Hydronic Ceiling Heating and Cooling

A hydronic heating and cooling ceiling system utilizes the large, mostly unobstructed ceiling area to maintain a uniform and comfortable temperature in rooms. In winter, the ceiling heating system provides cozy warmth through a high proportion of radiant heat. In summer, the same system is used for ceiling cooling. Utilizing small differences between the water temperature and room temperature across a large area enables energy-efficient operation. Various comparative studies have concluded that, depending on the climate zone, radiant ceilings save 20–35% in energy compared to ducted air conditioning systems, and the additional costs are typically recouped after 2–3 years.1 Radiant heating and cooling ceilings ensure comfortable climate control in buildings year-round without warm exhaust air contributing to global warming.

BEKA develops and manufactures various system components for hydronic ceiling heating and cooling systems. Depending on the requirements of the ceiling construction and the required heating and cooling capacity, we can custom-manufacture capillary tube mats, copper or stainless steel meander coils, and 10-mm PE-RT pipe systems as heat exchangers.

The components are installed in plastered ceilings, drywall ceilings, metal cassette ceilings, or open ceiling structures. Thanks to surface heating from the ceiling, the HVAC system operates silently and remains largely invisible. This gives building owners and architects a great deal of freedom in the design of buildings and rooms.

Installation of a climate ceiling with capillary tube mats on an office floor

Technological advantages

  • Heating and cooling with a single system
  • Pleasant and even radiant heat
  • The perceived temperature is higher than the measured air temperature when heating and lower than the measured air temperature when cooling
  • Low flow temperatures
  • The perfect complement to heat pump operation
  • Draft-free and quiet room cooling
  • Flexible interior design without radiators or visible air conditioning units
  • Low maintenance costs
  • Solutions for new construction and existing buildings

How does a radiant ceiling heating work?

A hydronic ceiling heating system transfers more than 90% of its heat through radiant heat. Unlike traditional radiators, the air does not act as a heat distributor; instead, the heat from the ceiling-mounted radiant heating system acts directly on the other surfaces in the room, the furniture, and, of course, the people. The effect can be compared to the radiant heat emitted by the sun: Everyone knows the pleasant feeling of sunlight on the skin on a cool day.

Because of the large, mostly unobstructed ceiling area, relatively small differences between the flow temperature and the air temperature are sufficient to heat a room comfortably. The water-based ceiling heating system can therefore be operated energy-efficiently at water temperatures around 30°C. This makes it an attractive heat consumer for heat pumps.

Warm feet, even though the heat comes from above

Due to the principle of radiation, the perceived temperature with ceiling heating is higher than the measured room temperature. Because the radiant heat also reaches the thermally insulated floor, the heat is absorbed there as well. The floor surface is noticeably warmer than the average temperature in the room. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about cold feet, even if the radiant heating is located on the ceiling.

The even heat distribution, combined with minimized thermally induced air movement, ensures a high level of thermal comfort throughout the entire room.

Working principle of radiant heat: room surfaces and objects are heated

Buildings with BEKA components for heating-cooling ceilings

Meeting container with heating/cooling panel
Metal Ceiling Panels - Bötzow Brewery, Berlin
Hospital in Marne-la-Vallée, Paris
Hôpital in Marne-la-Vallée, France
Building projects with BEKA heating and cooling ceilings

More projects

Ceiling cooling – draft-free and energy-efficient cooling with minimal temperature differences

A heating and cooling ceiling ensures comfortable temperatures also in the summer. During this season, cool water is circulated through the piping system, and the cooled ceiling surface draws heat out of the room. The ceiling heating system transforms into a high-performance hydronic ceiling cooling system.

The operating principle works just like that of the ceiling heating system, only in reverse, and is just as efficient. Ceiling cooling also utilizes small temperature differences to the room temperature, which are distributed over a large area. The entire activated ceiling surface serves as a heat exchanger. These are optimal conditions for energy-efficient climate control and for combining the heating and cooling ceiling with reversible heat pumps and other low-temperature systems.

Because uniform ceiling cooling does not cause drafts, operates silently, and is energy-efficient, it contributes to high acceptance and satisfaction among future occupants. Ceiling cooling is used wherever high thermal comfort is a key requirement. This applies in particular to hospitals, which invest in healthy climate control via heating and cooling ceilings to protect their patients from increasing heat stress.

Safe operation above the dew point

When operating a hydronic ceiling cooling system, condensation must be prevented. The supply temperature is therefore controlled so that the surface temperature of the cooling ceiling remains safely above the dew point. The cooling ceiling operates particularly efficiently in combination with a ventilation system. The cooling ceiling primarily handles the removal of the dry cooling load, while the ventilation system provides fresh air and the necessary dehumidification.

From a medical point of view, we consider it very important for our patients to have draught-free, uniform thermal room conditioning.
Thomas Höhn, Administrative Director, German Heart Centre, Berlin (DHZB)

Hospitals' Experiences with BEKA Heating and Cooling Ceilings

Selection of heating and cooling ceiling systems

Plastering the capillary tube mats in the Gamesa office building, Pamplona
Cooling ceiling plaster with capillary tube mats
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Metal cassette with capillary tube mat
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Fural stretch metal panel with copper tubing
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Cooling ceiling in drywall construction with 10 mm PE-RT pipe

Ceiling heating systems directly from the manufacturer

BEKA manufactures most of the key heat exchanger components for heating and cooling ceilings in-house at its Berlin-Pankow facility. This enables us to produce both standard models and project-specific dimensions and custom solutions. Building services engineers, architects, and installation partners benefit from our technical expertise gained from numerous completed projects, as well as from our support in selecting and designing suitable components. We provide a 15-year warranty on the components we manufacture.

Because we know that buildings have very different requirements for the heating and cooling technology used, we offer three technologies for heating and cooling ceilings, depending on the ceiling construction, performance requirements, installation process, and project size.

Capillary tube mats

Capillary tube mats consist of many thin, parallel tubes spaced closely together. This ensures that the ceiling surface is heated or cooled particularly evenly. The low profile allows for installation close to the surface and dynamic control behavior.

Copper tube meander

Copper has very high thermal conductivity. BEKA copper tube meander therefore enable high-performance heating and cooling ceilings and are particularly suitable for applications requiring high heating and cooling capacities.

10 mm PE-RT single pipe technology

The 10 mm single pipe technology combines a classic pipe installation with the advantages of a small pipe diameter. The PE-RT pipe can be mounted on drywall panels using thermal conduction profiles or integrated into gypsum board panels at the factory. This technology enables cost-effective and easy-to-install solutions for a wide range of project sizes.

Radiant heating / cooling with capillary tube technology
Capillary tube technology
Copper pipe components for radiant temperature conditioning
Copper pipe technology
10 mm PE-RT single pipe technology
10 mm Single pipe technology

Installation options for heating and cooling ceilings

Icon cooling ceiling / wall heating plaster
Plaster Ceiling

In a plaster ceiling, the water-carrying pipes are located very close to the surface. This makes this option a good choice for large, smooth surfaces.

Icon ceiling heating / wall heating dry construction
Drywall Ceiling

Drywall systems allow for quick and easily planned installation, as well as a high degree of prefabrication.

Icon metal coffered ceiling
Metal Acoustic Ceiling

Metal cassettes combine high-quality architectural design with excellent heat transfer properties.

From the field: Ceiling heating & cooling in a single family home

Radiant heating and cost-effective construction are not contradictory. Visitors can see an example of ceiling heating and cooling in a single-family home, combined with a heat pump and a photovoltaic system, at the model home of Bau- und Ausbau GmbH Zahna in Berlin-Staaken.

Detailed project brochure of the show home with ceiling heating

1 Kwong, Qi Jie: Evaluation of energy conservation potential and complete cost-benefit analysis of the slab-integrated radiant cooling system: A Malaysian case study, Energy and Buildings, Volume 138, 2017, Pages 165-174