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The surface where the elements are going to be placed must be non-conductive, clean and dry. Insulation is very important for building's comfort level and energy efficiency. It is recommended to make a heat loss calculation and prepare the layout and worksheets. Lay down thermal insulation over the whole floor, e.g. extruded polystyrene (Styrofoam or equivalent) or expanded polystyrene (The Barrier or equivalent). Position the elements on the insulation and cut them to the required length - maximum 50 feet (15 meters) per strip. Stretch and attach the elements onto the insulation; when using pegs avoid penetrating the bus braids located along each side of the element.

Plan to locate the transformers as close as possible to the heating elements. Make the connections according to manufacturer’s specifications. Leave sufficient sag on the wires to avoid tension on the connectors. Route the wires in a tube or raceway and up the wall
high enough so that they will not be covered when the concrete is poured.

Properly cover the elements and the substrate with a 6 mil polyethylene film. Concrete has high compressive strength, but limited tensile strength and has to be reinforced. There are different reinforcing techniques available; when using steel rebar, choose plastic supports and definitely avoid that the rebar touches the elements. Pour with care the concrete according to trade practices. Make sure that the elements stay in position and that there is no tension on the connections

The heating elements used for this application are EP-30-29W. Connect the elements in parallel directly to the fuses in the STEP transformer (maximum 450 W per fuse).

IMPORTANT:
The heating elements must be measured and checked by a certified electrician.

© STEP Warmfloor™
Raceway
up the wall
Plastic pegs

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