Frequently Asked Questions
IdealMat™
How easy is the system installation?
IdealMat™ heating mats are extremely simple to install. In the case of installation under tiles the heating mats are simply laid directly between the sub-floor and tile. The same materials used for laying tiles are used for bonding the electric radiant heating mats to your sub-floor. In the case of installation under wood or parquet floors, the installer lays the heating mats on the sub-floor and lays the wood directly on the mats in the same manner as a standard wood installation. The IdealMat cannot be nailed into, any nails or staples must be installed in between the ribbons. A certified electrician can complete the connection between the heating mats and the electrical circuit. No time-consuming calculations, labor or additional materials are required.
How efficient are the heating mats under wooden or carpeted floors?
Because IdealMat™ mats are constructed of ultra-thin Crystalline ribbon – 2/1000th on an inch (40-65 microns) – heat is not absorbed by the metal. It is therefore immediately transferred to the floor area and the ribbon temperature remains relatively low at around 82-86ºF / 27-30ºC. This attribute is crucial under wood and carpet installations which can be easily damaged by higher temperatures.
What are the safety measures against electrical shock hazard?
We have placed maximum emphasis safety and on the performance of the electrical resistance of our coating. With our integral grounding our product is a class 2, double insulation product. As such it has been tested and found to comply with UL 1693 and CNL-CSA C22.2 No 217 and L-13. The installation complies with NEC- National Electrical Code -part J. This means that the product has sufficient electrical resistance according to the strictest standards. We also test each unit in the production line for electric withstand of 2500 volts, again- according to the relevant UL & CUL standards for unit inspections in the production line. The electric withstand testing is repeated on each unit after installation using a Megger tester, and the measured resistance value is recorded on the warranty card.
All the applicable standards, codes and practices require the mandatory incorporation of a RCD/GFCI in the electrical circuitry of an electrical under-floor heating system, while leaving the alternative of including a metallic shield around the heating element as an additional safety design consideration for the element manufacturer.
What are the recommended RCD/GFCI characteristics to be used
with the system?
Ensure that the electric circuit that supplies electricity to the underfloor heating system is equipped with a 30 mA ground fault current interrupter (GFCI). For wet areas ensure that the electric circuit that supplies electricity to the heating system is equipped with a 5 mA ground fault current interrupter (RCD/GFCI). Wet areas include: saunas, bathrooms, and kitchen areas within 20 inches... (50 cm) of sinks or any metallic kitchen appliance and utility rooms. Our thermostats include a built-in GFCI.
What’s special about Crystalline ribbons?
The homogeneous, unique structure of Crystalline metallic alloys provides unique mechanical, anti-corrosion, wear resistant, and magnetic properties. It makes Crystalline metallic alloys superior in many ways to the more common metals.
Why is IdealMat™ Crystalline ribbon an excellent heating element for moderate temperature heaters?
Due to crystalline structure, Crystalline ribbons have higher electrical resistance than other solids of the same composition. Together with the physical form of the ribbon, which provides a low mass to surface area ratio, it makes the ribbon a very attractive candidate as a heating element.
Why? The explanation is very simple: energy transfer from any heating element is proportional to its surface area and the temperature difference between the heater and its environment. The larger the surface area, the lower the temperature difference needed to transfer energy from the heater to its environment.
Since the surface area of the ribbon is relatively large (compare it with the surface area of a conventional wire used in many heaters) it is able to efficiently transfer heat to its environment at lower temperatures. In a domestic heating environment, lower temperature means a healthier environment and greater safety and durability.
What’s unique about IdealMat™ Crystalline ribbons?
Ideal Heat is the only company using Crystalline ribbons for heating applications (Covered by Patents in the USA and EU). The IdealMat™ ribbons are more reliable, with higher electrical and corrosion resistance. Their main characteristics are:
- Thickness
- 40-60 mm (micro foot)
- Width
- 3-100 mm 6.56 – 328 mft (milli-foot)
- Corrosion resistance
- High (nickel and chrome based)
- Ductility and flexibility
- High
- Heat transfer area
- High
- Warm-up time to steady state
- Low
Why are IdealMat™ mats of special interest for underfloor heating?
Many features of IdealMat™ heating mats make them attractive for surface heating:
- Efficient heat transfer because of the large surface area and the ultra-thinness of the ribbons that prevents heat absorption by the metal. This enables the mats to be used under wood and carpets.
- They eliminate risk, never heating too much to change the characteristic of the metal.
- Faster and more efficient heating because the mats can be placed directly under the surface in most cases (while most of the other systems need to be embedded in cement due to their high temperature.)
- Low heating inertia because of the low mass of the ribbon. Especially in a more rapidly fluctuating (on/off) mode, you can expect energy savings due to both low heating inertia and efficient heat transfer.
- Possibility of using cheaper/less insulating material because of the lower heating temperature used.
- Very convenient physical shape, allowing fast and easy installation.
- Higher reliability because of the low heating temperature, high mechanical strength and corrosion resistance properties.