Radiator protection: metal, wood, glass, plastic and mdf

09-05-2018

Heating

Very often when installing a heating system, the question arises whether the radiator protection is needed and what functions it performs. In some situations, this type of structure is simply necessary, so we will devote this review to the description of the most common options and tell you what screens are used for. This will allow you to choose the most optimal solution in a given situation and take into account all the pros and cons of each type of product.

What functions do the screens

First of all, it is necessary to understand for what purposes this type of structure is used and what functions it can perform in the first place:

Decorative	It's all quite simple: very often the radiators in the rooms work fine, but their appearance leaves much to be desired. In this case, the radiator lining is able to hide unattractive elements and literally transform the room, the main thing is to choose an option that will harmoniously fit into the environment
Injury protection	Many modern products have a flat surface, which reduces the risk of damage, but many older models have a ribbed surface, which is very dangerous, especially if the floor is slippery and there is a possibility of falls.
Burn Prevention	When heated to temperatures in excess of 70 degrees, there is a danger of getting burned when touching the surface. This is especially true for those who have small children who do not yet understand that the battery is hot and may accidentally burn themselves.
Safety requirements	This applies more to public institutions in which, according to the requirements of regulatory documentation, screens must be present without fail.

Note! With all the above advantages, protective structures have one big disadvantage - they reduce the efficiency of radiators in varying degrees, below we will describe how different types of screens affect the heat transfer.

Older models of steel radiators with plate convectors are especially dangerous in terms of injuries, so they must be hidden behind the screen.

The main types of boxes for the radiator

We will consider the main options that are most popular among buyers due to certain features. You need to choose the one that is best for you.

Metal constructions

Metal lining on radiators are widely used for the following reasons:

Affordable price products makes them available to a wide range of customers.
Constructions are very easy to install and remove. with their own hands, which simplifies the process of servicing radiators in case of need and allows for high-quality cleaning of all items.
Strength - the metal has a high deformation resistance and is able to withstand rather high loads.

Metal products are very strong and durable

The material has a high thermal conductivity and does not interfere with convection processes., therefore, such a radiator cover minimizes the effectiveness of the structures.
Products of this group are easy to clean., they can be simply removed and washed with a hose. You can also repaint the elements if you need to change the color of the room.

Wooden elements

Protection for wood heating radiators has a number of characteristic features, which we will consider:

The material is completely environmentally friendly., therefore does not have a negative impact on human health, such screens can be used in almost any room.
You can choose designs of various shapes and configurations., An additional advantage is that if you wish, you can make an unusual screen on your own.

How to close the radiator with their own hands? Use plywood and jigsaw to create an openwork design, and decorate the surface with natural stones - the resulting product will be truly unique

Attractive appearance allows you to close the radiators in wooden and log houses, this option will organically fit into the environment and close the metal heating elements.
The possibility of giving the design of any color allows from time to time to refresh their appearance.
The wooden box for the radiator allows heat to pass through and reduces the efficiency of the system slightly..

Tip! If you like unusual solutions, then pay attention to rattan products, these flexible rods after steaming acquire high strength and create very interesting designs for the house.

Rattan canvas in a wooden frame - a very attractive solution

Glass constructions

Protection of 8 mm thick tempered glass radiator is an excellent option, which has a number of undoubted advantages:

Wide variety of colors and shades, glass can be both glossy and matte, the material can also be transparent, translucent or generally opaque.

Thickness of 8 mm provides high reliability of material

If desired, a variety of images and patterns can be applied to the surface., Moreover, the application technique is huge: from the usual printing to stained glass, sandblasting and engraving, the appearance of the room depends on the chosen option, the cost also varies within fairly wide limits.

At your request, absolutely any image can be applied to the glass.

High-quality machined edges eliminate injuries and scratches., and the surface can be cleaned with any window cleaner.
Scratch resistant surface, therefore, the design will maintain an excellent appearance over a long period of time.
If you like this option, but the cost is too high, you can choose a more budget solution - acrylic glass, it is much lighter than usual and is a polymer product that has rather high performance characteristics.

Large selection of colors allows you to choose acrylic glass for any environment.

Plastic screens

If you think you can close heating radiators with minimal investment, then plastic may be the best option, but it also has many drawbacks:

When heated, plastic deforms and releases substances harmful to human health into the air.. Therefore, such options are not desirable to install in residential areas.
Elements are very easily deformed.. Moreover, this often occurs under constant exposure to high temperatures, and not as a result of shocks.
Over time, the material turns yellow, the surface is bent and it is impossible to level it..

Plastic products are the most unreliable of all.

Constructions from MDF

Another budget option that has the following features:

Such a casing on a heating radiator tolerates high temperatures well and is not deformed under their influence..
Most often, this material is framed, and inserts can be made of wood, metal etc. This feature allows you to change the inside, thereby changing the appearance of the screen.
The heat transfer rate depends on the type of insert., the more holes there are, the less heat is lost.
Of the minuses worth noting the large weight of the products and the complexity of removing the system, making it difficult to wash radiators.

Conclusion

Protection of the radiator allows you to eliminate its damage, and also allows you to transform a nondescript design and prevent injury to ribbed structures. The video in this article will tell and vividly show important information regarding the topic we have examined.