‘Active Ceiling’ is the name we have given this system, and you will start to see it a lot more when we talk about our central heating systems and solutions. An Active Ceiling system delivers a uniform comfort level throughout your living space, providing comfort and energy where and when needed. Radiant heating and cooling systems are concealed in the ceiling, providing an environment of unique thermal comfort and health.
You are probably familiar with the saying “heat goes up and cold goes down”, so you may be surprised to know that this is a common misconception about heat. While it is true that hot air rises and cold air falls, radiant heat is different because it travels in every direction at the speed of light, independent of thermal convection. You feel this effect every time you step outside on a sunny day, as the suns shines on you emitting instant warmth. Active Ceiling replicates this in your home.
Our skin (approximately 2m² for an average adult) has millions of receptors to detect temperature. Uniform thermal sensation is the first requirement for a system that offers comfortable conditions. A radiant ceiling panel system is the solution that best meets this requirement, because it imitates exactly the way the earth is heated by day (solar radiant heat) and cooled at night. In a home, the radiant surface temperature of the ceiling will be similar to the comfort temperature of the room, enabling the feel of a uniform, natural environment.
Straight-forward installation, architectural versatility and no visual invasiveness make the Active Ceiling system the perfect solution for building new. The ceiling panels are sourced from Messana in the U.S come as singular panels that get installed before the gib. Active Ceiling is ideal for renovations where they can be installed by either lowering an existing ceiling or removing and replacing the ceiling plasterboard. The active panels are light, and do not require additional structural support to accommodate their weight.
Later in the year we will also be launching Active Ceiling for the Commercial market, which delivers your heating and cooling solution through the suspended tiles in the workspace.
In the air conditioning era, our concept of comfort has been guided to perceive wellbeing as the feeling of cold air or warm air, the typical sensation achieved by forced air systems. With radiant heating and cooling, true comfort is achieved with a perfect balance of heat exchange between our body and the surrounding environment.
Indoor climate control is achieved through active radiant surfaces: infrared radiation from the radiant panels toward your body (radiant heating) and heat radiation from your body toward the radiant ceiling panels (radiant cooling).
• Radiant cooling: The ceiling absorbs heat from heat sources in a room and exchanges it with the chilled water circulating in the panels. The chilled water is then delivered to a chiller and re-cooled.
• Radiant heating: The warm surface of the radiant panels provide heat to the room.
Air-to-air Heat Pumps
Air-to-air heat pumps work by drawing air from the outside environment into the unit’s internal compressor. They do not create heat, but simply transfer free heat (not air) from one place to another.
Like all appliances, there are advantages and disadvantages for air-to-air heat pumps. While they may be able to quickly heat a room, they can be noisy and circulate air and dust throughout the home which may cause irritiation for allergy sufferers.
Active Ceiling
There are a variety of reasons to go with a radiant system over a traditional forced air system (such as a heat pump).
Radiant systems provide optimal thermal comfort and thermal well-being, while allowing for multiple zoning, reduced noise and are much more aesthetically pleasing. The movement of dust is also greatly reduced, which is a certain bonus for allergy sufferers.
A radiant system is typically also around 30% more efficient to run than a traditional forced air system. The individual overall system design and energy source will ultimately determine the efficiency, but keep in mind it is more efficient to move water through a home than it is to move air.
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