Installing Electric Floor Heating Under Carpet: How to Ensure Safety and Optimum Performance

Floor heating is a modern and affordable way of heating your entire home or just those particular rooms that you may find yourself spending the most time in. It is silent, safe and offers lasting, gentle warmth from the ground up.

Electric floor heating (EFH) is an incredibly versatile heating solution and can be applied under almost any floor covering. However, when it comes to installing these systems under carpet there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure the effective and safe operation of your system.

Important safety measures to take when installing EFH under carpet:

Although most Australian cables comply with AS/NZS 60335Part2.96: Particular requirements for flexible sheet heating elements for room heating, many fail to meet the second approval standard, AS/NZ 60335.2.106:Particular requirements for heated carpets and for heating units for room heating installed under removable floor coverings.  We are not aware of any direct-acting under-carpet heater in Australia that complies with both standards, yet these systems continue to be installed directly under the carpet or underlay despite the increased safety risk. This means the cables are more exposed to damage endured from the surface of the carpet which could lead to an electrical safety risk resulting in carpet burns or worse yet, a house fire.

An alternative solution to ensuring the safety of your system installation is to place the cables into a concrete slab, screed or self-levelling bed to protect them from damage while also ensuring the even distribution of heat throughout the entire floor space. Again, be sure that your system meets the relevant approval standards for embedded cable installations.

A typical installation requires 20-25mm of screed over fixed heating cables or 12mm of self-levelling compound over mats to provide a thermal mass and protection from the nails and smooth edges. The floor heating warms the surrounding screed or levelling bed which then warms the floor covering above.  This heat then radiates from the carpet upwards into the rest of the room.

It is imperative to consult your floor heating supplier and/or builder before pursuing the installation of electric floor heating directly under a carpet floor covering to ensure they adhere to the above mentioned standards. If you are an end-user who is concerned that your floor heating was installed incorrectly under your carpet and are concerned about any risk, please contact us for a free assessments.

Ensuring optimum performance of your floor heating system:

Insulation is highly recommended to prevent heat loss downwards into the ground and should be installed under the floor heating cables or mats to ensure optimum efficiency.

DEVI Heating Systems:

DEVI Heating Systems is Australia’s leading brand of high quality floor heating systems. Offering a full range of high performing, long-lasting floor heating products, DEVI sets the standard for one of the most respected names in electric floor heating and a global leader in heating solutions.

For more information on electric floor heating, please call us on 0408 32 61 68 or  visit www.devi.com.au