Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 254 Hydronic Heating: Systems and Applications 2. Be sure to install a minimum of R-5 insulation behind the tubing and against the wall. If installing tubing in an exterior wall, a higher level of insulation is required. Foam insulation boards with reflective facing are recommended. 3. Once the holes are drilled and insulation backing is in place, run the tubing within the partitioned wall or ceiling. Be careful not to kink the tubes, Figure 12-33. 4. Install aluminum plates between the wall and tubing to increase the amount of heat transfer, Figure 12-34. 5. Run the tubing to the manifold station and terminate in the same manner as with radiant floor systems, Figure 12-35. 6. The wall covering or ceiling is now ready to be installed. 12.6 Designing Radiant Heating Systems As discussed in previous chapters, an accurate design of the heating system— whether for the boiler or a terminal device—depends on an accurate heating load calculation of the building. Review Chapter 13, Building Heating Loads and Print Reading, which discusses how to calculate heating loads, before attempt- ing to design a system. For radiant heating systems, a room-by-room heat load TECH TIP Balancing the Radiant Floor System Once the radiant heating system is installed, the final step is to balance the system. To accomplish this, the installer simply adjusts the valves on the manifold station for each heating loop. Pressure gauges or flowmeters need to be installed to accomplish this task. The valves on shorter heating loops will typically need to be closed further, as they will have less resistance and a lower pressure drop. J.J. Gouin/Shutterstock.com Figure 12-33. Once the holes are drilled through the wall or ceiling studs and insulation backing is in place, run the tubing within the partitioned wall or ceiling. Be careful not to kink the tubes.