AmberMat 150W/m2 Concrete Floor Installation Guide
- June 6, 2024
- Amber
Table of Contents
Ambert
Installation Manual
Thank you for investing in our
Amber underfloor heating system
In this instruction manual you wi ll 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.amberufh.co.uk.
This warranty is only valid if installed by an IET 17th 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.amberufh.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.
4 DO’s and DONT’s
5 Floor Coverings
6-8 Step-by-Step Installation Guide
9 Resistance Values
10 Floor Plan
11 Floor Build-ups.
Unit 4, Brickfields Business Park
Old Stowmarket Road
Woolpit Suffolk IP30 9QS
Phone: 0800 056 0494
Fax: 0800 652 4165
For technical support:
[email protected]
Website: www.amberufh.co.uk
DO’s
DO read through the instructions carefully before beginning work
DO ensure your floor base has no sharp debris or objects such as nail heads
protruding before beginning your installation
DO cover both heating cable and connection joint under the flooring.
DO check the AmberMat 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
AmberMat
**** DO ensure the AmberMat is encapsulated in 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 the 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 mat across two or
DON’T install the mat across two or more rooms
DON’T place the cable under any fixed furniture such as kitchen units, baths
or showers
DON’T touch or cross the heating cables o damage the cable
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 close to other heat sources such as
hot water pipes
DON’T turn on the heating mat while it is rolled up
DON’T install the system if the ambient temperature is below 5ºC as the cables
can become less flexible
DON’T bend the joint between the heating cable and the black cold tail
Floor Finishes & Coverings
The underfloor heating system is compatible with the following most common floor finishes, such as:
| Tile / Stone
Fully encapsulate the AmberMat within either a flexible smoothing compound or
flexible tile adhesive, prior to the tile/floor finish being laid. Amber
recommends the use of a plastic trowel when laying tile adhesive, to protect
the underfloor heating cable from accidental damage.
---|---
Carpet
Fully encapsulate the AmberMat within a 10mm 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 AmberMat 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, hardwood floors should not exceed 30mm in thickness.
Vinyl
Fully encapsulate the AmberMat 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 m²K/W (1.5 tog)
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 air flow could also cause concern. If you are unsure please
contact Amber.
Installing the AmberMat
Step-by-step guide
Let’s get started
A. Plan: Use your plan to calculate the heated area, working out how to lay
the mat 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 AmberMat under suspended
cupboards, washbasins 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 AmberMat
At each stage of the installation, it is recommended that you test your
AmberMat 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 AmberMat 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 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 AmberMat 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-LEVELLING COMPOUNDS
An alternative method is to cover the AmberMat 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 in step 2
– then make a note of the values on the commissioning certificate.
For professional guidance refer to your adhesive manufacturer
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
Ambert 100W/m 2
Product Code| Mat Area (m2)| Output Wattage| Resistance
(Ohms)
---|---|---|---
A100010| 1.0| 100| 529
A100015| 2.| 150| 353
Al 00020| 2.0| 200| 265
Al 00025| 3.| 250| 212
Al 00030| 3.0| 300| 176
Al 00035| 4.| 350| 151
Al 00040| 4.0| 400| 132
Al 00050| 5.0| 500| 106
Al 00060| 6.0| 600| 88.2
A100070| 7.0| 700| 75.6
Al 00080| 8.0| 800| 66.1
Al 00090| 9.0| 900| 58.8
A100100| 10.0| 1000| 52.9
A100120| 12.0| 1200| 44.1
Ambert 150W/m 2
Product Code| Mat Area (m2)| Output Wattage| Resistance
(Ohms)
---|---|---|---
Al 50005| 0.5| 75| 705
A150010| 1.0| 150| 353
A150015| 2.| 225| 235
A150020| 2.0| 300| 176
A150025| 3.| 375| 141
Al 50030| 3.0| 450| 118
Al 50035| 4.| 525| 101
Al 50040| 4.0| 600| 88.2
Al 50050| 5.0| 750| 70.5
Al 50060| 6.0| 900| 58.8
A150070| 7.0| 1025| 50.4
Al 50080| 8.0| 1200| 44.1
Al 50090| 9.0| 1350| 39.2
A150100| 10.0| 1500| 35.3
A150120| 12.0| 1800| 29. 4
Please sketch your floor plan of the room and show the following:
The layout of the mats/cables, indicating your heated area Placement of
junction boxes Placement of floor sensor and thermostat Ambert
Installation Build-Up
Ambert onto Concrete Floors
- – Floor Finish
- – Adhesive/Levelling Compound
- – Underflow our Heating Mat
- – Tile backer Board (recommended)
- – Concrete Sub-Floor
Ambert onto
Timber Floors
- – Floor Finish
- – Adhesive/Levelling Compound
- – Underflow or Heating Mat
- – Tile backer Board (recommended)
- – Timber Sub-Floor
For optimum performance, Amber always recommends the use of suitable insulation, helping to increase the performance of the heating system.
Need technical help?
Call us on 0800 056 0494
Unit 4, Brickfields Business Park
Old Stowmarket Road
Woolpit Suffolk IP30 9QS
Phone: 0800 056 0494
Fax: 0800 652 4165
For technical
support:[email protected]
Website:www.amberufh.co.uk