Designing panel (ceiling, wall) heating/cooling systems

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Product InstalSystem 5
Type of article DESIGNING LESSON
Source for translation 2022-03-22


Scope of lesson

This article presents the manner of designing panel systems where prefabricated ceiling and wall panels are used for the purpose of heating or cooling.

Modules and program configuration

  • InstalSystem 5 package containing the module:
    • Panel systems

Project file

The project file used in this lesson: Installation with panels (ceiling and wall) used for heating or cooling.

Inital state

A design that includes the structure of the building (storeys, rooms) along with storey plan. The values of design heat load of rooms are defined for heating and cooling.

Steps to perform

Loading catalogues and setting default design data

General data window

  1. Project scope tab - define design scope: Heating systems/Cooling systems.
  2. Catalogues tab – load catalogues of products required in the project.
  3. Thermal systems/Sources tab – verify parameters: Default source use and supply temperature (θs,H/ θs,C rad).
  4. Thermal systems/Distribution system/Virtual connections of radiant systems tab - select Allow system with no manifolds.
  5. Thermal systems/Distribution system/Pipes and insulation - default types and data tab – append default pipe and insulation type, verify remaining data.
  6. Storeys management tab – verify and append basic parameters:
    • Storey height
    • Default distance between floor and pipe-runs for distributing medium to the panel system (ΔHpipe-run,pan.)
    • Default distance between floor and pipe-runs for connecting panels in series (ΔHpipe-run,pan. ser. )
    • Default distance between floor and suspension of suspended ceiling structure integrated with panels (Thickness of false ceiling)
  7. Radiant systems/Panels tab – append default types and sizes of ceiling/wall panels.

In the case of panels connected in series, the limit values of temperature difference apply to the cooling down of a single panel, but this is an average value (in the heating mode the first panel will have the greatest deltaT, and the last one will have the lowest, but the average of these values will fall within the set range).


For more information, see: General data

Editing the system - ceiling and wall panels

Automatic arrangement of ceiling panels

The software is provided with a tool - Ceiling panels zone - that allows the entire room or its zones to be automatically filled with suspended ceiling panels, respecting the desired distance from the edges of the zones and the distance between panels.

  1. Select the Rad.-ceilings editing scope.
  2. From the Main tools bar, Radiant group, pick the Ceiling panels zone and insert it Strefa paneli.png:
    • over the entire room using the Zone of ceiling panels (auto) option
    • over its fragment / zone, using the Zone of ceiling panels (manual) icon and marking all corners of the zone one by one.
  3. Verify and, if necessary, adjust the indication of base edge of the zone. The base edge is displayed when the zone is marked (by clicking its label Strefa paneli.png in the geometric centre of the zone) and indicated by perpendicular XY axes and hot point Hot point.png. The base edge indication can be changed by moving the hot point Hot point.png with the mouse to another edge of the zone.
  4. Verify the zone data which will be used in arranging the panels in the Data table window. In particular:
    • Size - for the (size) variant the software will determine the size of the panels taking into account other zone data. It is possible to specify the size of the panel by selecting from a list of available catalogue variants.
    • Arrange panels with offset - has an effect on the arrangement of panels in the zone. In the auto mode (field with calculator icon) the value is taken from the settings in the General data window, section Panels. When the field is checked laying of panels in every even row starts with the panel specified in the Size of first panel in even rows field.
    • Size of first panel in even rows - here the size of the Ceiling panel can be selected from among those available in the catalogue loaded. This field is displayed in the Data table window only when the Arrange panels with offset field is checked.
    • Distance (in X axis) from edge of the zone / Distance (in Y axis) from edge of the zone - for the (size) variant the software applies the manufacturer's guidelines. It is possible to manually specify the value.
    • Distance in X axis / Distance in Y axis - distance between panels; for the (size) variant the software applies the manufacturer's guidelines. It is possible to manually specify the value.
    • Direction of arrangement in relation to the base edge: parallel or perpendicularly
    • Centered in Y axis / Centered in X axis - panel lengths are quantified to match the available catalogue variants of the given panel manufacturer. Panels can be arranged with the values from fields: Distance (in X axis) from edge of the zone / Distance (in Y axis) from edge of the zone strictly preserved or be additionally centered.
  5. Execute the Arrange the panels operation by right-clicking the zone label Strefa paneli.png, followed by left-clicking the operation name.
  6. Depending on the correctness of the effect obtained, adjust the shape of the zone, the base edge indication and the zone data, finally repeat the Arrange the panels command.
  7. If necessary, it is possible to further manually adjust the arrangement of the panels - moving, deleting redundant panels or those whose position interferes with structural components, changing the type, size, etc., according to the editing rules outlined in the next section.

    ATTENTION! Repeating the Arrange the panels command will result in the changes being lost - Panels within the zone will be deleted and their arrangement will be re-generated.


Inserting and graphic editing of ceiling panels

  1. Select editing scope Rad.-ceilings.
  2. Insert a panel using the Ceiling panel icon available in the ribbon of the Radiant group.
  3. Adjust horizontal orientation and size of panel.
  4. Insert subsequent panels and adjust arrangement thereof to previously inserted panels using the AUTO and ORTO modes and the Copy/Paste function.
  5. Optimize the relative positions of connection points for the series connections between the panels using a combination of the following tools: Rotate and Flip horizontal, Flip vertical.
  6. Connect the individual panels in series using the Connect in series function. After selecting Connect in series function, left click the subsequent panels to be connected and complete the connection by right clicking.

Inserting and graphic editing of wall panels

  1. Select editing scope Rad.-floors,walls.
  2. Insert a panel using the Wall panel icon available in the ribbon of the Radiant group.
    2.Wall panel icon

  3. Insert subsequent panels and adjust their orientation in relation to previous panels using the AUTO and ORTO modes and the Copy/Paste function.
    For more information, see: Basic components of graphic editing environment
  4. Optimize the relative positions of connection points for the series connections between the panels using a combination of the following tools: Rotate and Flip horizontal, Flip vertical.
  5. Connect the individual panels in series using the Connect in series function. After selecting Connect in series function, left click the subsequent panels to be connected and complete the connection by right clicking.

Editing of wall panels data

For thermal calculations according to EN 1264:

  1. Verify the temperature on the other side of the partition on which the wall panel is located.
    3. Temperature on other side

  2. Verify the partition definitions on which the wall panel is located.
    4. Heating wall build-up

Preliminary calculations - diagnostics of heat demand coverage in room

  1. Make calculations for the radiant heating/cooling scope by selecting the Suz-rh-cal-op.png icon in the Calculations group.
  2. Verify room heat demand coverage in:
    • Diagnostics window by viewing the list of warnings
    • Results window in List of rooms - heating/List of rooms - cooling tabs
    • the hint displayed after positioning the cursor in the panel area

Data correction to adjust the calculated capacity to the required output

  1. Adjust data and system parameters:
    • supply temperature in general data of the source (θs,H/θs,C rad)
    • required temperature drop of the medium in the panel/set of panels connected in series (Δθreq,H).
      3. . Correction of temperature drop of medium in panel/set of panels connected in series (Δθwym,H)

    • type, size and number of panels in the system.
  2. Recalculate the project – verify the effect of changes made on the attained heating output.

Editing the system - appending the drawings with a medium distribution system

  1. When heat demand coverage results are satisfactory, insert the remaining system components (source, pipe-runs, fittings) and connect them to the panel system.
    For more information, see: Installation edit

Completing the calculations including system balancing and bill of materials

  1. Make calculations for the radiant heating/cooling scope by selecting the Suz-rh-cal-op.png icon in the Calculations group.
  2. Verify diagnostics and calculation results, in particular:
    • Required parameters of the source - Results window – Results Heating/General results heating tab (likewise for cooling function)
    • Flow balancing of the system – Results window – Circuits/Heating/cooling circuits tab
    • Bill of materials - Results window – Bill of materials - heating / cooling tab
      For more information, see: Calculations and diagnostics

Verifying visually the correctness of system arrangement in 3D view

  1. Open the 3D view window and verify system arrangement, modify component elevations and positions of connection points, if necessary. After making corrections recalculate the project.
    For more information, see: Verification of the correctness of installation structure
    4. 3D view

Preparing drawings for printing/exporting

  1. Verify the drawing style of the panel in 2D and 3D views and the detail of information displayed in the label. The configuration can be accessed in the General data window.
  2. Insert and configure the labels of other system components (source, pipe-runs, fittings).
    For more information, see: Preparation of drawings for export/printing


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