Underfloor Heating for Passivhaus Apartments, Oyster Reach

The Goal

Oyster Reach in Whitstable, Kent is a Passivhaus-standard apartment development built with a fabric-first approach. The buildings have very low heat loss. Because of this, they needed an efficient electric heating system that could operate as the main heat source without compromising energy performance.

Masonry Frame Systems, the main contractor, needed a flexible, low-energy Passivhaus in-screed underfloor heating solution. It had to integrate seamlessly with the building design and provide stable comfort for residents.

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Our Solution

Through its subsidiary Heatmat, Heatcom Group supplied a complete in-screed underfloor heating system using Danish-manufactured cables.

The heating cables were installed using fixing band and covered with 70 mm of screed. This allows the dense screed layer to store heat and release it slowly as room temperature drops. Output was set to approximately 130 W/m², suitable for the extremely well-insulated Passivhaus interior.

Each apartment uses NGT programmable thermostat timers, providing precise room-by-room control and energy-saving modes. The homes also use electricity from solar PV panels, further reducing running costs by supplying renewable energy to the heating system.

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The Result

The Passivhaus in-screed underfloor heating now provides comfortable, steady warmth during the short periods when these highly insulated homes need heating. Predicted running costs are as little as £175 per year.

Because the screed layer acts as thermal mass, the system heats up gradually and maintains temperature efficiently. Residents benefit from even floor temperatures and a heating system that responds well to the building’s low energy demand.

Oyster Reach delivers modern, low-energy living. Heatmat’s in-screed system contributes to the project’s excellent thermal performance and compliance with sustainable building standards. The project demonstrates how electric underfloor heating can serve as the primary heat source in well-insulated residential buildings, combining comfort, efficiency and low running costs for residents and developers alike right across the UK.

Oyster-Reach-Kent-Underfloor-Heating-Systems.pdf