A zone is any area of a building for which indoor air temperature is controlled by a single thermostat (or other type of temperature controller). A zone can be as small as a single room, or it may be as large as an entire building. Multi-zone systems have the potential to provide two important benefits not available in single-zone systems, namely:
Multi-zone hydronic systems are easy to create, much easier than their forced-air counterparts. Several hardware options exist for implementing zoning in different types of distribution systems. However, before attempting to layout a zoned distribution system, it’s important to evaluate how zoning can best be implemented in the building. The goal is to maximize the benefits of zoning while keeping the system affordable, energy efficient, reliable and as simple as possible at the same time.