The UK underfloor heating market is outperforming most of the construction market despite a small decline in 2008, says a new report.
The report 'Underfloor Heating Market UK 2009' produced by AMA estimates the market to be at £79m in 2008 with the domestic and non domestic sectors accounting for an almost equal share.

The UK underfloor heating market accounts for just 5% of the total UK heating market. However, the UK underfloor heating market saw high growth for almost a decade, gaining popularity in the self build and luxury sectors of the house building market in particular.

Towards the end of 2007, the market started to experience the effects of the credit crunch. Particularly affected was the housing market, which led to the non-domestic underfloor heating sector gaining market share. The report says the public sector, particularly health and education, is the dominant user and will sustain the market through the short to medium term.

The report says underfloor heating is still a relatively new market and if it can penetrate the mass domestic market and gain share in the industrial and commercial sectors there is no reason the UK wouldn't see a return to the high levels of growth seen at the start of the decade.

The UFH supply chain is characterised by a large number of suppliers. The market leaders mainly consist of subsidiaries of international heating companies who design, supply and install underfloor heating, for example Uponor and Devi.

The report says the contracting market has developed in recent years, with manufacturers offering training schemes to allow this to continue. The report says most manufacturers and suppliers will eventually end their involvement in installation.

Distribution remains dominated by direct supply. There has been a shift towards distribution via retailers and merchants, particularly in the domestic sector where installation and design is relatively standard.

A number of the major merchants are active in the heating sector but are not heavily involved in distribution in this market, although if there is increased adoption of underfloor heating by national housebuilders there is likely to be a greater supply through builders' merchants.

Tile and flooring specialists are now more involved in the distribution of UFH, with most companies stocking a limited range of products.

AMA Research's report 'Underfloor Heating Market - UK 2009-2013' is available in at www.amaresearch.co.uk or by calling 01242 235724.