Gaia Underfloor Heating Mat Installation Guide

Underfloor Heating Mat
**Installation Guide

**

GaiaMat Installation Manual
Trust in our Warmth

Underfloor Heating
Globe-Eu
gaia.co.uk

Underfloor Heating Mat

Thank you for investing in our GaiaMat underfloor heating system
In this instruction manual, you will find important information regarding the installation of your underfloor heating system. Please follow the step-by- step instructions, ensuring complete care is taken. Check with the floor manufacturer if you have any doubt about the suitability of laying our heating mat/s under your floor covering.
All our underfloor heating mats come with a 12-year warranty. Please register your product within 30 days from completion of installation, using our warranty registration form, which can be found at www.gaia.co.uk.
This warranty is only valid if installed by an IEE 18th Edition qualified electrician/ electrical contractor. The installation must conform to Part P of the Building Regulations 2005. For full terms and conditions relating to our warranty please visit our website www.gaia.co.uk.
Please note: The warranty does not extend to costs of relaying, replacing or repairing any floor covering or floor. The warranty is not valid if faults are caused by damage, incorrect installation or misuse.

Do’s

DO read through the instructions carefully before beginning work.
DO ensure your floor base is clear of debris before beginning your installation.
DO cover both heating cable and connection joint under the flooring.
DO check the GaiaMat will fit into the free floor area of the room, prior to unpacking.
DO test the cable before installing, and then before and after covering the GaiaMat
DO ensure the GaiaMat is encapsulated in a flexible tile adhesive / flexible leveling compound prior to your floor finish being laid.
DO be careful not to damage the cable at any stage during installation.
DO check the heat loss if this is to be the sole heat source.
DO ensure the system is controlled by a thermostat with a floor sensor.
DO consider additionally insulating your sub-floor before installing the underfloor heating system.
DO ensure the system is protected by a suitable dedicated RCD (30mA).

Dont’s

DON’T install the GaiaMat across two or more rooms.
DON’T place the GaiaMat under any fixed furniture such as kitchen units, baths or showers.
DON’T touch or cross the heating cables.
DON’T cut the yellow heating cable.
DON’T lay the system so that any cables are closer than 3cm to each other.
DON’T install the floor temperature sensor cable close to other heat sources such as hot water pipes.
DON’T turn on the GaiaMat while it is rolled up.
DON’T install the system if the ambient temperature is below 5°C as the cables can become less flexible.
DON’T bend the joint between the yellow heating cable and the black cold tail.

The underfloor heating system is compatible with most common floor finishes, such as:
Tile / Stone
Fully encapsulate the GaiaMat with either a flexible smoothing compound or flexible tile adhesive, prior to the tile I floor finish is laid. Gala recommends the use of a plastic trowel when laying tile adhesive, to protect the underfloor heating cable from accidental damage.
Carpet
Fully encapsulate the GaiaMat within an mm bed of flexible smoothing compound, to provide a minimum of 5mm above the top of the heating element, prior to the carpet floor finish being laid. Avoid rubber or foam-backed carpets. Please check with the carpet manufacturer to ensure the carpet is suitable for underfloor heating.
Timber
Fully encapsulate the GaiaMat within a nominal 10mm bed of flexible smoothing compound layer, prior to the timber floor finish being laid. When installing natural wood floors it is recommended that softwood floors should not exceed 20mm in thickness, and hardwood floors should not exceed 30mm in thickness.
Vinyl
Fully encapsulate the GaiaMat within a 10mm bed of flexible smoothing compound, to provide a minimum of 5mm coverage above the top of the heating element, prior to the vinyl floor finish being laid.
‘Floor coverings should not exceed 0.15 m2 KM (1.5 togs)
Please note that thermally resistive items should not be left or installed onto underfloor heating in a way where heat can become trapped. This trapped heat could cause failure if left without due care or attention. Possible examples of thermally resistive items could be heavy rugs, bean bags or a mattress laid in direct contact with the floor. Some items of furniture that do not allow airflow could also cause concern. If you are unsure please contact Gala.

Installing the GaiaMat Step-by-Step Guide

Tools required:

Let’s get started

A. Plan: Use your plan to calculate the heated area, working out how to lay the meat evenly across the floor whilst avoiding all floor obstructions and closing floor fitting objects (pipes, baths, cupboards). Detail on your plan the location of the cold tail (where the mat starts), floor sensor, and connection box. It is acceptable to lay the GaiaMat under suspended cupboards, wash basins and wall mounted toilet pans
B. Once the floor is prepared: Mark the positions of the floor fitting objects that will be installed once the floor is finished, so these can be avoided when laying the mat.
Testing your Gaiam
At each stage of the installation, it is recommended that you test your GaiaMat for the following:
Continuity. This checks that the heating cable (blue and black wires) are intact and have the correct resistance. Checked with a multimeter, the resistance reading should match the rating on the cold tail label with a tolerance of -5 to +10%. Ensure your multimeter is capable of reading values between 28-800 ohms.
Insulation. This checks that the earth screen around the heating cable has not been damaged and shorted to the heating cables. The test can be made with a multimeter and can be done by testing both the path between the blue cable and the earth screen and also the black cable and the earth screen – both should read infinity
Preparation
The subfloor must be prepared as normally required for tiling, ensuring the installation surface is even, stable, dry, clean, and free of sharp objects. When installing onto existing floorboards, it will be necessary to brace the floor with WBP plywood of standard recommended thickness or tile backer boards.
**Each mat is supplied with a piece of flexible tubing (only one tube is required for each thermostat), this is to house the floor sensor so that in the unlikely event that the sensor fails, it can be easily removed and replaced without lifting the floor. The sensor should be laid between two cable loops 15-20cm into the floor, avoiding any heat sources.
In some situations, a small channel may have to be made in the floor to accommodate the tubing. If so, cut a channel from the thermostat position approximately 20-30cm across the floor.
Fitting the Mat
Remove the plastic outer and place the cold tail of the mat at the connection point. The GaiaMat has a self-adhesive backing, lay this towards the floor and roll the mat out, referring to your layout plan. Upon reaching the end of the run, simply cut the grey mesh (NOT THE YELLOW CABLE) and turn the mat, positioning the next piece beside the first.
When cutting and turning the mat ensure there is a minimum 50mm gap between the cable loops. To avoid the risk of damage at a later stage do not lay the mat where objects will be put onto or fixed to the floor. After fitting, measure the resistance value of the mat again. Use the same procedure as in step 2 ­ then make a note of the values on the commissioning certificate.
Note: If required, the cable can be removed from the mesh and loops formed manually, but ensure the cables are spaced at 75mm (the same distance as those on the mat).
**

Fitting/Final Measurement

The mat can now be covered in one of two methods:
Concrete and wooden floors using flexible tile adhesives Working with a width of GaiaMat at a time, apply flexible tile adhesive through the mat with a rubber back trowel or similar so that the heating cable is covered, making sure there are no air pockets. Another layer of adhesive can then be applied carefully using a suitable notched trowel to comb the adhesive before applying the tiles.
Concrete and wooden floors using self-leveling compounds An alternative method is to cover the GaiaMat with a suitable self-leveling/latex type compound. This product will find its own level giving you a level surface to then apply a layer of flexible tile adhesive using a suitable notched trowel to comb the adhesive before applying the tiles.
Please note: Other floor finishes can be applied, please see page 5 for more details.
After covering the mat, measure the resistance value of the mat again. Use the same procedure as in step 2 ­ then make a note of the values on the commissioning certificate.
For professional guidance refer to your adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations.
Finishing
After the work has been completed the floor must dry completely before the floor heating and thermostat are connected.
This process usually takes 8-10 days, but you should refer to the adhesive and floor finish manufacturers’ guidelines. To connect the thermostat, please refer to the installation guidelines supplied with the thermostat.

Resistance Values

GaiaMat 100W/m2

GaiaMat 150W/m2

Floor Plan

Please sketch your floor plan of the room and show the following:

• The layout of the cables, indicates your heated area.
• Placement of junction boxes.
• Placement of the floor sensor and thermostat.

Floor Build Ups

GaiaMat onto Concrete Floors

1. Floor Finish
2. Adhesive/Levelling Compound
3. Underfloor Heating Mat
4. Tile backer Board (recommended)
5. Concrete Sub-Floor

GaiaMat onto Timber Floors

1. Floor Finish
2. Adhesive/Levelling Compound
3. Underfloor Heating Mat
4. Tile backer board (recommended)
5. Timber Sub-Floor

For optimum performance, Gaia always recommends the use of suitable insulation, helping to increase the performance of the heating system.

Globe-Eu gaia.co.uk
Contact Us
Unit 4, Brickfields Business Park Woolpit, Suffolk IP30 9QS, UK
Tel: 01359 242 400
Fax: 0800 652 4165
info@gaia.co.uk
For technical support: technical@gaia.co.uk

References

• Multi Award Winning Underfloor Heating Contractors covering the UK & Ireland | Gaia Climate Solutions
• Multi Award Winning Underfloor Heating Contractors covering the UK & Ireland | Gaia Climate Solutions

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