⚠️ Important DITRA HEAT Installation Points ⚠️
PLANNING
- ⚠️ DITRA-HEAT is not for exterior applications.
- ⚠️ DITRA-HEAT is not designed as primary heat source. For more information on using DITRA-HEAT as primary heat, click here.
- For access to the DITRA-HEAT Online Estimator, click here.
- Select DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO membrane according to the size of the area to be tiled. Use DUO for assemblies over concrete subfloors. Though not required, it is recommended as it will improve the performance of the floor by preventing the concrete for competing for the heat.
- The maximum level of thermal insulation under the subfloor to which DITRA-HEAT can be installed is R20 (or Rsi 3.5).
- For the applicable heating cable spacing for your application, see the Spacing Details section in the Warnings section (pages 20-21).
- For buffer zone planning see the Warnings section (page 20-21) under Spacing Details.
- When measuring the area to be heated, be sure to measure accurately. The heating cable CANNOT be cut to fit. See the Spacing Details section in the Warnings section (pages 20-21).
- Multiple DITRA-HEAT-E-HK heating cables can be connected and controlled by a single DITRA-HEAT-E thermostat, if the total current is less than 15 amps. The junction box must be sized according to the electrical code effective in your region, and must consider the possible use of pigtails and the space occupied by the back part of the thermostat.
- Multiple DITRA-HEAT-E-HK heating cables over 15 amps cannot be connected to a single DITRA-HEAT-E thermostat. Additional DITRA-HEAT-E thermostats must be used, or a DITRA-HEAT-E thermostat may be combined with the DITRA-HEAT-E-RR power modules.
- Acceptance of electric floor warming in a shower and the DH-SH detail must be verified by the local inspector or authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
PREPARATION
- The substrate must be clean, even, and load bearing. Any leveling of the subfloor must be done prior to installing DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO.
- For peel and stick membranes, in particular when installing DITRA-HEAT-DUO-PS, it is highly recommended to layout and cut the membrane sections with the release film intact. This will result in fewer mistakes requiring repositioning of the membrane with the pressure sensitive adhesive exposed.
- For wood substrates, verify that panels are properly fastened. Tightly butted and/or tented plywood or OSB seams must be addressed prior to installing DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO. If a plywood/OSB underlayment is to be installed, follow the Wood Underlayment guidelines on page 17.
- For vinyl substrates, ensure that the structure beneath is sound and adequate and that the vinyl is well adhered. Remove any wax and clean the surface. For vinyl over wood structures, nail off floor with ring shank flooring nails every 4" (102 mm) o.c. - fasteners must pass through entire thickness of assembly with minimal penetration into joists.
- For concrete substrates, remove any waxy or oily films and curing compounds (if present) by mechanical scarification. When bonding DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO to particularly dry, porous concrete, the slab should be moistened to saturate the concrete and help prevent premature drying or skinning of the bond coat. Excess or standing surface water must be removed prior to installation.
- For gypsum substrates, residual moisture in gypsum screed must be 2.0% or less before installing DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO. Follow gypsum manufacturer's directions for additional substrate preparation.
- For optimal performance with difficult to bond to substrates, use Schluter®-PRIMER-U or other primer suitable for the application.
WARNINGS and PLANNING
GENERAL DETAILS
- Before installing and operating this product, the user and/or installer must read, understand, and follow these instructions and keep them handy for future reference. If you have a question, please contact Customer Service by phone 800-472-4588 (USA) or 800-667-8746 (Canada) or from our website at www.schluter.com.
- ⚠️ If this installation handbook and these instructions are not followed, the warranty will be considered null and void and the manufacturer deems no further responsibility for this product.
- ⚠️ The following instructions must be adhered to in order to avoid personal injuries or property damages, including serious injuries and potentially fatal electric shocks or fire.
- ⚠️ This product must be installed by a qualified person in accordance with this installation handbook and with the Canadian Electrical Code Part I (Canada) or the National Electrical Code (U.S.) as applicable. All electric connections must be made by a qualified person, according to the electrical and building codes effective in your region.
ELECTRICAL DETAILS
- ⚠️ NEVER install a cable designed for a 120 V power source on a 240/208 V power source.
- A dedicated circuit is recommended for each application, but a circuit supplying one or more fixed room heaters may be used, as long as its rating does not exceed 30 amperes, that the total current from all branch circuits does not exceed 80% of the circuit breaker limit, and the branch circuit cable reaching the thermostat junction box is of the same conductor size as the main circuit.
- ⚠️ De-energize all power circuits before installation and servicing.
- A thermostat control device (i.e., thermostat or power module) is required for each heating cable system installation.
- A Class A (5 mA) ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is required for each circuit. The Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT-E thermostats and power modules include a GFCI, thus a GFCI circuit breaker is not required when using these thermostats.
- In the USA, according to Rule 424.38 (A) of the National Electrical Code 2020, heating cables may extend beyond the room in which they originate. In previous editions of the National Electrical Code (NEC), extending heating cables beyond the room was not permitted. Please verify with your local inspector to determine which edition of the NEC is being enforced by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). Also, please verify approval of your cable layout prior to setting tile. Additionally, installations of heating cables in dressing rooms or large walk-in closets are subject to approval by the local AHu.
- Mark the circuit breaker in the electrical panel that is connected to the DITRA-HEAT floor warming system using the identification sticker provided. Additional stickers provided may be placed on the electrical panel door.
- Do not connect the DITRA-HEAT-E thermostats to AFCI circuit breakers. An AFCI circuit breaker may cause the thermostat to trip for other than safety reasons.
- The heating cable ground braid must be bonded to ground.
- Threading the cold lead from the floor to the thermostat junction box needs to be done within an approved raceway or conduit. The conduit is required to begin at no greater than 2 inches (50 mm) from the floor. The opening in the horizontal stud at the base of the wall, which provides access for the cold lead to the inside of the wall, shall be covered by a steel plate to protect the cold lead from any possible future damages from nails or screws.
- The temperature sensors need to be threaded either inside the same conduit as the cold lead, or in a separate conduit.
SPACING DETAILS
- It is helpful to plan the location of a buffer zone, as it is not possible to predict where the heating cable will end. The buffer zone is an area where heating is not essential and heating cable installation is not planned (e.g., behind a toilet or adjacent to a door opening). This area allows for placement of excess heating cable. Heating cables may also be installed 6" (150 mm) from the wall to create a buffer zone.
- Cable spacing shall be limited to a repeating 3 stud (3.6" or 9.1 cm) spacing, or a continuously alternating 3 stud (3.6" or 9.1 cm) and 2 stud (2.4" or 6.1 cm) spacing (i.e.: 3-2-3-2-3-2 and so on) between cable runs. A repeating 2 stud spacing or narrower spacing shall not be used as it may cause overheating and cable malfunction. A wider spacing (e.g., 4 studs or more) may not provide sufficient power to warm the floor to the desired temperature and may cause inconsistent floor surface temperatures. Installer should discuss heating cable spacing with the homeowner before proceeding with the cable installation. Exception: a continuous 2 stud spacing is recommended when connecting a 240 V heating cable to a 208 V power supply. See page 35 for more information.
SPACING REQUIREMENTS from FIXED ELEMENTS: | ||
Fixed elements | Inches | |
Walls, partitions, and fixed cabinets* | 2" | |
Edge of plumbing drains | 4" | |
Forced air heating vents | 4" | |
Heat sources (baseboard heaters, fireplaces, etc.) | 8" | |
Centerline of toilet drains | 7" | |
Linear drain (channel body edges) | 1" | |
* From toe-kick recess
- For alternate floor coverings (other than ceramic, porcelain, and stone tiles), please refer to the section entitled, "Alternate Floor Coverings" on page 18 for cable spacing details.
- Minimum spacing from walls, partitions, and fixed cabinets is 2" (50 mm).
- Minimum spacing from other heat sources (baseboard heaters and other fixed heating devices, fireplaces, etc.) is 8" (200 mm).
- Minimum spacing from any forced air heating vents is 4" (100 mm).
- Minimum spacing from the centerline of a toilet drain is 7" (180 mm). Note: When installing a toilet and/or toilet flange, be aware of the bolt locations and use care to not damage the heating cable.
- The minimum spacing from the edge of any drain pipe must be 4" (100 mm). With a linear drain, the cable must be 4" (100 mm) from the actual drain pipe and a minimum of 1" (25 mm) from the channel body edges.
- ⚠️ NEVER install the heating cable under vanities with no air space beneath, bathtub platforms, free standing bathtubs with no air space beneath, kitchen cabinets and islands, appliances, or any other fixtures, or in small storage or clothing closets where various items may be kept on the floor. Excessive heat will build up in these confined spaces and may cause cable overheating.
- ⚠️ Do not run the heating section of the heating cable set under or through a wall, partition, or through a floor.
- ⚠️ Do not install the heating cable on a wall (e.g., shower wall, inside of a built-in bathtub, etc.).
- ⚠️ Heating cables may not touch, cross over, or overlap one another or itself.
- In the USA, applying the DITRA-HEAT heating cable on a shower bench requires the prior approval of the inspector or your local authority having jurisdiction.
- Install the two thermostat floor temperature sensors within the tile assembly. Two floor temperature sensors are provided with the DITRA-HEAT-E-HK heating cables. Install the tip of each temperature sensor in the middle of the three stud spacing cable runs, no matter if the standard 3 stud cable spacing or the continuously alternating 3-2 stud cable spacing option has been used, unless an alternative floor covering will be installed (see page 18-19 for details). Connect only one to the thermostat and the other is a spare in case one is broken during overall installation.
INSTALLATION DETAILS
- Heating cable testing is required while the heating cable is on the spool and at two subsequent steps during installation to ensure cable quality and for warranty purposes.
- Visually check the heating cable, cold lead, hot/cold splice, and end splice for any breaks or damage. If a break or damage is detected during the heating cable testing while the heating cable is on the spool, return the cable to the original place of purchase. Do not proceed with heating cable installation into the DITRA-HEAT or DITRA-HEAT-DUO matting or with the tile covering installation.
- ⚠️ NEVER energize the cable while it is on the spool. This would lead to overheating that could damage the cable.
- ⚠️ NEVER use the heating cable for any purpose other than for indoor floor warming as explained in this Handbook.
- ⚠️ Heating cables shall not be altered in the field. If the installer or the user modifies or accidentally damages the unit, they will be held responsible for any resulting damage, and the warranty and the product certification will be void.
- ⚠️ NEVER cut or modify the heating cable in any way. This would change the cable resistance, will cause damage to the cable, and could cause cable overheating.
- Removing the electrical rating label permanently will void the warranty.
- For installations requiring a cold lead trim or extension, the electrical rating label shall be fixed to the cold lead and visible at the termination junction box.
- Removing the electrical rating label permanently will void the warranty.
- The minimum temperature at which the cable should be installed is 32° F (0° C).
- ⚠️ The heating section of the cable and the factory splice (i.e., black plastic junction between the cold lead and gray heating cable) must be entirely installed under the floor covering, and into a mortar or thin-set layer, as shown in the heating cable installation instructions. Do not install it in a wall, under baseboard molding, or anywhere else, as this may cause overheating and system failure.
- Avoid folding the heating cable on itself, a radius of curvature less than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) could damage its sheath.
- The minimum installed bending radius of the heating cable is 0.5 inches (12.7 mm).
- The type and thickness of floor covering materials used with this product must not exceed a thermal insulation "R" value of 1. Example "R" Values: Ceramic/Mosaic Tile 0.25" thick = RO.15; Natural Stone 1" thick = R0.38-0.114; Porcelain Tile 0.25" thick = R0.024; Vinyl/LVT/LVP/WPC/SPC 0.25" thick = R0.4; Engineered Wood (glued) 0.5" thick = R0.25; Engineered Wood (floating) 0.5" thick + 1/8" padding = R0.5; Laminate Flooring 0.38" thick + 1/8" padding = R0.62.
EXTENDING THE CABLE COLD LEAD
The cold lead is made up of two 14 AWG conductors with a copper braided shield, that is used as the grounding conductor. The extension must be made with building wire that is suitable for this application and complies with applicable building and electrical codes. The cold lead itself is not made of building wire and therefore cannot pass through studs unless run through a conduit. Extension of the cold lead requires the addition of a "code compliant" junction box that must be accessible at all times. The maximum length for extending the cold lead is dependent upon the gauge and rating of the extension cable used.
Consult with a qualified person to discuss the needs of your specific application.
EXTENDING THE FLOOR TEMPERATURE SENSOR
The floor temperature sensor can be extended using a 22 AWG, 2-wire cable. The sensor wire itself is not made of building wire and therefore cannot pass through studs unless run through a conduit. We recommend twisting and soldering the wires and using electrical tape to insulate them. Schluter Systems does not limit the length of the extension; however, the longer the extension, the greater the possibility that the quality of the signal (and resulting temperature sensing) will be skewed. Regardless of the method used, the resulting splice must comply with applicable building and electrical codes. A loose connection between the extension and the sensor will result in a false reading or an error code.
SENSOR PLACEMENT TIPS
| |
 | |
|
