Update to design section
Heat emitters come in various styles and sizes and are responsible for getting the heat in to the actual room or dwelling. The sizes, outputs and styles of emitters can be found in the manufacturers brochures. The more popular types available include:
These are the modern radiators found in new build properties. Approximately 85% of the heat is convected via fins welded to the back of the radiator.
These are cast-iron emitters that have been used for many years, the more columns the greater the heat output. Now a days these are also made from steel and aluminium. Public buildings still use these and can be found in retro-fit properties.
Low-surface temperature radiators LSTs, were originally designed for the NHS, where radiators couldn’t have a surface temperature above 43ºC. This was then accepted by nurseries, primary schools, homes for the elderly, disabled or infirm.
These can come in a wide range of designs and colours, and can be used in a wet central heating system, or independently with an electrical element, for use during the summer when the heating system is not required. Towel rails can come with an inverted radiator, conventional tubular style or designer styles
These work on a similar basis to the finned radiator. A copper heat exchanger mounted in the casing has lots of fins attached. This allows for additional surface area. Below this heat exchanger a low-volume electric fan is installed, which is operated by the heat exchanger warming up. These emitters can heat up large areas quickly.
These are designed for rooms with limited wall space to mount a radiator, eg kitchens, bathrooms or stairwells. They are installed under the kitchen unit or vanity unit and blow warm air into the room via a grill mounted on the kick plinth.
There are also skirting convectors available that supply background heating, they rely on convection and a disadvantage of this is that the fins can get blocked by dust .©