Suspended (Plated) Floor

For suspended timber floors, aluminium diffusion plates are fitted between the joists and are nailed in place. With joist centres of 400 mm, a plate 388 mm wide is used, having two channels along its length on 200 mm centres. Other plate sizes and arrangements are available. The plates are fitted with a 300 mm gap from a facing wall and with a l00 mm gap between plates. Underfloor pipe is run in the plates in a snake pattern, with the pipe turning between the joists at one end and through the joist at the other. To provide joists on 400 mm centres and to avoid notching of the structural joists, cross battening of the floor can be used.