There are two categories of manifolds
- One is a whole brass manifold
- The other one is made from stainless steel pipe
The function of a manifold is to distribute the correct flow to each loop to meet its specific heating load. This is achieved by balancing each loop to meet the design flow requirement. A bespoke manifold can be achieved by adding actuators for the different loops controlled by thermostats. Each room would then be a zone, allowing the thermostat to open and close the valve to the room as required. For simpler one zone systems, it is possible to just control a zone valve or the pump. Separating rooms with different loads or that are seldom occupied, allow you to keep those areas at a lower setting, saving energy without sacrificing comfort elsewhere. Heavily used spaces, such as bathrooms and kitchens, can be kept warmer than the rest of the house for the “barefoot comfort” homeowners often expect from a radiant system. The number of manifolds and their location will depend on the size of the structure. Most manifolds are installed in the mechanical room. Sometimes, the distance from the mechanical room to the farthest room served will exceed the allowed maximum loop length. In those cases, a manifold will have to be located closer to the served room. It is good practice when designing a system to identify potential trouble spots early and to find manifold locations that meet the system’s needs. Look for clusters of rooms with similar, exposure, use-patterns, floor construction, etc. that may have a common location to feed the loops from, such as a closet or similar. Find planned locations for the manifold(s). Take spot check measurements to verify that the location and distance to all rooms served by the manifold areas planned.
- Heating manifolds are used to distribute heat-transfer fluid inside a system.
- They can be used in traditional radiator systems and innovative under-floor radiant systems.
- Stainless steel manifolds are particularly suitable for heating systems: they avoid any unnecessary waste and ensures an elevated level of thermal comfort for homes
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