Concrete Slab Insulation for (Solar) Radiant Heat
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What insulation thickness is needed under a passive-solar heated slab floor?
Where should floor slab insulation be placed to avoid heat loss?
Where does the vapor barrier go under an insulated, heated floor slab?
Heated floors for car wash bays
Questions & answers about how to best insulate under a concrete slab where radiant or solar radiant heat will be installed
Solar Age Magazine Articles on Renewable Energy, Energy Savings, Construction Practices

This article explains the proper insulation amount and proper vapor barrier location below a passive solar heated concrete slab floor.

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Sub Slab Insulation Amount, Location, & Vapor Barrier Placement for Heated Slabs

Accompanying text is reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss. Our page top photograph shows a horrible radiant floor slab insulation scheme installed by a Minnesota contractor - this radiant floor system never worked because the tubing was placed too deep in the concrete slab and the insulation system was incomplete.

Readers constructing an insulated slab with radiant floor heating, whether by passive solar or any other means, should see FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES and should not fail to read RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid. We discuss whether basement slab insulation is or is not recommended for ordinary basement floor slabs (non-solar, non-radiant heat) at INSULATION LOCATION for BASEMENT FLOORS. Readers should also see FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES for a discussion of choice of finish floor materials to preserve use of thermal mass of a concrete floor slab.

Readers concerned about termite damage associated with foam, fiberglass, or other building insulation materials should also see TERMITE SHIELDS vs TERMITICIDE, and Insects & Foam Insulation. Contact us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

The question-and-answer article about proper insulation amount and proper vapor barrier location below a passive solar heated concrete slab floor, quotes-from, updates, and comments an original article from Solar Age Magazine and written by Steven Bliss.

Questions about a heated slab: What thickness of insulation should I use below a 6-inch slab that has SolaRoll™ (passive solar floor heating system) auxiliary heating installed in the concrete? Where is the vapor barrier placed?

I am in the process of designing a car wash that will use passive solar heating in the self-service bays. In the article "Choices in Underground INsulation," Solar Age, 3/83, you discussed below-grade insulation and waterproofing and recommended the use of extruded polystyrene.

What insulation thickness should I use under a 6-inch concrete slab that has SolaRoll™ auxiliary heating installed in the concrete?

What is the best arrangement and material to use as a vapor barrier under the floor slab?

I have received contradictory advice from solar dealers regarding the placement of the vapor barrier - above and below the sub-slab insulation have both been recommended. - J.W., Gettysburg PA

Our photo (above) shows a well-designed insulated radiant-heated concrete slab with an insulated foundation perimeter being installed in Two Harbors, Minnesota in 2007.

Answer:

In a heated floor slab, heat losses into the ground and outward through the edges of the slab and foundation wall are quite significant. (See RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid). Designers generally insulate both directly under the slab and around the perimeter as well. In cold climates it is advisable to use a minimum of 2 inches of extruded polystyrene under the slab.

Many increase the under-slab insulating foam board thickness to 3 or 4 inches at the outer 2 to 4 feet of the slab.

On the perimeter foundation wall, 2 inches of solid foam insulation are commonly used, again increasing the thickness toward the ground's surface. Our photo (left) shows insulation placed at the perimeter of a heated garage floor slab in Minneapolis, MN in 2007.

In any case, careful attention should be paid to insulating the slab edge, where heat loss is greatest. Details that thermally isolate the slab edge from the foundation wall and outdoors appear to work the best.

For a vapor barrier below a concrete floor slab, most choose 6- to 10-mil polyethylene. because extruded polystyrene insulating board will absorb little moisture, the vapor barrier can be placed above or below the slab insulation. Some builders prefer to place the vapor barrier below the insulation or even below the gravel bed because they find it easier to work on preparing the slab itself without destroying the vapor barrier membrane.

If you want to pour the concrete directly onto the plastic vapor barrier, you might protect it first with a layer of heavy felt building paper. If migration or moisture into the building is not a concern, as we suspect not in a car wash bay, you could eliminate the vapor barrier altogether.

Readers should also see FLOOR, CONCRETE SLAB CHOICES for a discussion of choice of finish floor materials to preserve use of thermal mass of a concrete floor slab. Also see these radiant heat flooring articles:

RADIANT HEAT - usage guide, strategies for using radiant heat
RADIANT HEAT TEMPERATURES - at the boiler, in tubing, under floors, floor surface, thermostat & control settings
RADIANT SLAB FLOORING CHOICES - wood vs ceramic tile over a radiant heated floor
RADIANT SLAB TUBING & FLUID CHOICES - tubing and fluid choices for radiant heating
RADIANT HEAT Floor Mistakes to Avoid - proper and improper radiant tubing depth in slabs & slab insulation needs - what can go very wrong when the building contractor substitutes brawn for brains
SLAB INSULATION, PASSIVE SOLAR - slab insulation & vapor barrier placement in heated floor slabs
WOOD FLOOR DAMAGE - from radiant tubing run too hot

Here we include solar energy, solar heating, solar hot water, and related building energy efficiency improvement articles reprinted/adapted/excerpted with permission from Solar Age Magazine - editor Steven Bliss.

"Insulating a Slab" - links to the original article in PDF form immediately below are preceded by an expanded/updated online version of this article

Insulation Specifications for Passive Solar Concrete Floor Slabs - PDF form, use your browser's back button to return to this page

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Solar Age Magazine was the official publication of the American Solar Energy Society. The contemporary solar energy magazine associated with the Society is Solar Today. "Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy. Leading for more than 50 years. ASES leads national efforts to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies in the U.S. We publish the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, organize and present the ASES National Solar Conference and lead the ASES National Solar Tour – the largest grassroots solar event in the world."
Steven Bliss served as editorial director and co-publisher of The Journal of Light Construction for 16 years and previously as building technology editor for Progressive Builder and Solar Age magazines. He worked in the building trades as a carpenter and design/build contractor for more than ten years and holds a masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Excerpts from his recent book, Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, Wiley (November 18, 2005) ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, appear throughout this website, with permission and courtesy of Wiley & Sons. Best Practices Guide is available from the publisher, J. Wiley & Sons, and also at Amazon.com.
Excerpts with updates and annotations expanding the original Best Practices Guide text can be found in the online review and book summary at BEST CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES GUIDE and also at DECK & PORCH CONSTRUCTION, at INDOOR AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GUIDE, and in other articles found at InspectAPedia.com such as HOUSEWRAP AIR & VAPOR BARRIERS, SOUND CONTROL in BUILDINGS, and other topics.
Portland Cement Association: www.concretethinker.com/Papers.aspx?DocId=8 indicates that
- tubing for radiant heat in a concrete slab is installed UP TO two inches below the surface of the slab
- the slab is insulated from the ground at all sides to direct heat upwards to the living space [this is our preferred design for a cold northern climate]
The Radiant Panel Association: www.radiantpanelassociation.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1 offers design guidelines at http://www.radiantpanelassociation.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=115 including these insulation R-value and coverage details:
Application#, Minimum R-Value, and Insulation Coverage
The following insulation alternatives are given for Slab on Grade construction:
Alternate #1 [(Ti-To)x0.125)=R-value, with coverage from perimeter to below frost line ["Ti-To" means we calculate the necessary R-value as (Ratio of indoor to outdoor temperature) x 0.125]
Alternate #2 R-value=5, with coverage 4' horizontal or vertical at perimeter
Alternate #3 R-value=5, with coverage under entire slab and slab edge [this is our preferred design for a cold northern climate]
The Radiant Panel Association offers education and publications in radiant heat design. See radiantpanelassociation.org
Takagi radiant heat systems: Takagi offers pre-assembled radiant heating system installation packages including for do-it-yourself'ers, and including systems that combine radiant heat flooring with domestic hot water production using a gas-fired tankless water heater. See takagi.com for more information. "The T-KJr model (gas inputs up to 140,000 BTU per hour) is the smallest unit in the Takagi line-up. The T-KJr is perfect for light residential (i.e. small apartment units) and radiant heating applications." Also see Tankless Water Heaters.
Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume I, the Passive Solar Handbook Introduction to Passive Solar Concepts, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v1.pdf
Passive Solar Design Handbook Volume II, the Passive Solar Handbook Comprehensive Planning Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v2.pdf [This is a large PDF file that can take a while to load]
Passive Solar Handbook Volume III, the Passive Solar Handbook Programming Guide, in a version used by the U.S. Air Force - online version available at this link and from the USAF also at wbdg.org/ccb/AF/AFH/pshbk_v3.pdf
The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the The Passive Solar Design and Construction Handbook, Steven Winter Associates (Author), Michael J. Crosbie (Editor), Wiley & Sons, ISBN 978-047118382 or 0471183083 is available at Amazon.com and via the InspectAPedia Bookstore
"Passive Solar Home Design", U.S. Department of Energy, describes using a home's windows, walls, and floors to collect and store solar energy for winter heating and also rejecting solar heat in warm weather.
"Solar Water Heaters", U.S. Department of Energy article on solar domestic water heaters to generate domestic hot water in buildings, explains how solar water heaters work. Solar heat for swimming pools is also discussed.
"Heat Exchangers for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE describes the types of solar water heater heat exchange methods between the sun and the building's hot water supply
"Heat-Transfer Fluids for Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE, describes the types of fluids selected to transfer heat between the solar collector and the hot water in storage tanks in a building. These include air, water, water with glycol antifreeze mixtures (needed when using solar hot water systems in freezing climates), hydrocarbon oils, and refrigerants or silicones for heat transfer.
"Solar Water Heating System Maintenance and Repair", U.S. DOE
"Solar Water Heating System Freeze Protection", U.S. DOE,using antifreeze mixture in solar water heaters (or other freeze-resistant heat transfer fluids), as well as piping to permit draining the solar collector and piping system.
"Scaling and Corrosion in Solar Water Heating Systems", U.S. DOE
www.energysavers.gov/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850 is the base U.S. DOE website for these articles
"Active Solar Heating Systems", U.S. Department of Energy, including
"Radiant Heating Systems" U.S. DOE
"Absorption Heat Pumps & Coolers", U.S. DOE
"Solar Air Heating" U.S. DOE also referred to as "Ventilation Preheating" in which solar systems use air for absorbing and transferring solar energy or heat to a building
"Solar Liquid Heating" U.S. DOE, systems using liquid (typically water) in flat plate solar collectors to collect solar energy in the form of heat for transfer into a building for space heating or hot water heating. The term "solar liquid" is used for accuracy, rather than "solar water" because the water may contain an antifreeze or other chemicals.

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Sub Slab Insulation Amount, Location, & Vapor Barrier Placement for Heated Slabs

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