Frost and snow protection

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Safety Solutions provided by Electric Heating 

Safety Solutions provided by Electric Heating​

Whether it's hotel guests, office workers, or public building visitors, they all deserve safe and snow-free access to the building at times when snow and ice are a factor.​

Electric heating solves the seasonal challenge with energy-efficient systems using electric heating cables to protect construction against snow, ice and frost damage. Electric heating is a sustainable solution for a green and clean future through low energy consumption during the winter period, allowing you to keep your roofs and driveways dry and safe during the winter.​
 
Installation of an ice and snow melting system ensures a steady solution to address cold-weather-related problems.  ​

The heating system for outdoor consists of three main components: 

  • Heating element (cable or mat with suitable specific output)
  • Controller (it can be digital with moisture and temperature sensors or analogue with temperature sensors)
  • Accessories depending on chosen equipment (e.g. clips, fixing tapes or others)

The heating cables or mats that are installed underneath or inside the constructions that should remain free from snow or ice. The system is controlled electronically and equipped with sensors. Once they detect a combination of low temperature and high humidity, the control system activates the electric heating element which warms up the area.​

It is not always necessary to heat the entire surface.

For garages and driveway only the small areas where the vehicles tires are in contact with the surface need to be secured. For driveways with steep angles, a linear drainage system is required to drain the water from snow and ice melting. This channel must also be protected from freezing. 

For stairs, the cables are laid in the form of loops arranged across the steps, maintaining a sufficient distance between the adjacent sections. On new constructions, the installation is laid on the surface of the stairs and overlaid with a concrete layer with a thickness of three to five centimeters. On old stairs, the cables should be placed in grooves and overlaid with concrete, with the addition of plasticizer. Concrete should adhere closely to the entire surface of the cable without the presence of air bubbles. 

Our ice and snow melting solutions can also be used on the rooftops of buildings, eliminating icicles hanging dangerously from roof gutters, or protecting the heating or cooling pipes on the rooftop-installed air handling unit. 

In stadiums the sport fields can be kept snow-free and ready to be used despite winter conditions. In some regions/sports there are regulations to minimize or eliminate the influence of weather conditions on matches. We provide the required knowledge and products and have the experience from installing field heating under natural and artificial grass in many stadiums. 

How we can help you

Efficient snow removal—area is kept free from ice and snow 24/7

Safe traffic and working areas for people

Protecting the buildings against ice formations that will not damage roof constructions later

Avoiding manual work to clean the snow and ice

Avoiding unforeseen repair costs after winter

Reducing risks of roof collapse due to extra snow loads

A maintenance-free system with 20-year full warranty on cables

Safe ground and roof with Danfoss heating cables

Danfoss has designed versatile outdoor solutions for pipe heating, roof and gutter, and ground heating that can be installed on virtually any type of construction including private, business and institutional buildings.

DEVI winter solutions

DEVI winter solutions – Outdoor safety applications and frost protection

DEVI systems are used in all frost protection applications in parking lots, garages, stairs, pavements and other ground-level surfaces, which can be secured against the negative effects of winter.

Documents

Documents
Type Name Language Valid for Updated Download File type
Application guide Danfoss Ground application. Ice & Snow Melting Application manual English Multiple 11 Nov, 2020 7.5 MB .pdf
Application guide Danfoss Pipe Frost Protection English Multiple 17 Feb, 2021 10.4 MB .pdf
Application guide Danfoss Roof application. Frost protection Application manual English Multiple 06 Sep, 2022 14.4 MB .pdf
Application guide Danfoss Sports Field Heating English Multiple 11 Nov, 2020 932.4 KB .pdf

Related products

Electric heating products

Case stories

  • if (isSmallPicture) { The Örebro Castle; } else if (isBigColumns) { The Örebro Castle } else { The Örebro Castle }
    Electric heating systems for the conservation of old castles

    The Örebro Castle is a medieval castle fortification situated in the scenic region of Närke, Sweden. The castle lies on an island by the river Svartån. The oldest part of the castle, a defense tower, was erected in the latter half of the 13th century, but its present appearance, the Örebro Castle, was constructed over the last century. Since 1935, the castle has been a national Swedish monument.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Electric heating system to prevent the condensation in the Woolworths Distribution Centre; } else if (isBigColumns) { Electric heating system to prevent the condensation in the Woolworths Distribution Centre } else { Electric heating system to prevent the condensation in the Woolworths Distribution Centre }
    Electric heating system to prevent the condensation in the Woolworths Distribution Centre

    The Woolworths Distribution Centre was experiencing condensation due to the temperature differences between the cold storage facility and their offices. This resulted in water dripping hazards in the meeting rooms, canteen, and offices.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { The Bjørvika Tunnel, Oslo, Norway; } else if (isBigColumns) { The Bjørvika Tunnel, Oslo, Norway } else { The Bjørvika Tunnel, Oslo, Norway }
    The Bjørvika Tunnel, Oslo, Norway

    Electric heating for the immersed tunnel in Norway.

    The Bjørvika Tunnel is a motorway immersed on European Route E18 in the city center of Oslo. The tunnel links Festning tunnel in Oslo west with Ekeberg tunnel in Oslo east. The completed tunnel has an unbroken length of six kilometers. The Bjørvika Tunnel is the first immersed tunnel in Norway.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Electric heating ensures safety along the asphalt driveway, Ankara, Turkey; } else if (isBigColumns) { Electric heating ensures safety along the asphalt driveway, Ankara, Turkey } else { Electric heating ensures safety along the asphalt driveway, Ankara, Turkey }
    Electric heating ensures safety along the asphalt driveway, Ankara, Turkey

    Protocol Road, the longest asphalt driveway equipped with electric heating, is located in North Ankara, Turkey. The electric heating was installed along this 3.3 km 2-direction (3 lanes each) road connecting Ankara city center and the airport.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Electric heating chosen to protect 18th-century baroque palace in Kyiv; } else if (isBigColumns) { Electric heating chosen to protect 18th-century baroque palace in Kyiv } else { Electric heating chosen to protect 18th-century baroque palace in Kyiv }
    Electric heating chosen to protect 18th-century baroque palace in Kyiv

    Designed by Bartolomeo Rastrelli in the second half of the 18th-century, Mariinskyi Palace is the official ceremonial residence of the President of Ukraine and used for hosting other heads of state. Electric heating was chosen as a sustainable modern technology to protect the historical landmark during its reconstruction.

  • if (isSmallPicture) { Remarkable solution for Remarkables Ski Field Queenstown, New Zealand; } else if (isBigColumns) { Remarkable solution for Remarkables Ski Field Queenstown, New Zealand } else { Remarkable solution for Remarkables Ski Field Queenstown, New Zealand }
    Remarkable solution for Remarkables Ski Field Queenstown, New Zealand

    The Remarkables Ski Field is one of New Zealand's premier ski fields, located at a longitude of 45.05 degrees South, elevation 1,586 m, and situated near the North end of the Remarkables range. The base building has approximately 2,500 m² of heated outdoor patio at a density of 200 W/m². The heating of the patio matches the needs and requirements to prevent the surface accumulation of ice in a modern and highly efficient way.

Learning

Visit our Learning Center

Danfoss offers online training materials for technicians and designers working with electric heating. All e-lessons are available free and on-demand through Danfoss Learning portal. For more information, register in our support section by following the link or find the overview of available relevant trainings in the table below.

Contact us

For further information, please contact us for technical support