Radiant Piped Heating in Suspended Slab?

[waytsh]

I am designing a suspended slab for a garage floor and the client would like to install radiant heating consisting of 1/2" diameter PEX piping in the slab. I was planning to recommend that they install several inches of topping which can then also be used to put some slope in the floor for drainage and put the piping in that; however, I was wondering if there is anything that precludes the use of this piping directly in the structural portion of the slab? To give a little background my slab is 4.5" thick and I am using a non-composite deck. I am planning to drape my reinforcing for the 5'-7" spans. I appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks

 

[SLTA]

We've done this before - just make sure you design the "real" structural slab for the additional dead load of the topping slab and water/pipes, and you'll be fine.