Knauf Brio Screed enhances heating efficiency

A self-build barn conversion in West Sussex has been floored with Brio Dry Floor Screed from Knauf Drywall to maximise the efficiency of its eco-friendly under-floor heating system.

Brio Dry Floor Screed is an easy-to-lay gypsum fibreboard that is claimed to have advantages over traditional wet screeds in new and refurbished residential and commercial buildings.

Slate Barn is a 170m2 former cowshed that has been developed into a family house within the traditional oak-framed flint structure.

LED lighting throughout the house reduces demand for electricity and the under-floor heating system is powered by a ground source heat pump, while maximum wall and roof insulation ensures heating efficiency.

Brio Dry Floor Screed further enhances the efficiency of the under-floor heating system at Slate Barn.

Unlike traditional screeds, which absorb some of the heat from under-floor systems, Brio is thermally transparent, so rooms are warmed more quickly and less energy is needed to maintain comfortable temperatures.

Knauf Brio boards have precision-engineered tiered edges.

The boards are 1,200 x 600mm for ease of handling and installation.

They are laid directly over an under-floor heating array of routed polystyrene containing the pipes and supporting diffuser trays, or over the subfloor.

The Knauf Brio edges are glued and then screwed together.

This fast-lay flooring can take traffic as soon as the glue has dried.

For under-floor heating applications, Knauf Brio is available in a 23mm thickness.

For use without heating systems, Brio comes in 28mm and 33mm overall thicknesses, with a sound-absorbing 10mm wood-fibre laminate on the underside.

Depending on their type, Knauf Brio boards weigh just 22-30kg/m2.

By comparison, a traditional site-mixed sand and cement screed, 60mm deep to provide 30mm cover over under-floor heating pipes, weighs about 110kg/m2.

The potential weight saving is approximately one ton for every 11.5m2, making Brio an ideal choice for reducing structural loads in tall buildings - and existing buildings that upgrade to under-floor heating.

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