Underfloor Heating Basics

The underfloor heating gives gentle background warmth, about 15.6°C. It isn’t instant heat on demand. The BEO switches it on from 1 October to 30 April, and it adjusts to the outside temperature.

Work continues on the Barbican’s underfloor heating system, with the Residents’ Consultation Committee’s Underfloor Heating Working Party (UHWP) working towards the aim of delivering comfortable homes at a reasonable cost.

The UHWP is also working closely with the Barbican Association’s Climate Action team.

For anyone interested in keeping a closer eye on the heating, data for the previous 24 hours is published shortly after 8.30am each morning – https://barbicanassociation.co.uk/underfloor-heating

The Estate’s underfloor heating is controlled centrally by the Barbican Estate Office, with the whole Estate switched on and off at the same time. The temperature experienced in individual flats will vary according to the heating input, the outside temperature and the particular location and physical configuration of the flat.

There are numerous things that we can all do to prepare our flats for winter including maintenance and repairs that can be done by the BEO in our flats to lessen heat loss and help air circulation. There are also a few things you can do that will help maintain heat in the flat and reduce your electricity bills. All these repairs and services are covered under your service charges.

Here are a few tips:

• Did you know that if the seals around your windows, including sliding doors, have deteriorated or broken, that you can have the BEO Repairs team come around to fix them? By replacing damaged window seals you can prevent cold drafts and reduce the amount of heat loss through your windows and window frames.
• Did you know that if your sliding door(s) are not sliding properly that the BEO Repairs team can help fix them? Indeed, if you find that your large sliding door(s) is stubborn to open and close, it may be that the rolling mechanism is compromised. You can have this issue checked by the BEO Repairs team. It may be simply a fix that may require lubricating the rollers or it may indeed require the replacement of the rollers that would entail a bigger job. Don’t let an improperly closed sliding door be the cause of your heat loss.

• Did you know that window vents are also important in helping to keep your flat warm? These vents can be found in each set of windows in your flat. Vents may be opened to allow fresh air into your flat. If you are feeling particularly warm due to temperatures rising outside, then allowing fresh air in will help reduce temperatures to levels you may be more comfortable with. Again, you can contact the BEO Repairs team to schedule cleaning and maintenance of them. These repairs can be scheduled before winter sets in and will help keep your flat toasty.

• Did you know that extractor vents in kitchens and bathrooms also play a part in regulating temperature in your flat? Blocked vents in kitchens and bathrooms prevent dust and humidity from escaping from your flat and may impact on you and your neighbours by trapping smells, odours and humidity. Have them cleaned by the BEO and help maintain good air circulation throughout your flat. The BEO recommends that extractor vents in kitchens and windows should be cleaned every 12-18 months.

• If you live in the towers did you know that there are ‘heat’ trimmers located in locked panels near your front doors that may be adjusted to raise or lower temperatures in individual rooms? This is something that so many residents throughout the estate are not aware of. In the towers the trimmers can be adjusted up or down by the BEO Repairs team so that if you like your bedrooms cooler to sleep in you can have the trimmers in each bedroom turned down. If you prefer a warmer living room, then the trimmer can be turned up. All part of the BEO Repairs services provided covered by your service charge. In the towers the trimmers are inside the flats in locked cabinets. Only the BEO engineers have keys to open them and adjust the trimmers. It’s not the same design throughout the estate. To keep expectations realistic, note that the trimmers can only be tweaked within tight limits. Otherwise, the wires can melt.

• Did you know curtains and blinds help retain heat in your flat (but also help keep it cool during hot days)? Curtains and blinds are great insulators and help keep the cold out especially in our living rooms where the largest glass panels are. If you decide to install blinds and windows please remember you or a contractor cannot and should not drill into your window frames as this would damage ‘listed’ window frames.
• Did you know that the type of flooring installed in your flat can make a difference to how cold or warm you feel during the winter? Carpeting is the specified option of flooring in our leases as carpeting helps to easily distribute underfloor heating throughout your flats. Wooden and ceramic flooring naturally feel colder and if you have this type of flooring laying down area carpets may help you feel warmer and more comfortable.

More helpful information on how our heating system works

Below please find information from the Residents Information Pack on our heating system and how it operates. This useful Q&A should help you to better understand how our heating system works.

Q – Can the dates, on which the heating is switched on (1 October) and off (30 April), be reviewed?

A – Yes, the Barbican Estate Office (BEO) already do this and review the situation in September and April/May. Any requests should be redirected to the BEO.

Q – My flat is 18C but I am still cold. What can be done about this?

A – Purchase supplementary heating which was the original intention of the system.

Q – I’ve lived in my flat for 30 years and I’ve never known it so cold. What’s changed?

A – Some mild spells of weather result in low periods of charging – there is no heating charge above overnight temperatures of 15C/59F.

Q – Does the type of flooring I have affect the temperatures provided?

A – Yes the type of underlay/carpet/wooden flooring does affect the temperature provided.

Q – Is the heating provided based on the temperature at that time or is there a lag?

A –The heating takes its charge at night based on the actual temperature at that time.

Q – Can the temperature be regulated for individual rooms in a flat?

A – Trimmers can regulate the background heating for the flat. Individual rooms can be isolated from the background heating system.

Q – Why is my flat cold in the evening?

A – As a result of mild night-time temperatures, charging periods would be low and heat stored in the floor screed can dissipate and leave little for the evening.

Q – Is there a difference across the estate as to when the heating comes on?

A – No, all flats are on the same profile.

Q – Why is my friend’s flat in another block warmer?

A – The temperature in a flat would depend on the outlook/ aspect of the flat and the position of the flat in the block.

Q – Why doesn’t the BEO review the trigger temperatures/ parameters at which a charge is taken?

A – The profiles are determined by the electricity supplier. If the BEO approached the supplier to alter the profiles, it could result in a much higher tariff for residents.

Q – What is the BEO’s position if mild weather continues and there are no greater charges being taken?

A – Mild weather conditions are generally short lived but residents should use supplementary heating during these periods, which was the original intention of the system.

Q – Isn’t it cheaper for residents to pay for extra boost periods during peak charging times during the day than to pay for supplementary heaters which have high running electrical costs?

A – This is difficult to quantify as any adjustment to profiles would be estate wide and could increase consumption significantly whereas supplementing heat on an individual basis would be a relatively small cost.

Q – Is there a new thermostat? Has this affected the system?

A – No there is not a new thermostat, new sensing probes were fitted by EDF Energy prior to last year’s heating season but would not have a bearing on temperature profiles.

Q – How long will the heating come on for at different outside temperatures?

A – The heating will come on for the following amount of time based on these example external temperatures: 15 °C = 0 hours. 12.5 °C = 2 hours. 10 °C = 5 hours. 7.5 °C = 7.75 hours. 5 °C = 8.5 hours. 2.5 °C = 11.5 hours. 0 °C = 13 Hours.