Flexel Ecofloor User manual
1
Flexel Ecofloor Cable Kit
Installation instructions
Please read these notes carefully and follow the instruction guidelines shown in this booklet
as they will ensure optimum, safe performance and may also affect the validity of the
guarantee provided. If in any doubt consult your supplier or the manufacturer.
Planning the installation.
1). Measuring up.
2). Floor preparation.
3). Marking out.
4). Laying the Cable.
5). Install Thermostat and Floor probe
5). ‘Add On’ Cables for larger areas.
6). Final testing.
7). Switching on.
1). Measuring up.
It is important to measure the room correctly and avoid all permanent fixtures such as baths,
showers, kitchen and bedroom units, (remember also that it is important to avoid thermally
blocking the heated area as this will result in localised heat build up and possible subsequent
damage to the floor covering. Allowing for perimeter clearance deduct a further 5% to reach
the actual available heated floor area.
Output requirements.
Apart from timber floors where 100 W /m²output is recommended, install the optimum heat
level possible for the available floor area.
Referring to the tables shown below the cable spacings can be varied to achieve differing
heat levels.
160 W/m² for optimum output
130 W/m² for comfort heating and
100 W/m² for background heating (Recommended for timber floors).
Flexel Installation Manual
Cable Kit Instructions
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Table of cable kit sizes.
EK102002001.21.41.61.82.0264
EK102502501.6 1.8 2.0 2.3 2.5 212
EK 10320 320 2.0 2.3 2.6 2.9 3.2 165
EK 10400 400 2.5 2.9 3.2 3.6 4.0 132
EK 10450 450 2.8 3.2 3.6 4.1 4.5 118
EK 10600 600 3.7 4.3 4.8 5.4 6.0 88
EK 10750 750 4.7 5.4 6.1 6.8 7.5 70
EK 10950 950 5.9 6.8 7.7 8.6 9.5 56
EK 101100 1100 6.9 7.9 8.9 10.0 11.0 48
EK 101300 1300 8.1 9.3 10.5 11.8 13.0 41
EK 101700 1700 10.6 11.9 13.1 15.1 17.0 31
EK 102000 2000 12.5 14.4 16.2 18.1 20.0 26
EK 102300
(EK1700+AD600)230014.315.917.720.023.023
EK102600
(EK2000+AD600)260016.217.920.022.626.020
EK102950
(EK2000+AD950)295018.420.322.725.729.518
EK103300
(EK2000+AD1300)330020.622.825.428.733.016
EK103700
(EK2000+AD1700)370023.125.528.532.237.014
CodeOutputHeatedFloorareacoverage(m²)Resistance
(Watts)Cablespacing-cmandheatoutput(w/
(160)(145)(130)(115)(100)
m²)(ohms)
7891011
Flexel Installation Manual
Cable Kit Instructions
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Flexel Installation Manual
Cable Kit Instructions
All cables incorporate an earth screen to allow installation into wet areas. The diagram shows
a bathroom that is just under 3m x 3m. The total usable area is however 5m².
Therefore for optimum heat output the correct kit to use will be EK10 750 covering 4.7m². This
example also highlights the advantage of the Flexel Ecofloor twin conductor heating cable
requiring connection to the electricity supply at one end only thereby removing the need to
design the layout to get the cable back to the termination point.
(If in doubt and on receipt of a marked and scaled drawing your supplier will calculate the
appropriate kit required).
2). Floor preparation.
Cable kits can be laid onto most existing floor surfaces that are sound and suitably prepared.
Any existing floor coverings such as carpet or vinyl must be removed. Bitumastic sealant
should, be covered with a floor-levelling screed,
Primer.
When installing the kit over concrete, wooden or existing tiled floors refer to the
manufacturers standard guidelines.
Concrete floor.
New concrete floors must be allowed time to cure naturally. This will depend on weather
conditions but normally 1 week per 25mm is taken as a guideline. Existing concrete floors
must be clean and level and where necessary a self-levelling screed (latex compound) should
be applied ahead of the cable installation.
Figure 1.
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Flexel Installation Manual
Cable Kit Instructions
Timber floor.
Existing timber floors must be clean, sound and level. To achieve this it may be necessary to
have a screw fixed overlayment of WBP (weather and boil proof) plywood or marine board.
Insulation.
To ensure optimum performance and minimise running costs floor insulation such as
Aquapanel, Celotex, Marmox or Wedi Board should be laid directly under the heating cable.
3) Marking out and other preparatory work.
Having determined the size of the area to be heated, the heat level required and the electrical
supply position form a channel in the floor adjacent to this point as illustrated.
THERMOSTAT
SUPPLIED
45mm RECESSE D MOUNTING
BOX REQUIRED FOR
FLUSH MOUNTING
230VOLT SUPPLY
FUSED SPUR
HEATING CABLE(S)
FLOOR SENSOR IN
PROTECTIVE TUBE
With a suitable marker and using either the ruler supplied or for other spacings a tape, mark
out the fixing centres equally at opposite ends of the room take into account that the installed
cables should be no closer than 50mm from the walls and any other fixed obstructions.
Final connection and testing should be carried out by a qualified electrician but prior to this
and at this stage a thermostat and supply provision should be made as shown in figure.
Figure 3.
Figure 2.
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Flexel Installation Manual
Cable Kit Instructions
4) Laying the cable.
A hole is provided at the side of the box to feed out the cable. Do not take the cable off the
drum before laying as it will twist and make the installation difficult..
Connection is only required at one
end. The first 3metres is black
cable that can be cut as required.
The orange cable is the heated
part that must never be cut or
shortened.
As shown loop the cables to the
required marked spacings and
secure to the floor as you go
using the fixing tape supplied.
Towards completion it may be
necessary to slightly readjust the
cable spacings to the available
area. This will not be a problem
as long as the cables remain at
least 50mm apart and do not
cross or touch each other.
Never bury or try to hide the
cable. If necessary, start again.
If you have ordered the wrong size of kit contact your supplier.
Now and referring to the tables on page 1 test the cable circuit for continuity
(resistance) using an ohmeter. Avoid traffic over the laid area until floor tiling is
complete.
5). Install the Thermostat and Floor Probe.
Follow the instructions provided with the thermostat and the floor probe. For the floor probe
you will need to cut a channel for the protective spiral hose. (This may have been done at an
earlier stage as suggested). Fix the hose into position and shorten to the required length.
Feed the floor probe into the hose and block off the end. The floor probe is then attached to
the thermostat.
The thermostat should be installed in the room that is to be heated. For bathrooms the
thermostat must be placed outside the bathroom but as close to the installation as possible.
If necessary the heating cable cold tail and thermostat can be extended by up to 50 metres
using cable supplied by Flexel International Limited.
Figure 4.
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Flexel Installation Manual
Cable Kit Instructions
Finished Floor Diagrams.
Cross Section.
Flexible
adhesive
Tile
finished with
flexible grout
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Flexel Installation Manual
Cable Kit Instructions
6). Installation of larger areas requiring 'add-on' cables.
Illustrated is a 20 square metre conservatory requiring a type EK10 2950 cable kit to provide
optimum heat. (18.4m²coverage allowing for edge clearance).
MAIN HEATING
CABLE ADDITIONAL CABLE
FLOOR PROBE
THERMOSTAT
50mm
EDGE
CLEARANCE
Firstly mark out the floor as previously described.
Using the main kit cable (2000watts) run this out from the termination point to the opposite
end of the room and lay at 7cm spacings (12.5m2 coverage) back towards the control point.
Check that remaining floor area will accommodate the additional 950watt cable (5.9m2
coverage). Lay the additional cable and if necessary adjust the spacing to achieve full floor
coverage. (The thermostat sensor must be positioned centrally between cable loops).
Tiling the floor.
Once the cables are laid suitable protection boards / old carpet must be provided to avoid
damage during tiling.
Tile adhesive can be laid in either a single or a two layer operation depending on the tiler’s
preference to accommodate the 3mm cable thickness. The adhesive must be laid evenly in
the same direction as the cables are running making sure there are no air spaces.
The following table of products are suitable for use with a Flexel Ecofloor underfloor
heating system. Refer to the additional requirements when using Depron underlay
insulation and for further information and advice contact the Flexel technical
department.
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Flexel Installation Manual
Cable Kit Instructions
General guidelines for preparation of subfloors and UK manufacturers adhesive
products suitable for use in conjunction with Flexel Ecofloor undertile heating
cables and cable mats. (To be read in conjunction with the installation instructions
supplied)
Note: Ensure tile adhesive has no air spaces. Dab fixing of tiles should be avoided
Howtex
Bal
Ardex
GroutTile Adhesive
PrimerSurface
Manufacturer
Mapei
Mira
Nicobond
PCI
Concrete
Timber
No primer required
Ardion 82 primer Ardu-Flex 500
Ardurit S16 +
Ardion 90 admix
Arduflex-FL
New
Concrete
Existing
concrete
Timber
No primer required on
a sound surface.Use a
slurry bonding coat if
unsound
Slurry bonding coat
2 parts portland cement
1 part Bal-Bond
SBR
Bal Bond SBR.
Bal-Rapidset
Flexible
Bal-Rapidset
Flexible rapid
Bal-Rapidset
Flexible
Bal Flexgrout
Bal Flexgrout
Bal Flexgrout
Concrete
&
Timber
Howtex universal
primer
Howtex single part
Flexible rapid
Howtex-ceramic
widejoint flexigrout
Timber Mapeprim SP primer Ultraplan-self levelling
compound over cable,
then Kerabond with
Asolastic flexible
additive/Granirapid.
Mapei Ultracolor
Polmer modified
grout
Concrete Mira 7110 base cleaner
Mira 4800 antifire fluid
primer. Use Mira 4120
and 4440 multicoat for
wet areas.
Mira 4800 antifire fluid
primer
Mira X-Plan self
Levelling acrylic and
Fibre reinforced
levelling compound.
Mira 3250 superplan
Fix acrylic reinforced
cement based quick
curing tile adhesive
mira 3600 multicrete
highly elastic two
part adhesive.
Mira mastic
Mira mastic
Timber
Timber
Timber
Concrete
Concrete
1 pt Nicobond primer to
4 pt water or
1 pt Nicobond primer to
1 pt water if porous.
1pt Nicobond primer to
1 pt water
Nicobond fast floor
and wall adhesive
Nicobond fast floor
and wall adhesive +
Nicobond 2002.
Nicobond tilers
grout + Nicobond
enhancer 2002
Nicobond tilers
Grout + Nicobond
enhancer 2002
No primer required.
No primer required
Fliebspachtel 15 self
levelling compound,
then any flexible
cement based adhesive
Timberflex or
Sontex Woodflex with
Sontex RS2.
Any flexible grout.
Groutflast.
Sontex grey grout
and Grout Admix.
RMC
Biscem
Sovereign
Concrete
&
Timber
Concrete
Timber
No primer required. Biscem fast set adhesive
with Flexibond additive
Bisgrout Floor
Grouting
If unsound use 50:50
SBR bonding agent
and warter.
SBR bonding agent
Sovereign Quick Fix
tile adhesive
Sovereign Quick Fix
tile adhesive
Sovereign water
resistant tile
grout.
Sovereign grey tile
Grout with 1 part
SBR-3 parts water
For further technical information and advice contact:
Flexel International Ltd. - Queensway Industrial Estate - Glenrothes - Fife - KY7 5QF
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Flexel Installation Manual
Cable Kit Instructions
7) Final testing.
The electrician should test the continuity of the floor sensor (already fitted) and retest the connected
resistance of each cable. A further insulation test should be carried out in accordance with IEE
regulations. The electrician should affix a suitable advisory warning label at the electricity
distribution board and complete the attached certificate which must be retained and serve as part of
the guarantee requirement.
8) Switching on.
Before switching on the underfloor heating allow a minimum of 3 days for natural drying of the tile
adhesive and grout. Initially operate the system for 2-3 hours per day increasing to full continuous
operation after 6-7 days.
Flexel International Ltd
Queensway Industrial Estate, Glenrothes, Fife, Scotland, KY7 5QF
Tel: 01592 757313 Fax: 01592 754535
Flexel Ecofloor Underfloor Heating
Please complete and return this installation completion certificate within 10
days to Flexel International Ltd and retain a copy to validate the guarantee
Name:
Address:
Roomfitted:Cabletype&wattage
Connectedcontinuity(resistance)recorded(ohms)
Signedbyelectrician:Date:
Date of completion and testing:
