Located at the top of the highest mountain in Wales
is the aptly named Snowdon Summit café is probably the most exposed building in
the whole of the UK. As the name suggests it offers walkers and climbers alike
a chance to rest their legs and experience arguably the best view in the
country. The design has taken into consideration a number of key factors that
ensures the building is a functional structure, and does not distract from the
breath-taking views. To do this architect Ray Hole has opted for a number of
objectives to ensure the building met both the expectations of the walking
community; including non reflective windows, the noise and acoustics of the
generators and naturally the heating the building. So the decision was made to
go with a Uponor UFH system, based on its sustainable credentials, and quiet
performance.

Faced with the enviable task of installing the UFH
1085 metres above sea level was Marvel Heating, who can now without question
say they've installed the highest underfloor heating job in the country! The
Multi Layer underfloor system was zoned into four separate loops, connected to
two separate manifolds, set in a screeded floor application to give the desired
70W/m2 output. The project used four separate 'public' wired controls connected
via a UP36 weather compensation device to cope with the sudden changes in
outside temperature. As the most exposed location the UK the Uponor UP36
weather compensation device will get tested to its absolute maximum, having to
cope to some with the UK's most extreme weather changes.

Effectively altering the temperature of the system
in correlation to the outside temperature, the UP36 ensures the system is only
on in periods where the heat is needed, this potentially is a cost effective,
short term solution to reducing carbon emissions. In addition this comes
complete with a set back function that reduces the floor temperature in times
of inactivity, but maintains a residual heat to reduce the reaction time when the
system is in full use. The UP36 also makes the best use of an exercise
function, which runs the system automatically for a minimal period if the pump
has not been operated within a three day time frame. This minimises the
possibility of a pump or valve seizing under long periods of inactivity during
the summer months.