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Airlock A stoppage of the flow in a pump or pipe caused by an air bubble resulting in no, or very little flow of liquid along the pipe.
Angled Valves Angled radiator valves are for controlling the flow of a liquid or air; the fluid leaves at right angles to the direction in which it enters the valve.
Blank Plug A plug fitted to an un-used tapping on a radiator to simply seal and close that opening.
Bleed Valve / Bleed Plug A plug fitted to the tapping at the top of a radiator which will allow you to release air trapped in the system with the use of a bleed key.
BTU (British Thermal Units) Also known as British Thermal Units. It is the unit used to measure which heat output is calculated in. The British thermal unit is a traditional unit of work equal to about 1055 joules. It is the amount of work needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Combi Boiler  A unit which combines both a central heating water heat exchanger and a domestic water heater in one compact, self-contained unit. Unlike a vented heating and hot water system, a combi does not store hot water, rather it heats water as and when required either directly from the cold mains (for the domestic hot water) or within a pressurised 'sealed' central heating loop.
Convector The movement caused within a fluid by the tendency of hotter and therefore less dense material to rise, and colder, denser material to sink under the influence of gravity, which consequently results in transfer of heat.
Central Heating A system for warming a building by heating water or air in one place and circulating it through pipes and radiators or vents.
Pipe Centres The distance between the tappings on the radiator.
Closed System A central heating system which is closed to the external water supply. Most newer systems are designed this way as it helps prevent oxidization from fresh water. Most closed systems will have rust inhibitor and boiler noise silencer added to it.
Delta The measurement in which heat output is measured, whereby the temperature of the room is compared against the internal temperature of the radiator.
Dual Fuel Typically found in towel rails where either an element or the central heating system can be used as the heat source, as both are connected through use of a T-Piece. Radiator/Element would be used in the summertime when the central heating system isn't in use.
Element A probe inserted into a radiator with which it heats the solution in electric radiators.
Fins Metal waves that are fitted to the back of standard panel radiators to help convect the heat.
Flow and Return In a central heating system, the water flows into the radiators on one side and returns to the system to be heated up again out of the other side.
IP Rating Also known as Ingress Protection rating. This is the international standard used to define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies including dirt and moisture.
Lockshield A kind of radiator valve used to balance the system by restricting the flow of water on the return side.
Micro Bore System A kind of narrow tubing with an outside diameter of 10 millimetres or less.
Open System A central heating system which is open to the atmosphere and has a feed and expansion tank.
Pipe Centres The distance between the tappings on the designer radiator.
Pressure The pressure of water running through a central heating system, which is required so the water flows through all designer radiators and fills them to prevent air from trappig in certain places and cold spots in the system.
Pressure Testing Radiators should be high pressure tested to 152.3 PSI (10.5 bar) This enables that whatever the heating application from conventional pressurised domestic to high rise installations or commercial projects the designer radiator can be specified with confidence.
PTFE Tape Sealing tape made from Polytetrafluorethylene, used around the tapping threads to ensure a water tight seal.
Radiator Devices in which a liquid circulates through exposed pipes, notwithstanding that such devices tend to transfer heat mainly by convection and might logically be called convectors.
Rust Inhibitor A solution added to a central heating system or an electric radiator (closed unit) to minimise the prevent any material within from rusting.
Straight Valves Straight radiator valves are for use on radiators with underside connections where the pipes are coming out of the floor.
T-Piece T-shaped tubing connected to an endotracheal tube; used to deliver oxygen therapy to an intubated patient who does not require mechanical ventilation.
Tails / Sleeving Kits The copper pipes that are connected to the designer radiator.
Tappings The thread drilled into the designer radiator where the radiator valves/element will screw into.
Thermostatic Whereby heat is regulated to reach and maintain a desired temperature.
Thermostatic Valves (TRV) Thermostatic radiator valves automatically open and close as necessary to achieve the pre-set room air temperature.
Towel Radiator A towel radiator is designed specifically to warm towels as well as a room, often used in bathrooms or kitchens.
Valve Entry The thread created in the radiator where the valves/element will screw into.
Wall to Pipe Center The distance from the wall to the centre of the tapping.
Watts Electric rating, which can be used to specify the electric current. Heat outputs can also be given in Watts and Kilo Watts. Watts = BTU divided by 3.41.
Warranty The warranty covers any defect that is attributable to a manufacturing, assembly or material fault, further details available on request.