radiator cover box design question

Zach_2

hi all,



I have a one pipe steam system and i am currently building some boxes to cover the radiators so (a) my 2 year doesn't touch the hot rads and (b) my 2 year doesn't crash his cars into the rads spraying (confirmed) lead paint chips everywhere.



i have made the basic frame (see pictures) and I plan on filling in the open spaces with perforated metal.



my main question is what i should do for the top. i know that a solid top will cause some efficiency loss, but is that really a big deal? at this point I am considering two top designs:



1. solid wood top with routed edges

2. open frame (like the sides) with perforated metal.



any opinions or thoughts? thanks!

Steamhead

Check out these two links

http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/158/Radiators/1537/Radiator-Enclosures



http://www.heatinghelp.com/article/158/Radiators/1563/Radiaor-Enclosures-additional-info-by-Frank-Steamhead-Wilsey



These are in the site's Library.

Hap_Hazzard

A little inspiration

http://www.hudsoncabinetrydesign.com/galleries/radiator-cover-galleries



Some of these are better than others, but they all look fairly easy to build.

RobG

Budget

I don't know what your budget is but granite or marble work very well. They absorb the heat and then disperse it slowly, even after the system has shut down.



Rob

Zach_2

anecdotes?

i appreciate the references guides, but i was hoping someone might share their own experiences or anecdotes...

jumper

here's an anecdote

Apartment building. Steel siding was added to east wall. Rooms against this wall went from too cold to too hot. Installed louvered enclosures. Tenants could adjust louvres instead of complain. I believe heating was one pipe.



I like the idea of adding thermal mass but I would not use the radiator for support.

RobG

Louvers

Epoxy the stone slab to the top of the enclosure and use angle brackets to secure the enclosure to the wall. I love the louver idea. The enclosure would really screw with a TRV unless a remote sensing bulb was used on the unvented side of the enclosure. However access would have to be left for TRV adjustment.



Rob