Underfloor heating - electric

Total heating, also called primary heating, means that electric floor heating is used as the only source of heat in a house. Electric floor heating is an effective heating system that can easily heat up your house as the only heating source. The Electric total heating system is designed to cover total heat loss and provide full heating. 

Normally, DEVIflex™ / ECflex heating cables for indoor are placed in the lower part of a reinforced concrete layer with a maximum thickness of 5 cm. 

Underfloor heating relies on the heat produced being unrestricted. If it is restricted, it may cause “hot spots” and, at worst, discolor the floor. Things such as beanbags, mattresses laid directly on the floor may cause problems. Any object that allows air movement underneath it is OK. 

This depends on various factors, such as: 

• What system has been installed and where (under tile or in slab)?
• Type of screed that has been laid?
• Depth of the floor screed? 

Warm-up time could be anything from 30 minutes for an indoor heating mat placed under tiles through to 5 – 7 (or more) hours for an in-slab storage system.  

An easy and clean solution such as a heating mat gives you possibility to leave an old floor without removing it and creating unnecessary mess. The thought of broken up floors and craftsmen running in and out of the house used to be enough for most people to simply drop the idea of having their feet and floors heated. 

Today, there is no need to shiver when thinking about floor heating. You are able to get a warm floor without going through the expenses, dirt, and fuss of having to break up the old floor. 

The heating mat is only between 2.3 mm and 4 mm thick, depending on type. It can therefore easily be fitted directly on to your existing floor, whether it is concrete, timber or even an old tiled or terrazzo surface, without needing to cut up the existing floor construction. 

The heating mat is installed within the thickness of the tile adhesives and, therefore, adds no significant height to the floor level. Consequently, there should be no need to reduce door heights, raise skirting boards, etc. 

The covering has to be flexible or have a flexible additive. Talk to your tiler for advice.

The adhesive bed has to be thick enough to cover the cables; generally 4-5mm is sufficient. 

We recommend that the adhesive used is allowed to dry/cure naturally and to follow manufacturer’s recommendations. Turning the floor system on too early can result in damage to the floor (to quick drying out). 

It is recommended that any screed be allowed to cure naturally, and this would also depend upon its thickness. Generally, the length of time from the screed being laid and the system being ready to switch on is sufficient for it to dry out. 

The required output heat can be anything from 40-150 W/m². It must be based on a detailed calculation of the room heat loss in W/m² from an architect, consulting engineer or your local DEVI / Danfoss office. 

The next step is to determine the heatable floor area heat. This means that the area covered by cupboards, bathtubs, lavatories, etc. has to be deducted from the total room area of a room. In order to ensure a quickly responding heating system, the total calculated output has to be increased by approx. 30%. 

The required output can now be found heat [W/m²] = 1.3 x room x room/heat. 

Locally, the output may be up to 2 times higher, e.g., in front of larger window areas. These rim zones are achieved by reducing the distance between the cables. 

The cost depends on the size of the room, available floor space, and whether the system is to be used as the only heating source or as a warm floor. 

A 5m² bathroom with shower would normally require a 4 m² heating mat and a DEVIreg™ / ECreg thermostat. For dimensioning of total heating requirement contact DEVI /Danfoss Electric Heating partner in your local area. 

Electric floor heating normally costs less in purchasing and installation than any other conventional heating system. The general rule is: the bigger installation area is, the lower the system price per square meter. 
 

DEVI / Danfoss electric floor heating is a safe solution. It is approved for use in houses, apartments and other facilities. 

Safety is ensured by the high quality, reliable cable construction, and installation in accordance to building standards. The heating conductor is insulated first by a layer of insulation, and then surrounded by a screen that is earthed. Finally, it is protected by an outer layer of insulation. 

The heating mat is water resistant, and features a safety screen under the outer sheath, which is connected to the electricity ground connection. Electric Heating system by Danfoss floor heating is manufactured according to the international IEC standards, ensuring that the customer is protected by the authoritative standards. 

In the last few years, there has been an increased focus on magnetic fields. There has been a lot of research within this area, but despite the large number of studies, there is no proof of health risk possibilities. Consequently, it is not possible to set a precise maximum limit to how much we can exposure ourselves to without causing health risks. 

In relation to suggested limits, our daily exposure values are very low. 

The table below shows measurements of the strength of magnetic fields in both electric heating cables in floor and other frequently used electric appliances. 

As the table shows, the strength of the magnetic field around the heating cable is at the same level or lower as other electric appliances. 

There are number of reasons why this could happen: 

• Check that you have a supply (voltage) to the thermostat.
• Check to make sure the thermostat is operating.
• Check the settings on the thermostat.
• Check the continuity and resistance of the mat.

These checks should be carried out by a qualified electrician

Yes, we recommend professional installers to help you find any fault and repair it. Contact us and we’ll appoint you to your nearest installer.