Small extensions and conservatories do not need such an intricate system as that required for a whole house or the type of commercial applications that the original Schlüter-BEKOTEC-THERM is currently being used in. So the single room packs were developed, which can easily be connected either directly to a boiler or onto an existing radiator network.

Offering the same benefits of the larger system - namely tile protection technology, with reduced fuel costs, as well as fast-tracking the entire installation process, it was this combination of revolutionary features that led to Schlüter-BEKOTEC-THERM being named The Tile Association's Best New Innovation for 2007 at the industry's annual awards ceremony.

TTA's prestigious Best New Innovation category is one of the industry's leading "Oscars," and is awarded for innovation in solving a tiling problem. The Tile Association said the judges in this category were looking for something "really new" that "solved a current problem." Schlüter Managing Director Elaine Stokes says: "While more and more tilers are discovering that Schlüter-BEKOTEC-THERM is a truly innovative underfloor heating system unequalled by anything else on the market, it's also very pleasing to receive national recognition in this way from our industry."

Many tilers have become wary of fixing tiles over conventional heated screeds -- in particular in conservatories -- because of problems they've experienced in the past with tiles cracking, buckling and debonding, caused by the screed and ceramics expanding and contracting at different rates, due to their different heat expansion coefficients during temperature changes.

However, the TTA-Award-winning Schlüter-BEKOTEC-THERM is an energy-efficient and quick-reacting modular assembly system, which overcomes this long-standing problem. Schlüter Technical Manager Ian Knifton says: "Temperature changes within the screed mass of conventional underfloor heating installations - whether water or electric - lead to the screed moving at a different rate from the tile or stone surface. The rigid surface simply cannot cope with the degree of movement, and the tiles crack or debond. Also, the relatively large screed mass requires a great amount of heating energy, which can make conventional systems slow to respond to temperature changes."

The TTA judges had recognised that Schlüter-BEKOTEC-THERM specifically addresses those disadvantages, with its unique combination of studded screed panels and matching heating and control technology, giving an energy-efficient and quick reacting radiant heated floor system.

Stress build-up due to shrinkage is successfully combated by micro-fine cracks, which form around the studs. And because the whole assembly has an overall low construction height, the screed mass to be heated is relatively small. This means the floor heating is easier to regulate and can be operated with lower supply temperatures than traditional methods, giving reduced fuel costs. With most installations the minimum screed depth above the heating pipes is only 8 mm, so just 5 degrees is lost between the pipes and the surface, making the system particularly suitable for conservatories.

The studded panels are easily cut to size, and interlock into each other on top of a load-bearing substrate or any insulation layer that may be required. The studs form a grid pattern, and the heating pipes simply clamp between the studs. The combined pump and blending systems are easy to connect, making the entire installation process very quick and easy.

Another innovation of Schlüter-BEKOTEC-THERM is that it considerably reduces the waiting time before tiling can begin on top of the underfloor heating. With conventional systems, according to BS standards, a traditional sand-cement screed of 65 mm needs 28 days to dry and cure. Then the underfloor heating has to run for several days, and cooled, before tiling.

But with Schlüter-BEKOTEC-THERM, bonding an uncoupling membrane to it means ceramic or natural stone tiles can be installed as soon as the screed can be walked on. Schlüter has been involved with installations where the screed has been laid on a Friday, and the tiling commenced on the Monday. And the heating can be turned on seven days after that.

For full details simply go to the dedicated web site: http://www.bekotec-therm.co.uk/ or contact Business Development Manager Gavin Vann, or BEKOTEC-THERM Technician Scott Meadows, on 01530 813396. Enquiries can also be e-mailed to bekotec-therm@schluter.co.uk.