18mm Total DepthEPS Foil-Faced150mm Pipe Centres12mm PipeFloating InstallationWood / Laminate Floor0.72 m² Per Panel50-Year Guarantee
The ThermRite 18mm Floating Floor UFH Panel is a foil-faced EPS insulation board designed for the installation of water underfloor heating under floating interlocking wood, laminate and engineered timber floors. Pre-routed for 12mm UFH pipe at 150mm centres, the panel is simply laid onto an existing screed or floor deck without fixing — the floating floor is then laid directly over the top. The metallised foil surface improves heat distribution and reduces warm-up time, while the EPS core provides thermal insulation beneath the pipes. At 18mm total depth, it keeps floor height increase to a minimum for retrofit and renovation projects.
18 mm
Total Depth
150 mm
Pipe Centres
12 mm
Pipe Size
0.72 m²
Per Panel
50 yr
Guarantee
ℹ System Note: This panel is designed for use with 12mm pipe in a floating installation — it is not intended for bonded tile or vinyl finishes. For bonded finishes requiring 16mm pipe, see the ThermRite PRO 16mm or 20mm panels. For tile-direct applications with 12mm pipe, see the ThermRite 18mm Solid Floor Panel.
ThermRite Overlay Panel Range — at a Glance
Panel
Core
Pipe
Centres
Surface
Floor Finishes
Method
16mm PRO
EPS 400 kPa
12mm
150mm
Foil 200µm
Tile / Wood / Vinyl / Carpet
Bonded or Floating
18mm Floating ✓
EPS
12mm
150mm
Foil
Wood / Laminate (floating)
Float
20mm PRO
EPS 400 kPa
16mm
150mm
Foil 200µm
Tile / Wood / Vinyl / Carpet
Bonded or Floating
25mm Floating
EPS 0.036 W/mK
16mm
150mm
Unfoiled
Wood / Laminate (floating)
Float
This listing covers the highlighted row. All panels are 1200 × 600mm (0.72 m²).
Key Features & Benefits
Floating Installation — No Adhesive or Fixing Required
The panel is laid directly onto an existing screed or timber floor deck without any adhesive or mechanical fixing. A polythene vapour barrier should be laid beneath the panels on concrete slabs. The interlocking wood or laminate floor is then laid over the panels, holding everything in place. No specialist tools, no curing time, no drying time.
12mm Pipe at 150mm Centres — Compact Pipe System
Pre-routed for 12mm multilayer pipe (PEX-Al-PEX / PERT-Al-PERT) at 150mm centres. The 12mm pipe system offers a smaller bend radius than 16mm pipe, making it well-suited to smaller rooms and complex layouts. The grooves securely retain the pipe without additional clips.
Foil-Faced Surface — Improved Heat Transfer
A metallised aluminium foil bonded to the top surface and into the pipe grooves acts as a radiant heat spreader, distributing warmth evenly across the panel surface and reducing the warm-up time before the floor feels warm underfoot.
EPS Core — Thermal Insulation
The EPS foam core provides thermal resistance beneath the pipes, reducing downward heat loss to the subfloor. For ground-floor installations over concrete slabs, additional ThermRite XPS insulation boards can be laid beneath the panels for further efficiency improvement.
4 Grooves at 150mm — Efficient Room Coverage
Each 1200 × 600mm panel contains 4 pipe grooves at 150mm centres, plus bulb-end returns and 3 straight runs at the panel top for flow and return connections. This layout minimises the number of joins needed across a room and makes pipe routing intuitive.
Suitable for Domestic and Commercial Applications
The floating floor system is appropriate for both residential and light commercial installations — offices, showrooms and commercial spaces where a timber or laminate floor finish is preferred over tiles.
50-Year Guarantee
ThermRite backs its floating floor insulation panels with a 50-year guarantee on the thermal and structural performance of the EPS core.
Technical Specifications
Panel Dimensions & Coverage
Panel Size
1200 × 600mm
Thickness
18mm
Panel Area
0.72 m²
Coverage
14 panels ≈ 10 m²
Construction
Core Material
EPS (expanded polystyrene)
Surface
Metallised aluminium foil — bonded to top surface and into grooves
Lay a polythene vapour barrier over the concrete slab or timber deck (recommended on concrete).
Plan the panel layout to minimise cuts and ensure pipe grooves align across panel joins.
Lay panels without adhesive — butt joints tight, no gaps.
Press 12mm pipe into the pre-routed grooves, starting from the manifold.
Lay the interlocking T&G chipboard, plywood or click-lock flooring at 90° to the pipe direction.
Leave a 10–15mm expansion gap around the perimeter of the room before laying skirting.
ℹ Note: This panel is designed for floating installation only — do not bond to subfloor. The floor finish must be interlocking (click-lock or T&G) to avoid panels shifting. Minimum subfloor flatness SR2 (+/−5mm over 2m).
Frequently Asked Questions
What floor finishes can go over the 18mm floating panel?
This panel is designed for floating interlocking wood, laminate and engineered timber floors — click-lock LVT/SPC, T&G chipboard, and similar. The interlocking floor is laid directly over the panels at 90° to the pipe direction. For tile, vinyl or bonded finishes, use the ThermRite PRO 16mm or 20mm bonded panels instead.
Does the 18mm floating panel need to be glued down?
No — the panel is designed to be laid loose on the subfloor without any adhesive or mechanical fixing. The weight of the floating floor deck and furniture hold it in place. A polythene vapour barrier is recommended under the panels on concrete slabs.
Why does this panel use 12mm pipe rather than 16mm?
The 18mm floating panel is grooved for 12mm pipe, which has a tighter minimum bend radius than 16mm pipe — making it easier to route through smaller rooms and tight corners without exceeding the pipe's minimum bend radius. For 16mm pipe in a floating installation, use the ThermRite PRO 20mm or 25mm panels instead.
Do I need additional insulation under the floating panels?
For ground-floor concrete slab installations, additional sub-insulation is strongly recommended to reduce downward heat loss. ThermRite XPS insulation boards (3–25mm) can be laid beneath the floating panels. For upper floors over heated spaces, the EPS core of the floating panel may be sufficient on its own.
What is the difference between this and the 25mm floating panel?
Both are EPS foil-faced floating panels, but the 18mm panel uses 12mm pipe while the 25mm panel uses 16mm pipe. The 25mm panel also provides more insulation depth. Choose 18mm when height is the primary constraint and 12mm pipe suits the system design; choose 25mm when greater insulation depth is needed or 16mm pipe is already specified.
Related Products
ThermRite PRO 20mm
Dual-purpose 16mm pipe panel — bonded or floating
ThermRite 25mm Floating
25mm EPS floating panel for 16mm pipe
12mm Multilayer UFH Pipe
WRAS-approved pipe compatible with 18mm floating panel
BTU & WATT Calculator
Room Dimensions
Room Type
Living Room
Bedroom
Kitchen
Bathroom
Conservatory
Hallway
Glazing Type
Single Glazed
Double Glazed
Triple Glazed
External Walls
0 Wall
1 Wall
2 Walls
3 Walls
4 Walls
Insulation Level
Poor
Average
Good (New Build)
Required Heating
0
Watts
0
BTUs
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