Delivering the Warm Homes Plan
ThermaSkirt is the emitter solution that enables housing providers to meet the Warm Homes Plan's ambitious heat pump rollout targets without the cost and trauma of decanting tenants.
Through the "Heat Pump Ready" model, ThermaSkirt can be installed onto existing gas boilers today, allowing them to run at low temperatures to immediately cut heating bills via sustained condensing mode. When the funding and timeline align to upgrade the property to a heat pump, the emitter system is already perfectly sized and fully proven. Zero additional emitter disruption, zero secondary decanting, and immediate value generated from Day 1.
75%Less Disruption
0Tenant Decant Days
PAS 2035Compliant Emitter
Unlocking Heat Pump CoP
The primary barrier to heat pump adoption is installation disruption, largely driven by the inability of standard radiators to perform efficiently at 35–45°C flow temperatures. Because ThermaSkirt replaces the room's perimeter skirting, it boasts incredible emitter surface area without demanding extra wall space.
At these low flow temperatures, ThermaSkirt retains ~48% of its original output, compared to just 30% for a standard panel radiator. Furthermore, because ThermaSkirt doesn't have to be placed specifically under a window, installers can route pipework along the path of least resistance, driving a 75% reduction in whole-house replumbing disruption.
ComplianceCombating Damp, Mould, and Awaab's Law
ThermaSkirt provides a critical dual defense against domestic condensation and mould, directly supporting Awaab's Law and Decent Homes Standard compliance pathways.
First, it actively warms the walls from the lowest perimeter level upwards, eliminating the cold bridging typically found behind furniture where black mould thrives. Second, unlike radiators running at low heat pump temperatures, ThermaSkirt has no flat top surface. This physical design neutralizes the widespread tenant behaviour of draping wet clothes over the heat emitter, which is a massive vector for indoor humidity spikes and subsequent mould growth.
Resident WelfareDurability & Tenant Safety
Heat pump conversions using traditional emitters force housing providers to install excessively large, heavy Type 22 or Type 33 radiators. These project far into the room, reducing usable living space and acting as a blunt-force hazard.
ThermaSkirt operates at safely controlled surface temperatures without creating a protrusion hazard. Constructed from 75% recycled aluminium and coated in a double-epoxy powder finish, it withstands wheelchair and vacuum impacts far better than thin steel radiator covers.
Real World DataWigan Council Deep Retrofit
As part of a deep retrofit pilot scheme, Wigan Council needed to transition occupied housing stock from outdated heating to modern heat pumps alongside external wall insulation and solar PV. ThermaSkirt enabled the heating upgrades to be completed seamlessly, supporting maximum funding impact under the SHDF without forcing tenants out of their homes.
100%Tenant Retention
45°CHeat Pump Flow
ZeroFloor Uplift
PAS2035 Compliant
Comparing Retrofit Heating Options
For landlords managing the transition to low-temperature heat networks, the emitter choice often determines the entire project's viability. The tables below outline how ThermaSkirt directly mitigates the disruption and compliance barriers inherent to oversized radiators and retrofit UFH.
ThermaSkirt vs. Oversized Heat Pump Radiators
| Feature | ThermaSkirt | Oversized Radiators (Type 22/33) |
|---|
| Space Impact | Reclaims wall space; extremely low profile. | Aggressively encroach on small rooms. |
| Replumbing Disruption | Flexible pipe routes along perimeter. | Forced floor lifting to reach window positions. |
| Mould Vector (Clothes Drying) | Eliminates the flat surface that invites clothes drying behaviour. | Provides a drying rack that spikes indoor humidity. |
| Output at 40°C | Retains ~48% output at heat pump temperatures. | Only retains ~30% output, requiring massive oversizing. |
ThermaSkirt vs. Retrofit Underfloor Heating (UFH)
| Feature | ThermaSkirt | Retrofit UFH (Overlay/Screed) |
|---|
| Decant Required | Installed in situ without clearing the room. | Requires full furniture clearance and floor disruption. |
| Installation Speed | 1-2 hour room turnaround. | Multiple days for UFH systems to be laid and dried. |
| Embodied Carbon | 75% recycled aluminium construction. | Heavy cementitious screed and extensive plastic pipe loops. |
| Response Time | Heat felt in minutes. | Takes hours to respond for high-mass UFH. |
