Water-based surface cooling for new construction and renovation
Ceiling cooling: Cools rooms pleasantly and evenly
Gentle room cooling via the ceiling – without a visible air conditioner or drafts from cold air
Ceiling cooling utilizes the ceiling as a large cooling surface. Tempered water absorbs excess heat from the room and dissipates it. If the same surface is used for heating in winter, it is often referred to as a climate ceiling or a heating and cooling ceiling.
Why cool via the ceiling?
Pleasant cooling over a large area
High outdoor temperatures, large window areas, and heat sources within the building can cause rooms to heat up considerably in summer. In addition to shading and a good building envelope, active room cooling can therefore be a sensible solution.
A chilled ceiling utilizes a large surface area to evenly regulate the room temperature. The technology remains virtually invisible, while the floor and walls remain largely free for furnishing and interior design.
Ceiling cooling explained simply
How does ceiling cooling work?
In a water-based chilled ceiling, tempered water flows through pipes within the ceiling structure. The cooler ceiling surface absorbs excess heat from the room and dissipates it via the water. Because the cooling takes place over a large area, the room temperature is regulated evenly.
The term ceiling cooling refers to the cooling principle. A cooling ceiling is an activated ceiling surface that absorbs heat. If the same surface can also be used for heating in winter, it is often called a climate ceiling or a heating and cooling ceiling.
Cooling and heating via the ceiling
Reference installation in an old building renovation
During the renovation of a detached house built in 1962, the IDEAL CLASSIC PET 30 integrated into the ceiling and roof slopes. In summer, it provides even cooling without disruptive drafts, and in winter, it offers pleasant warmth. The project demonstrates how ceiling heating and cooling can be successfully implemented in existing buildings using drywall construction. The system is complemented by a heat pump, controlled ventilation, and a photovoltaic system.
The solution from mfh systems:
System IDEAL as a water-based heating and cooling ceiling
The IDEAL system is a water-based system for floors, walls, and ceilings. For ceiling installations, the elements are integrated into a drywall construction. Aluminum heat-conducting plates ensure even distribution of heating and cooling output.
Depending on the project, the same ceiling area can provide heating in winter and cooling in summer. The crucial factor is the coordinated interaction of the building, heat pump, hydraulics, control system, and dew point monitoring.
mfh systems supports specialist partners and planners with technical documentation, system knowledge, and design information.Request technical documentation
The advantages of ceiling cooling
- Uniform cooling across the entire surface
- no drafts from cold air
- Silent operation
- Space-saving integration into the ceiling
- Free floor and wall surfaces
- Heating and cooling are possible via the same system
- Minimal air movement – pleasant for eyes and mucous membranes
- Can be operated particularly efficiently with a suitable heat pump
- Suitable for new construction and renovation; can be retrofitted in existing buildings
- Suitable for residential, office and commercial buildings
When is ceiling cooling a sensible option?
Ceiling cooling with the IDEAL system is particularly suitable when rooms need to be heated quietly, evenly, and without visible cooling units. Whether it's appropriate for a building depends primarily on the cooling load, available ceiling area, and system technology.
Retrofitting existing buildings
During renovations, the system can be integrated into a new drywall ceiling. Existing floor structures are often retained. Sufficient ceiling height, a suitable substrate, and an adequate active ceiling surface are prerequisites.
Be involved in the planning of the new building from the very beginning
In new buildings, the heating and cooling ceiling can be coordinated early on with the heat pump, hydraulics, and other ceiling components. This allows the available surface area to be used effectively for heating and cooling.
Cooling safely with a heat pump
A heat pump or other chiller with a suitable cooling function tempers the water. A dew point monitor prevents the ceiling surface from cooling down too much and condensation from forming.
Heating and cooling via the ceiling in practice
The detached house (built in 1962) underwent extensive renovation in 2015. The ground floor was fitted with underfloor heating using the IDEAL CLASSIC EPS 30 system and...
Questions & Answers
What you should know before planning
Here you will find brief answers to frequently asked questions about System IDEAL ceiling cooling, chilled ceiling and climate ceiling.
Ceiling cooling refers to the principle of regulating the temperature of rooms via an activated ceiling surface. This active surface is often called a cooling ceiling . If it can also be used for heating, it is technically referred to as a heating and cooling ceiling . The term climate ceiling is also used for this.
Tempered water flows through pipes embedded in the ceiling structure. The cooler ceiling surface absorbs heat from the room and transfers it to the chiller via the water. Cooling occurs over a large area without the need for a fan in the room.
This depends on the building's cooling load and the available active ceiling area. Window areas, shading, insulation standard, occupants, lighting, and technical equipment all influence the cooling demand. A reliable assessment therefore requires a cooling load calculation and project-specific design.
Only if the system, the piping, the hydraulics, the heat and cold generator, and the control system are suitable for cooling operation. An existing water-based ceiling heating system cannot therefore automatically be used as a chilled ceiling.
The heat pump must have a suitable cooling function. Depending on the heat pump type and heat source, active or passive cooling is possible. Additionally, the available cooling capacity, hydraulics, flow rates, and controls must be compatible with the building's cooling load.
The ceiling surface temperature must remain above the dew point of the room air. Sensors monitor temperature and humidity. If there is a risk of condensation, the control system adjusts the supply temperature or interrupts the cooling operation.
It depends on the building. A chilled ceiling is particularly suitable for even, quiet, and unobtrusive room temperature control. An air conditioner, on the other hand, can actively dehumidify, react faster, and handle higher peak loads. For high cooling loads or increased dehumidification needs, a combination of both can be advantageous.
Yes, especially if a new drywall ceiling is planned. Beforehand, the room height, substrate, available ceiling area, pipework, and existing building services must be checked. One advantage can be that existing floor coverings (such as parquet, tiles, etc.) and floor structures can be retained.
The cooling capacity depends on the active surface area, the cooling load, the system temperatures, and the humidity. This results in an average reduction of the room temperature by four to six Kelvin. For example, rooms that were previously 28 °C can be cooled down to approximately 22 °C to 24 °C.
The costs depend on the active area, the system design, the substructure, the control system, the heat and cold generator, and the installation effort. Whether the ceiling cooling is planned for a new building or retrofitted into an existing one also influences the costs. Therefore, a reliable estimate is only possible after reviewing the project.
Cooling load calculations, hydraulic design, and integration into building services are carried out by qualified specialist planners and contractors. mfh systems provides support at the system level with technical data, design information, installation documents, and the selection of suitable IDEAL system variants.Request a consultation now.
mfh systems provides system data, assembly recommendations, tender information, and installation documentation. Specialist partners and planners receive support in selecting a suitable system design and classifying its potential applications. Complete building and plant planning remains the responsibility of the relevant specialist parties.
Contact & Advice
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