Corner Technology 

Heating systems expand and contract - it's the laws of physics that as metals are heated they grow in size. That expansion needs somewhere to go, and it's along the length the greatest expansion is experienced. As a result, ThermaSkirt has developed a super slim non-metallic corner cover to disguise the gaps required to allow for expansion. As they are made of durable uPVC, colour or finish matched to the skirting, not only are they hard to spot, but they are silent when the system expands and contracts. No clicks, groans or sudden creaks as the skirting heats up and cool down - just ask our 9,000 satisfied customers!

During the development of ThermaSkirt® in 2005 several prototype designs were tried, including an all metal cover with mitred corners, which clipped onto heating pipes behind. Several important facts were discovered during testing.

• The heat output was reduced by anything up to 30%, depending on flow rate & temperature, as 2 metal surfaces touching causes a thermal resistance not found when the pipes are integral to the radiating surface. (This was touched on briefly during the Dragons Den programme in September 2008!)
• Thermal Expansion along the length of the skirting from cold to hot could be anything up to ½" and could buckle the skirting or cause gaps and sharp edges to appear. Sudden noises and expansion shock was also and issue.
• Metal external corners could present a hazard to the frail and the young in the even of a fall.

An all aluminium cover was experimented with in early 2006, but whilst a smoother edge was achievable on the external corner, the resale cost was prohibitive, and there was the new problem of noise as the aluminium skirting expanded and contracted beneath the covers.

Finally a successful conclusion was achieved with the development of colour matched uPVC corners and covers. Despite the additional significant investment, the solution simplified installation for the homeowner and plumber, and eliminated any noise problems.

From May 2010 all coloured Urban LT products will utilise the new super-slim corner protective mouldings, and fully flexible top gasket system. Unique to ThermaSkirt, the new corner covers use a new type of manufacturing process to create a cover only 1.1mm thick, and colour matched to the skirting. Being so slim and flexible, LT corner covers are now reduced in size to enable an even smarter, more discrete appearance.

Despite their reduction in dimensions, they will still provide the safe and silent operation experienced by our 9,000 installed users. Protecting the exposed and sharp edges of corners is a key safety feature, and allowing the ThermaSkirt to expand and contract (as all heating products must) without the associated creaks groans and clicks common on other systems, is a must. The new fully flexible top gasket is much simpler to fit and does not require cutting to length – the new covers clip on without the need for trimming the gasket to suit.

Development & Testing

Prototype testing included 4 months continuous monitoring over the winter of 2005/2006


Original concept; clip on alloy cover

Prototype corner connectors 2006

Comparison tests to radiators 2005/6