tend to accumulate dust. However with roll up grilles access is simple and a vacuum is perfect for a quick spruce up. They also present trip hazards to those who wear stiletto shoes!
 As versatile as a trench radiator can be, with its ability to be installed throughout different floor voids and around curved glazed façades, there are some circumstances where the trench heating system will not be appropriate for certain applications. Some of these circumstances are when floor voids are either too shallow or are completely solid. That is when digging or create a trench would be almost impossible. Also, when construction costs for creating trench channels are prohibitive, the trench heating system will not be applicable.

Output Comparison Control
Most times your heat requirements may not be exactly the same as the heat output of your chosen radiator. It is always better to have too much heat than not enough, therefore, it is recommended that you choose a radiator size with a higher rather than lower heat output and fit thermostatic valves so that you can regulate the temperature of the room.
Output range is shown in Watts and BTUs (British Thermal Units). Wattage is based on the system’s likely operating temperature and is shown as Delta 50 (∆t 50◦C) which is the current European rating. The conversion units for calculating what heat output you need from your radiator for a specific room are below
To convert Delta 50 to Delta 60, multiply Delta 50 heat output by 1.264
To convert Delta 60 to Delta 50, divide Delta 60 heat output by 1.264
To convert BTUs to watts, divide by 3.142
To convert from Watts to BTUs, multiply by 3.142
Note that the choice of grille finish may determine final heat output.


Performance Determination
Until 2015, there had been no uniform standard for determining the performance of Trench Heating. The EN 16430 standard was validated in March 2015 and provides common standards of manufacture and performance which were applied immediately. This new standard has put an end to uncertainties in the design and output of Trench Heating when comparing the performance data of different manufacturers.
The EN 16430 test procedure comprises of three parts which are the Technical specification and requirements, Test method and rating for thermal output and Test method and rating for cooling capacity. Part of this test procedure monitors the ambient room air temperature which is measured in the centre of a test booth at a distance 2m from the façade at a height of 0.75m above finished floor level (FFL). To ensure an accurate reading, the test room is designed so the ambient air temperature is measured and not mixed up with the temperature of the air entering into the coil which may be variable due to the inevitable dilution between leaving the air and entering the air.
This test does not only cover heating and cooling performance but also pressure, noise, electrical and maintenance safety.

Control Options
Heat output may be controlled by screening the radiator or its parts, introducing changes in the air circulation intensity using forced or induced draught fans or by changing the temperature of the surrounding. A full set of controls should ideally consist of a boiler thermostat, a timer or programmer, a room thermostat and thermostatic radiator valves. Room thermostats are simple dials on the wall that allow you to control the temperature of the home. They are limited in options and are inflexible because achieving the desired temperature for everyone in the building proves difficult when there is more than one radiator.
A new technology for controlling heat output is the smart heating control. It is generally used for domestic heating. It allows control remotely from a computer, tablet or smartphone. A clear advantage of a smart heating control system is that if your plans change, you can make changes remotely. Using heat controls help to minimize the emission of carbon dioxide. It also saves money on heating bills.  Heat controls allow you to schedule your heater to go off and on when needed and the areas of the home where you want to be heated can be selected also with the desired temperature.

Recommended suppliers of Premium Brand Trench Heating including Jaga Trench Heaters



The above Trench Heating Suppliers sell commercial and domestic trench heating.


Sunday 15 April 2018

Trench Heating Grille Selection

Choosing a Grille for your Trench Heater

Rigid or Roll Up Trench Grilles

Grilles which are rigid will generally have the main viewable grille running along the full length of the trench body (ie parallel with the long sides), due to the roll up grilles nature the grille needs to have grilles whose bars run perpendicuar to the trench heaters length. Rigid Grilles generally come in a single or 2 pieces and due to their construction are extremely firm and solid under foot when in place. The roll up trench heating grilles are simpler to remove for cleaning and maintenance.


Aluminium, Stainless Steel or Wood Grilles for Trench Heating

Aluminium is stylish with a soft metallic aesthetic, Stainless Steel is brighter and Wood is available in Oak, Merbau or Beech. All three types are available in rigid or roll up.



Natural, Laquered or Varnished Trench Heater Grilles

Aluminium comes in natural or you can add a glossy laquered finish with multiple RAL colour options available. Wood is available in natural or for durability of finish depending on use can be varnish treated.

So whether you are looking to complement or contrast your trench heating with your decor or flooring we at trenchstyle.co.uk have a Trench heater and Grille for you.




Designer Grilles are also available - contact us for pricing!

Sales@TrenchStyle.co.uk

Saturday 18 November 2017

trench heaters with cooling capability


trench heating with cooling capability

trench heating is the perfect solution for room heating but can also be used for area cooling.
however you will need to purchase trench radiator units which are designed as dual purpose heating and cooling trench heater systems.

in standard trench heating heat rises naturally from the trench heater drawing cooler air in and producing a continual circuit and curtain of heat, this is natural convection caused by the phenomenom of heated air rising, basically the heated air expands becomes less dense than the cooler air around it and rises.

with a cooling system air needs to be blown to create the air movement over the cooling coils.
this does have an added benefit in that heat exchange is significantly greater when air is force blown producing a much greater heat exchange whether that be warm water to air or air to chilled water. so that a trench heater with a fan assist will have a much greater btu output than a none fan unit.

a fan assisted system is also more responsive and controllable and in modern day trench heaters the utilsed fans are ultra quiet.

the next design option is whether the units utilse the same circuit for heating and cooling. a 2 pipe system utilises the same systems for heating and cooling, a 4 pipe system utilises seperate systems.

2 pipe system - jaga clima canal
4 pipe system - jaga quatro canal

so you will need to consider the following:
  • how will the flow of water both heating and chilled be controlled? home automation system with manifold, building management system?
  • how will power be supplied to the trench fans and how are they controlled?

don't forget condensation, a cooling system depending on evironment will likely accumulate condensate, dual heating and cooling trench heaters will incorporate a drain pan and with associated facility for drain pipework connection as needed.

Buy trench heaters with cooling and heating such as the jaga clima canal and jaga quatro canal at trenchstyle.co.uk


Monday 9 October 2017

Trench Heating Radiators for Discrete Home and Commercial Heating

Trench Heaters - Advanced Discrete Heating System

Trench Heating is basically an in floor radiator system, cool air enters one side of the Trench Heater and warm air exits the other side. Generally the airflow is facilitated by the rise of warm air creating a lower pressure and drawing in the cooler air. Although some systems also incorporate ultra quiet BTU boosting fan assist units.

The Trench Heater will provide a heat curtain and as such these radiators which are also known as canal or perimeter heating are perfect adjacent to glazed facades or patio door, areas where condensation or cool areas can exist.
Trench Heater Radiators work in the same way as wall mounted radiators with central heating water passing through which is controlled by manual or thermostatic valves or zone control systems. Generally thermostats are best mounted remote from the Trench Heaters to avoid localised impact from the heater itself.

Trench Heating can also be used with heat pumps although it is recommended that Fan Assist is used to increase the BTU outputs.

Trench Heating can be used as whole room heating, supplementary heating or targeted area heating, it is extremely flexible in it application and can make your room more minimalistic while maintaining its warmth and functionality.

There are a number of Trench Heating Manufacturers in the UK and Europe but with only a few offering extended warranty on the heat exchanger which is a critical part of this central heating system.

Jaga Heating offer a thirty year Warranty on their Copper and Aluminium Heat Exchangers, which is market leading, however you will pay a premium for Jaga Trench Heating quality as these are made to order generally with a 4 week lead time.

https://www.trenchstyle.co.uk/ are a central UK seller of Jaga Trench Heating and can assist with your home design specifications are heating requirements.
Trench Heating outputs will generally depend on the space within the trench heater body, so effectively the longer, wider and deeper your home, office etc can accept the greater the output can be BTU produced. With the only variation being the fan assist which can improve heat outputs by 20 - 50%.

To complement your decor Premium Manufacturers such as Jaga provide a multitude of options in respect to Grille Type and Material, wood both varnished and natural are a popular Trench heating Grille option as is Natural Aluminium, Stainless steel is generally a more expensive option but looks fantastic. Grilles come in two levels of flexibility Rigid and Roll Up, rigid trench heater grilles lift off in a single, joined or separate solid pieces and generally there is no movement under foot, roll up are easier to remove for cleaning and trench heater maintenance. To increase your options colours of grille can also be specified to most Ral colours. Sometimes the choice is whether to contrast or complement the grilles with your existing decor or flooring which is generally a personal choice.
In summary for a Home addition of Trench Heating I would consider the following:

BTU Heat output Required - When calculated we need to decide how this can be achieved, one or more Trench heaters? Generally a larger room can achieve a more balanced heating gradiant if two or more heating sources are used in opposing areas. Remember Depth is out of site, the deeper generally the greater the BTU you can achieve, you would generally have an approximate length available so Trench Heater width then becomes important, personally for a home installation which forms part of a walking path such as Bifold Doors, Patio Doors, Doorway, Steps etc I would suggest up to a 26cm width would be appropriate, if not in a walkway up to 42cm would be appropriate eg against a wall. Also remember you can increase your heating output for the same size unit by 20-40% minimum by adding a Fan Assist BTU Boost.

DESIGN - What do I want my decor to look like, is the Trench Heating to be a hidden unit in which case you would blend the grille material and colour with the existing floor, perhaps looking to place in a non walking path. Am I happy to retain my wall space and showcase my innovative heating system then select a Grille which contrasts and forms a floor based feature of heating functionality.

Friday 25 August 2017

Specifying Trench Heating Room Requirements

Specifying a Trench Heater for Your Room


Trench Heating Radiators can be used as additional heating to complement traditional wall mounted radiator systems, Targetted Heating for instance in front of a large glass wall area or Total Room Heating where Trench Heaters provide all the rooms BTU Heating requirements. So first we need to establish what heating is required within the room, this is a simple proces using an online calcultor, you can try several and they will all generally be within 10% of each other as there are a lot of variable to consider.

  BTU Heating Calculator - Click Here


After Calculation you have your BTU Requirements for your Trench Heating, as a Golden room unless you have a small room (below 4mSQ) then it is worth having 2 heating sources within the room, this allows the room to have a more balanced heat level and avoids having a warm and cold end or localised cool areas. So now we need to decide where to place the Trench Perimeter Heating. Large Windows, Patio Doors, Wall, Steps are all great Locations so decide and see what lengths you have available in your chosen areas. When the Trench Heater approximate Length is required we now need to look at the width, this will impact the BTU output with the wider the unit producing the greater output, however we need to consider room aesthetics and do not want an excessively wide unit if the room is not large. You can check for sizing using a

Trench Heater Product Finder.


To match your decor the trench heater grille is a key element, you need to decide if you want the Trench Heater to complement or contrast. There is a Grille to suite your every requirement, from wood to aluminium, roll up and rigid, laquered and raw. This can be specified at time of order or on the website. As a Guide only here are links to trench heater products and usage roles

  Home Heating 

  Home Heating with Fan Assist 

  Home Heating with Fan Assist and Advanced Controls 

  Large Home, Commercial and Industrial

  Large Home, Commercial and Industrial with Fan Assist


At Trenchstyle we recommend Jaga Trench Heating for several reasons:

 Jaga Trench Products have the Market Leading Heat Exchanger Warranty
 Jaga make your Trench Heater to Order, these are units made using premium matterials.
 Jaga themselves handle the trench heater transport to your property to ensure it reaches you in perfect condition, they will liaise with you reference delivery of your Trench Heaters.

  Buy Trench Heaters online today

Monday 20 February 2017

Jaga Trench Heating

Jaga Trench Heating

TrenchStyle recommends Jaga Trench Heating.

Jaga are a Premium Brand Radiator Manufacturer with UK and European bases.
Jaga are renowned for advanced and innovative radiator design, superior materials and advanced manufacturing techniques.
Their Heat Exchangers have market leading thirty year warrantys including units used in LST Radiators and Trench Heaters.

Jaga refer to their Trench and Perimeter Heating models as Canal Heating, for some reason the terminology for infloor hydronic radiators is not quite as standard as would be helpful in the heating marketplace with terms like subfloor convector also in use, at TrenchStyle we like to use the term Trench Heating!

Jaga Trench Heating is manufactured for Domestic, Commercial and Industrial Heating applications. As the heat application is so broad so is the model availability.
As with all heating applications the BTU output is the initial consideration, Jaga Trench Heaters produces heat outputs which maximise available space BTU capability. However the dimmensions of the Trench itself will often dictate the radiator outputs possible. That is why Jaga produce bespoke combined sizing with individual Trench sizes up to 4.9 Metres in length and also numerous width and depth options so you can achieve your output requirements.

Jaga Mini Canal is an ever popular Jaga Perimeter heating model for Homes, Offices and Targetted heating (such as addressing condensation on large windowed areas). The beauty of the mini canal is that the widths which can be as low as 14cm provide discrete heating which blends into the decor without being too obstrucive. This type of infloor Radiator system marks a step change in room design and frees up wall space by not requiring wall mounted heating solutions.

To ensure additional aesthetic choice Jaga provide a number of Trench Heater Grille options, variants include wood, aluminium and steel with roll up and rigid heating grilles available, and to provide further choice Jaga offer varnished and colour options, we at Trenchstyle are confident you will be able to match your decor with a Jaga Trench Heater Grille!

Jaga also offer a DBE or Dynamic Boost Effect option on the Mini Canal DBE, this is a ultra low noise fan which draws air through the heat exchanger and expels it into the room, this fan assisted trench heating provides a significant BTU boost to your trench heater.

The Mini Canal DBE unit fan works on temperature, basically if your central heating cuts in or your thermostic valve opens the fan will start and visa versa.

For Commercial and Industrial Trench Heating Jaga Canal Plus and Jaga Canal Compact fit the bill with their greater depths and widths allowing significant BTU outputs to be generated by these infloor radiators. As with the Mini Canal the Canal Plus and the Canal Compact can be supplied with Jaga DBE Technology (Fan Assist BTU Boost).

Jaga have a number of other models in their Trench Heating Range including Micro Canal, Quatro Canal and Clima Canal. These models are slightly more complex and can provide cooling aswell as heating and may be utilised in more complex building management systems.

Contact Trenchstyle for the information on the Full Range of Jaga Trench Heater Solutions!

Or have a look at Trenchstyle.co.uk or Call Free Phone 0208 720 7062