Heating the future

With its motto of “changing the future”, Dundee City Council has pledged its commitment to education in its significant redevelopment of schools and education facilities across the city.

Giacomini’s first Dundee school projects were in 2016 as part of its work with renowned Dundee based M&E Contractor, McGill. Giacomini is now continuing its work with the announcement of two new school projects in Dundee.

The first site will unite three aging primary schools and two nurseries in one site, housing up to 1,000 pupils, on a new site with the existing premises being demolished when the new facility is complete. This project will see 5,800m2 of Giacomini’s underfloor heating being installed across the ground, first and second floors.

The second schools project will see a further 5,400m2 of Giacomini’s UFH installed. The development is again an amalgamation of various facilities into one new site.

There are many reasons why underfloor heating systems are perfect for the education sector, one main advantage being the reduced risk of injury. Underfloor heating avoids many of the risks that are present with convectional radiators. For example, the surface temperature of convectional radiators and the associated pipework can reach 75°c. These temperatures can cause serious burns if contact is made. Thankfully, underfloor heating removes the risk of burns due to its use of lower operating temperatures.

Underfloor heating also avoids the risk of injuries associated with the sharp edges on conventional radiators, by freeing wall space from clutter and unnecessary hazards.

As well as minimising risk, underfloor heating can be beneficial in creating a healthy environment. The reduced air movement from a radiant system means a reduction in dust and airborne germs, so rooms are cleaner and healthier. This is important for those with asthma and other respiratory issues. By warming the floor area first, underfloor heating reduces the moisture levels within the floor making it too dry for dust mites to survive in carpets.

For more information please visit uk.giacomini.com