SNUG MAT 160w/m2, 200w/m2 Installation Guide

SNUG MAT 160w/m2, 200w/m2

Product Information

The product is a heating mat or cable that can be installed under concrete or wooden floors to provide underfloor heating. The installation process requires floor preparation, including sealing the concrete floor and ensuring the wooden floor is suitable for heating. The product comes with Snug Thermal Boards that need to be installed correctly to avoid cable damage. There are 12 rules to follow to correctly install the Snug Mat, and it is recommended to set the controller to Air and floor mode to turn on the floor limiter. Any compound placed on top or underneath the heating element must be flexible, such as latex, acrylic, or polymer-based adhesives. The product has been tested in accordance with National and International Standards for safety and complies with rules regarding EMC and ICNRIP guidelines and regulations with regards to EMF. The heating elements are produced with three layers of electrical insulation and an earth braid.

Product Usage Instructions

Before installation, ensure that the floor is fully sealed for concrete and that the wooden floor is suitable for heating. When laying on wooden flooring, use marine ply or thermal construction boards if the wood is untreated. Follow the 12 rules to correctly install the Snug Mat, such as protecting the heating element with an RCD, not cutting the heating element wire, and not leaving excess heating mats rolled up under units or fixtures. Wait at least 2 weeks after fitting the floor finish before switching the system on. Set the controller to Air and floor mode to turn on the floor limiter. Make sure the sensor tube has a gradual bend when it enters floor level, and joints linking the cold tail to the heating mat must be located on the floor. Use flexible compounds such as latex, acrylic, or polymer-based adhesives on top or underneath the heating element. The final mains electrical connection should be made by a qualified electrician.

FAQ

• How Safe are Snug Mats and Snug Cables?
  The product has been tested in accordance with National and International Standards for safety and complies with rules regarding EMC and ICNRIP guidelines and regulations with regards to EMF. The heating elements are produced with three layers of electrical insulation and an earth braid, and electromagnetic emissions are virtually eliminated, making it safe for children to play on the heated floor. Perfectly safe! All mats and cables have been tested in accordance to National and International Standards for safety. Cables and mats comply with rules regarding the EMC (Electro Magnetic Compatibility) and fulfil the ICNRIP guidelines and regulations with regards to EMF (Electro Magnetic Fields). Heating elements are produced with THREE layers of electrical insulation and an earth braid, aligned to perfect industry specification. Because of the dual wire construction of the heating element there is only one cold lead to connect and electromagnetic emissions are virtually eliminated making it safe for children to play on the heated floor.

• Is it necessary for an expert to install Snug Mats and Snug Cables?
  Installation can be done by either the DIY enthusiast or approved installation contractor. The electrical supply must be protected by a correctly sized RCD, and it is recommended that the final mains electrical connection be made by a qualified electrician.

• What is the temperature of the wood / tile surface?
  The user manual does not provide information on the temperature of the wood/tile surface. It is recommended to refer to the product specifications or contact the manufacturer for more information.  This is between 25-27°C in accordance with the BSI guidelines for comfort heating. BSI Code of Practice CP: 1018 – Electric Floor Warming Systems specifies a maximum floor surface temperature of 27°C on wood and laminate.

• Can the Snug FME Mat be laid anywhere?
  When using the Snug FME underneath woods, care should be taken not to place any heating beneath areas where a thermal block will be placed on the top floor covering. Furniture without air gaps beneath them or large beanbags prevent the heat from escaping and can cause the system to overheat. Set the controller to Air and floor mode to turn on the floor limiter. On carpets please make sure that no furniture with spikes are placed where the floor heating is.

• Can I connect more than one mat to my controller?
  Yes, you can combine more than one size of Snug Mat or more than one reel of Snug Cable to cover the total floor space as long as the system doesn’t exceed the controller rating (please refer to your controller manual). Each Snug Mat and reel of Snug Cable comes with a 4m cold lead wire and with multiple circuits the leads must be connected in electrically in parallel.

Floor Preparation

Before laying any type of heating mat or cable all floors must be prepared to ensure correct installation can take place.

Concrete Floors
When installing directly onto a concrete floor, ensure the floor is fully sealed by using a primer and removing all sharp objects within the floor that could damage the cable during the laying process or once laid.

Wooden Floors
When laying on wooden flooring ensure that the wood is suitable for heating. Unheated-treated wood i.e. chipboard is not suitable for underfloor heating. Marine ply or thermal construction boards must be laid if this is the case.

Installation of Snug Thermal Boards

Thermal construction boards can be laid onto an even, level floor in two ways. Firstly, it can be secured using a non-solvent based flexible tile adhesive. Apply the bed of flexible adhesive to the floor using a notched trowel. Snug Boards should be bedded thoroughly, ensuring that no voids remain beneath them. Lay the boards tightly together in a chequer plate fashion, making sure there are no gaps between the boards. Once the flexible adhesive has dried tape the joints with fibreglass reinforcing scrim tape. Secondly the Snug boards can be secured with screws and washers, fixing should be 30cm centres. The boards are to be laid in a chequer plate fashion. 6mm boards should not be mechanically fixed. It is important that there are no electrical cables or pipework under the floors that could be damaged by the screw fixings. The correct screw length should be used.

12 Rules to Correctly Install Your Snug Mat

1. Never cut the heating element wire.
2. The heating element must always be protected by an RCD.
3. Never leave excess heating mats rolled up under units or fixtures.
4. Never run the connection leads underneath or across the heating element wires.
5. Never cross or overlap the heating wires.
6. Do not switch the system on for at least 2 weeks after fitting the floor finish; you need to wait for the adhesive / latex / grout to dry naturally.
7. Do not cut or prepare tiles on top of the fitted heating system. When other work is going on in the room, avoid damage by keeping the heating covered until you are ready for the final floor finish to be put down.
8. The cables should never be spaced at intervals closer than 5cm or further than 10cm apart.
9. Only a qualified electrician should connect the heating element to the mains.
10. Install the floor sensor for your thermostat in its tube when fitting the system.
11. When using the Snug Mat FME under wood, do not place any heating beneath areas where a thermal block will be placed on the top floor covering. E.g. Furniture without air gaps or large beanbags could potentially cause the system to overheat.
12. Do not use staples to fix down the floor heating.

Finally, ensure that you set the controller to Air and floor mode to turn on the floor limiter.

Planning Installation of your Heating Mat

1. thermostat
2. conduit
3. connection box
4. sensor tube
5. sensor/end cap
6. floor
7. tile glue/self aligned concrete
8. warming element
9. floor screed
10. insulation
11. subfloor

Before laying your heating mat you must plan the installation. Draw a general view of the room and mark the area that will be covered with the heating elements. Avoid heating under units and sanitary ware as this can cause heat blockage and it is unnecessary to heat these areas anyway. Mark the location of the supply lead- the cold lead wire. Having decided on this position you can cut a groove in the floor to accommodate the protective floor sensor tube. The sensor must run centrally between two runs of the heating elements so it is important to note where the element will be positioned.

Make sure the sensor tube has a gradual bend when it enters floor level, this will ensure the sensor cable can be easily inserted or withdrawn. The tube can be cut to length to suit, then seal the end of the tube with masking tape. Joints linking the cold tail to the heating mat must be located on the floor. A small groove might be necessary to ensure the joint is the same height as the heater cable.

Snug Mat 160w/m² & Snug Mat 200w/m²

Please refer to the floor planning section of this manual before installing your Snug underfloor heating mat. When installing your Snug mat always leave a minimum of 50mm unheated gap around the room perimeter. Ensure that the mat can fit the floor area to be heated. It is better to have just too little than too much over. Never cut the heating element. Only cut the fibreglass mesh carrier when needed and turn or flip the mat to meet your requirements. When installing you must ensure that none of the heating element is within 5cm of another heating element.

Leave the mat inside the packaging until you are sure the mat is the correct size for the installation. Once the mat has been rolled out and the fibreglass mesh has been cut, it is not suitable for return or resale. Ensure that the cold lead wire for the mats will reach the connection (depending on the number of mats this is the connection with the junction box, or direct to the thermostat). If it does not reach, extend by removing some of the heating element from the carrier and fix the heating elements to the floor with fixing tape.

The Snug Mat is extremely sticky on one side and the adhesive extends to the cable loops that run along the side of the mat. Using your hands or even walking on the mat without your shoes apply pressure across the whole of the heating mat. This will help to stick the mat to the sub floor. We recommend a flexible levelling compound after the installation of the heating element to minimise the risk of damage and secure all of the matting. Our 200 watt/metre matt must not be placed directly on to unheated treated wood. Any compound that is placed on top or underneath the heating element must be flexible. Latex, acrylic or polymer-based adhesives are acceptable.

Testing

This is a very important stage of the installation and must be done correctly. There are 3 stages of testing to make the warranty valid. The Snug Mat should be tested prior to being laid, once it has been laid and once the finished flooring has been laid. When testing the Snug Mat, you must carry out a continuity test as well as an insulation resistance test. To carry out a continuity test set your meter to the lowest ohms reading (usually 200Ω or 2000Ω). Connect one of the test leads to any of the heater cable cold leads, and the other test lead to the one remaining cold lead. Obtain the reading and write it on the warranty card. You might find that the reading is not identical to the sticker on the heater mat. This is still ok as long as it is not too significant (within 10% – 15% is acceptable). You have now completed the continuity test.  For your insulation resistance test switch the tester to ‘mega ohms’, put one of the test leads onto both heater cold leads and the other test lead onto the earth braid. The reading should be over 10 MΩ regardless of the length of the element. Record your reading on the warranty card, the insulation resistance test is now complete.

Quayside Court, Navigation Way Docklands, Preston, PR2 2RZ

• t : 01772 761333
• f : 01772 761222
• [email protected]
• www.snuguth.co.uk

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