Residential & Commercial Buildings

Radiant cooling from a slab is delivered to a space from the floor or ceiling. This type of cooling is efficient because it is easier to leave ceilings exposed to a room than floors, increasing the effectiveness of thermal mass. Also, greater convective heat exchange occurs through a chilled ceiling as warm air rises, which leads to more air coming in contact with the cooled surface. Chilled slabs, compared to panels, offer more significant thermal mass and therefore can take better advantage of outside daily temperatures swings. Chilled slabs cost less per unit of surface area, and are more integrated with structure.

Residential Buildings

Radiant cooling panels are generally attached to ceilings, but can also be attached to walls. They are usually suspended from the ceiling, but they can also in some cases be directly integrated with continuous dropped ceilings. As opposed to in chilled slabs, controls in panels can more quickly adjust to changes in outdoor temperature. Chilled panels are also better suited to buildings with spaces that have a greater variance in cooling loads. Panels also offer better acoustical dampening than chilled slabs. Ceiling panels are very suitable for retrofits as they can be attached to any ceiling. Chilled ceiling panels can be more easily integrated with ventilation supplied from the ceiling. But, panels tend to cost more per unit of surface area than chilled slabs.