What is ProVent?
ProVent’s ribbed underside creates a unique system of air channels. Humidity is extracted through these air channels, allowing the concrete subfloor to dry and keeping it dry.
ProVent consists of a combination of closed-cell low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foam and a membrane of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) which are laminated together by heat. The material comes in rolls.
The size of the air channels and the structure of foam are adjusted to ensure the flexibility and durability of material. A testing showed that ProVent didn’t change its original thickness even after 100 000 simulated footsteps while maintaining the ability to ventilate the underfloor area.
Manufacturing of ProVent requires the use of selected polyethylene resin brands of high quality. This way we ensure the small size of tiny air cells and the fine cell structure everywhere in the foam.
- CONCRETE SUBFLOOR
- ProVent
- PARQUET/LAMINATE FLOOR
- SKIRTING BOARD
- WALL
- AIR EXCHANGE
Technical information
| Thickness | 2.3 mm | 3 mm |
|---|---|---|
| Reduction in walking noise (DIN 4563) | 22% | 22% |
| Impact sound improvment level (ISO 140/8) | 22 db | 22 db |
| Water permeabilty value (sd) (combined effect of ventilation feature and HDPE vapour barrier) |
>100m | >100m |
| Thermal resistance R (m2K/W) | 0.040 | 0.070 |
ProVent best features
Ventilation
ProVent ventilates the subfloor due to the protected MicropumpingTM ventilation system.
The profiled underneath surface forms the system of air channels which ensures the air exchange that eliminates water vapour from the underfloor area. Air channels create an open system between the air in the room and the air under ProVent. Due to the laws of physics the humid air goes out through the channels to be replaced by the dry air.
Humidity in the area between subfloor and flooring material often leads to the formation of mould. Mould presents a huge problem not only to the building itself. The more important issue is the potential health hazard to humans due to possible allergic reactions and respiratory problems. Mould may cause more types of illnesses like immunotoxic and infection.
ProVent is the first low cost system of self-ventilated flooring underlay that eliminates the conditions for development of mould. This way ProVent helps to create a healthy environment in your living area as well as in your office.
Noise insulation
Normal polyethylene foam underlay has got a ratio of impact noise reduction of 17 dB to 19 dB. For example, PEPI 2mm underlay provides an impact noise insulation of 19 dB. ProVent performs quite better with 22 dB. The better acoustic properties come from the special cell structure of the foam base and the profiled surface of underlay.
Full humidity protection
Underfloor ventilation feature improves considerably the level of protection that ProVent provides for the flooring material. When using ProVent you may install the flooring earlier than with conventional underlay. ProVent provides a full moisture protection of flooring and there is no need for any additional vapor barrier.
ProVent fights the humidity at two levels:
1. Vapor protection properties of the material itself. The layer of closed-cell polyethylene foam in combination with HDPE membrane ensures a high ratio of the water vapor resistance.
2. MicropumpingTM ventilation system extracts water vapor from the underfloor. Due to the permanent drying there is no water condensate on the surface of concrete.
Floor heating systems
We recommend to use ProVent with water heating systems under most brands of laminated flooring up to the thickness of 15mm.
ProVent is very useful in summer time when water heated floors switch off and the water in pipes gets cold creating an excess of humidity that leads to water condensate. ProVentTM ventilation system would eliminate it.
Both 2.3mm and 3mm versions are good for the heated floors but especially the 2.3mm ProVent because the thermal resistance of it is less - 0.040 m²K/W or 0.4 togs. The 3mm version has got 0.070 m²K/W or 0.7 togs.
ProVent may be used also with other systems of floor heating if they accept the use of floating floors.