With the release of the 1997 Standard Guidelines for the Design and Installation of Residential Radiant Panel Heating Systems, the Radiant Panel Association (RPA) this month takes a big step in regulating a technology that is rapidly gaining acceptance by many in the trade. “There’s been a real need for something like this and I think we’ll see a real good reception of it,” said Larry Drake, RPA’s executive director.
Because radiant panel technology is unfamiliar or new to many in the trade, it is often difficult for an inspector to make a reasonable assessment of an installation. According to Drake, it is the hope of the RPA that the guidelines will assist in furthering the acceptance of radiant systems into the mainstream of the construction industry. “I’ve actually hoped to get things focused enough so the guidelines could be adopted as part of the code or as a step in that direction,” said Drake.