Marlin Warm Floors

Installation Procedure

COMMERCIAL

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. Click here for more info

RESILIENT

Resilient floor coverings come in sheet or tile form. The most popular are made of vinyl, linoleum, rubber, and PVC. The selection, functionally, must be based on the area where the flooring is to be used. Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries call for sheets
rather than tiles to avoid water seeping through the joints and eventually rotting away the underlayment.

Refer to RFCI (Resilient Floor Covering Institute) general guidelines for material storage and handling, subfloor preparation, approved underlayments, floor covering layout and fitting, adhesive application, seamings, etc. Also, follow ASTM (American Society for
Testing and Materials) specifications. All resilient floor covering manufacturers make
available a manual for installation recommendations and instructions. Click here for more info

WET AREAS

The demand for comfortable and functional bathrooms has increased in the last few years. The sensation of a warm floor under bare feet is very desirable, especially when using ceramic tile and natural stone. STEP Warmfloor™ is a low-voltage heating system and can be installed in showers, tub enclosures, laundries, steam rooms, etc. Choose the proper floor covering, setting materials and grout for each application. Most ceramic tile and cement based grout are not waterproof.

Certain substrate materials used in wet areas may be subjected to deterioration from moisture penetration and freeze/thaw cycles. Thermal and electrical insulation can be, and often are, destroyed by water entering the building sections. To avoid damage to the structure, resulting from inadvertent admission of free moisture, waterproof all horizontal surfaces and wrap into perimeter walls. Test pan, membrane and drainage fittings for leaks before starting the tile work. Click here for more info

BETWEEN JOISTS

This application is used when the existing finished floor needs to be maintained and there is sufficient crawl space under the subfloor.

STEP WARMFLOOR is a low-radiant heating system; heat is transmitted by conduction rather than by radiation. Thereof, it is very important to place insulation snug under the heating elements with no air gaps to force the heat up. Click here for more info

CARPET AND CARPET CUSHION

GUIDELINES FOR INSTALLATION

The carpet, carpet cushion and adhesive shall be conditioned on-site at a minimum temperature of 65oF (18oC) and a relative humidity between 10% and 65% for at least 48 hours before installation. The carpet should be unrolled to allow it to relax and be ventilated. The subfloor surface shall be prepared to make it suitable for carpet. Make the necessary moisture and alkalinity testing. The moisture emission from a concrete slab shall not exceed 3.5 pounds per 1000 square feet in 24 hours and the alkalinity test should not exceed pH 9. Thermal insulation is recommended in the floor. Installing STEP US2 under the entire floor will provide a good insulation / vapor barrier membrane. See Concrete Slab. Click here for more info

TILE

Ceramic tile is an excellent heat absorbent; but can also be very cold when there is no insulation or contact with sunrays. STEP WARMFLOOR will take away the chill from cold floors and give your tiles pleasant warmth. For optimal results, place insulation in the floor. Click here for more info

WOOD

For a wood floor, it is very important to have a low and stable temperature on the whole floor surface. Heating elements should be installed in such a way that they produce even warmth over the entire floor, all the way to the walls, regardless of the temperature setting. The maximum surface temperature on the wood flooring shall be 79oF to 81oF (26oC to 27oC). For energy efficiency, thermal insulation shall be installed under the heating elements, especially under a wood joist construction. Click here for more info

Concrete Slab

Concrete is a mixture of Portland cement, water and aggregates. The ratio of water-to cement is a critical factor in the overall porosity of the slab. While the water/cement ratio of the concrete mix has a direct impact on the final permeability of a finished slab, the curing of the concrete has an important degree of influence upon the ability of a slab to transmit moisture vapor.

There is a significant difference between moisture content and moisture movement in concrete. Moisture (water) is a necessary and constructive constituent of hardened concrete. Movement of moisture in the form of vapor or liquid may transport beneficial chemicals out of the concrete and transport harmful chemicals in, substantially weakening the structure of the concrete substrate.Click here for more info

Warranty information

LIMITED WARRANTY

Electro Plastics’ warranty is valid from date of original purchase, as follows:

20 years for the STEP Elements.
10 years for the STEP Transformers.
1 year for the STEP Controls.

A copy of the STEP Labels shall be delivered to ELECTRO PLASTICS, INC., with a diagram indicating to which branch circuit the system is connected, the location of the element strips, the routing of the wires and their different measurements.

Electro Plastics warrants the products to be free from defects in material or manufacturing and to perform under normal use. For the warranty to be valid, qualified personnel who are familiar with the construction and operation of the system must install the equipment. A
certified electrician has to verify and measure the STEP elements BEFORE they are covered.

Electro Plastics shall not be responsible for any loss or damage that may arise due to:

Non-compliance with installation and/or usage of the STEP elements and accessories as recommended. It shall be Buyer’s duty to read and follow carefully the STEP Installation
Manuals. Technical assistance services, e.g. design and layout are to be used as GUIDELINES ONLY, as each application is specific to local conditions and construction.
Dissatisfaction due to improper over all installation. All materials shall be installed in conformance with the corresponding manufacturer’s instructions and shall conform to all applicable trade practices, local codes and manufacturer's specifications.
Usage of inadequate or non-specified materials with the STEP heating system.
Any and all defects, deficiencies or failures resulting from improper handling of the product;e.g., cuts made to the STEP elements or the wires, removal of the electrical insulation, etc.
Tampering with the STEP heating system; e.g., removing, altering or overloading the circuit breakers, over current protectors, etc.
Installation of merchandise with obvious visible defects.

In order to obtain warranty service, Buyer shall return the unit to the dealer from whom the unit was originally purchased, with a dated sales receipt. The dealer will forward the unit to Electro Plastics. Upon receipt of the defective unit, paperwork and explanation of application, Electro Plastics will inspect and test the unit in order to determine the reason for the alleged failure. If it is determined that the unit was properly installed and failed during normal use, as a result of a manufacturing defect, Electro Plastic will repair or replace the unit at its sole discretion. The warranty period for any replacement unit will fulfill the warranty of the original unit and will not be extended.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL ELECTRO PLASTICS BE LIABLE FOR LABOR OROTHER CHARGES RELATED TO THE INSTALLATION AND USE OF THE STEP HEATING SYSTEM. THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY OF ELECTRO PLASTICS FOR A BREACH OF WARRANTY SHALL BE TO REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE OF, OR AT ITS OPTION TO REPLACE OR REPAIR THE PRODUCT OR PART CONCERNED F.O.B.ITS FACTORY OR SUCH OTHER PLACE AS IT MAY DESIGNATE. THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER LABOR OR REMOVAL OR REINSTALLATION OF THE PRODUCT AND IS VOID ON ANY PRODUCT INSTALLED IMPORPERLY, OR IN AN IMPORPER ENVIRONMENT, OVERLOADED, MISUSED, ABUSED OR ALTERED IN ANY MANNER.

Products which are replaced by Electro Plastics in accordance with the foregoing shall become the property of Electro Plastics and shall be returned to it by the purchaser f.o.b. point of shipment. The maximum liability of this warranty is limited to the replacement or
repair of a defective unit. If a unit is returned and found that no defect exists, or that the user misused the unit, Electro Plastics will inform the user. If the user chooses to have the unit repaired (if possible), labor and shipping charges will apply.