Choosing the right system

Ebeco Underfloor Heating UK have ranges of floor heating systems with different design characteristics to suit different floor constructions and floor finishes. The table summarises the systems that are available and how they should be fitted.

All of these systems, except for Ecoflex, are twin conductor cables with a cold tail (unheated length of cable) at one end which connects to a thermostat for power supply and control.

Ecoflex is a thin foil. It is the only one of our systems that can be cut to length. Connecting wires are crimped to one end of the foil for connection to the thermostat.

We have other cables for more specialised applications, such as self-limiting, heating driveways and keeping drains ice-free. Ask for more information.

Our heating systems are manufactured by Ebeco AB of Sweden. Ebeco produce a 32 page booklet describing their products. If you want to download this booklet in pdf format (Beware: it is over 2 MB and may take time to download if you have a slow connection), click here

Alternatively call us or send an email to uksales@ebeco.com and we will put a copy in the post for you.

To download your free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the pdf file, then click here to visit the Adobe Acrobat site.

CABLES | THERMOSTATS | CABLE BOARD | DEPRON BOARD | MARMOX

Cables

Thermoflex Cables
These are very popular under tiles because they are thin (4 mm) and are simple to install. Pre-attached to adhesive tapes they just roll out onto the floor.
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Multiflex 20 Cable
Our most powerful cable (20 watts per metre), so should be installed in the screed of a solid floor. Suitable for most purposes, including conservatories. Because the cable is buried, the floor surface is clear to accept the floor finish of your choice; tiles, timber, laminate, or carpet.
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Multiflex 12 Cable
Use between joists in timber floors.
Similar construction to the Multiflex 20 Cable, but producing less heat per unit length (12 watts per metre).
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Ebeco Cable Kit
Similar to the 4mm diameter cable on the Thermoflex kits, the Cable Kits produce 10 watts per metre, and can be laid on timber or solid floors for use under tiles or a thin screed for other finishes. This is the cable to use with Ebeco Cable Board.
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 Ebeco Ecoflex
Foil type of heater, only 0.3mm thick, for use under timber and laminate floors. Used together with 6mm Depron insulation board.
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Thermoflex Cable - heating cable mat for ceramic and natural stone floors

Thermoflex is a self-adhesive heating cable mat consisting of a heating cable fixed with a specific centre-to-centre distance on a plastic net. The construction makes Thermoflex fast and easy to install.

Thermoflex heating cable mat is available in 11 different sizes and is delivered complete with thermostat and conduit pipe (for the thermostat sensor). Its heat output is 120 W/m².

The Thermoflex-mat is rolled out and fixed in only one operation and is then covered with filling. The total build-up height is only approx. 4 mm. The mat is approved for laying directly onto flammable materials such as particle boards. It can also be laid on concrete and gyproc boards.

Multiflex 20 Cable - heating cable for embedding in a sand and cement screed

Multiflex is a series resistance heating cable with built-in return wire developed to withstand the toughest requirements for floor heating. The cable is insulated with Teflon that has a high heat-resistance guaranteeing a very long cable life.

Multiflex 20 is available in 12 different sizes. The heating cables are fitted with a 2.5 metre cold cable.

Power for Multiflex indoor rooms approximately 100 W/m², c-c distance approximately 20 cm.
Power for Multiflex conservatories approximately 160 W/m2, c-c distance approximately 12 cm.

Multiflex 20 can also be used as protection against freezing and for snow melting of small ground areas.

Multiflex 12 Cable - heating cable for wooden joist frames

Multiflex is a series resistance heating cable with a built-in return. It has been developed to withstand the toughest demands for floor heating. The cable is insulated with teflon which has a extra high heat-resistance giving a very long lifetime.

Multiflex 12 is available in 14 different lengths. The heating cables are fitted with a 2.5 metre cold cable.

The heating cable is fixed to a mesh which is placed on top of the insulation between joists. If a foilfaced insulation is used a mesh is not needed. For a timber joisted floor, we recommend a power output of approximately 80W/m².

Ebeco Cable Kit – a complete floor heating kit for tile, ceramic tiles and natural stone floors

Cable Kit is one of the thinnest cables available in the market, having a diameter of only 4mm. It provides 10 watts of heat per metre length.

Cable Kit (available in 14 different sizes) is a complete floor heating kit containing everything needed for the installation: cable on a drum, a practical drum holder / dispenser, thermostat, conduit pipe (for the thermostat floor sensor) and fixing tape. The heating cables are fitted with a 3m cold cable.

The cable is fixed with tape and is embedded into a 4mm thick filling layer. Fixing with tape halves the installation time compared with using ordinary hot melt glue. Easy handling of the Cable during the installation is achieved by the drum holder. The cable is approved for laying directly onto materials such as particle board (MDF) and Cable Board. It can also be laid onto concrete and gyproc fibre board.

When installed in a wet room under a plastic mat the power should be 75W / m2. The filling layer must be a minimum of 10 mm above the cable to ensure a sufficient dissipation of heat.

Ebeco Ecoflex – floor heating foil for wooden floors, laminates, carpet and vinyl

At only 0.3mm Ecoflex is one of the thinnest floor heating systems available on the market. Due to its unique construction, the foil is almost unaffected by damage. Furthermore the foil is free from halogens and pvc.

Ecoflex is sold by the linear metre and can be ordered specifically for any floor area. It is available in widths of 33cm and 53cm with power outputs of 90W/m²  or 130W/m², and in widths of 43cm and 69cm with a power output of 65W/m². A new foil with a strength of 100W/m², and widths of 43cm and 69cm will soon replace the 90W/m²  foil.

For use under carpet and vinyl, the foil is covered by a suitable board or plywood.

The foil lengths are connected in parallel to each other via the connectors supplied. The connectors are crimped onto the copper busbars using a special crimping tool and sealed with a thick insulating seal. To reduce heat transmission downwards and to direct the heat upwards, Depron insulation board is a part of the construction. As an added bonus, the Depron is a good sound insulator. It is available in 3mm and 6mm thicknesses, with the 6mm normally being used.

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 Mounting Systems

We have two systems for holding down our general purpose cables in the situations where they need to be held in place whist being screeded or tiled over.

The adhesive tape system is generally preferred provided that the floor is clean and dry for suitable adhesion. Double sided adhesive tape at opposite ends of the floor holds the turns in the cable, and once the complete cable is laid out satisfactorily a single sided tape is run across at regular intervals to prevent movement when the screed or levelling compound is added.

Note that the tape system is not suitable for Multiflex 20 cables.

The metal strips can be nailed to concrete or other surfaces and have folding tabs at 50mm spacing to hold the cables securely. This is often the preferred option for Multiflex 20 cables being laid on concrete under a screed.

Thermostats

Our heating cables are controlled by thermostats, which act as sophisticated on / off switches. Different types of thermostat cater for different applications. The main options are whether the unit is controlling floor temperature only, or floor and ambient room temperature together, and whether timing functions are included.

For fully programmable control we curently offer a choice between the OJ OCD2 and three models from Aube. However, from September 2005 there will be a new addition to the Ebeco range of thermostats. The EB300 will be fully programmable and easy to use. We believe it will be the most versatile floor heating thermostat available in the UK, as it is switchable between room temperature, floor temperature and combined room and floor temperature modes. The one model performs the same functions as the three different Aube models.

The Aube models are all similar in look and operation but differ in application. The TH132-A controls ambient (room) temperature, the TH132-F controls floor temperature and the TH132-AF controls ambient and floor temperatures simultaneously.

The OJ OCD2 thermostat is a fully programmable model with similar capabilities to the Aube TH132-AF, but is more versatile because it can be programmed to operate as just a floor thermostat (equivalent to the TH132-F).

All these thermostats fit in a deep single gang mounting box (light switch size) and they are rated at either 14 or 16 amps (3.2 or 3.6 kW).

All of these units (except for the TH132-A) include a floor temperature probe, at the end of a thin cable about 3 metres long.

Floor areas with combined cables rated at more than the thermostat capacity will need to add a contactor to switch the current through to the cables rather than having the current pass through the thermostat.

Please contact us for details and availability of other thermostats or more sophisticated control units.

Aube TH132 Range

The Aube TH132 digital clock thermostats provide all the programming control that you need for your heating.
It has clean lines, with its control buttons hidden behind doors on either side of the display.

• 4 settings / day, different setting each day
• Early Start function *
• Proportional adaptive function, based on 15 minute cycles **
• Manual or Automatic control
• Rated 15 amps (3.6 kW) - Note: Aube have reduced the rating of their thermostats from 16 amps to 15 amps.
• 40°C maximum floor temperature limit
 

* A function that calculates the optimum time to start the heating system to achieve the desired temperature setting at the programmed time. The thermostat learns how long it takes for the heating to warm up.

** This thermostat is equipped with a microprocessor that analyses the system's past performances in order to optimise future commands. At the beginning of each cycle, the system sends a command that defines the portion of time the unit is heating during the next cycle. This feature prevents fluctuations and maintains a steady temperature. The floor sensor is 6 mm diameter at the end of a 4 metre cable, 4mm diameter.

OCD2

The OJ OCD2 is a very versatile thermostat which can be programmed to four different temperatures a day. It is supplied with a remote floor temperature sensor as well as an internal ambient sensor, providing simultaneous control of floor and room temperatures. It can also be programmed to control only the floor temperature.

 • 4 settings / day, different temperature each setting
 • Early Start function *
 • Backlit display
 • Monitoring of energy consumption
 • Maximum and minimum floor temperature control
 • Manual or automatic control
 • Option to operate as a floor temperature controller or an ambient plus floor temperature controller
•  Rated 16 amps (3.6 kW)
•  40°C maximum floor temperature limit

EB100

The Ebeco EB100 thermostat is probably the most versatile non-programmable thermostat available for underfloor heating.

It is supplied with a floor temperature probe and has an internal ambient temperature probe. It can be set up to act as a floor thermostat, or a room thermostat, or a combination of both. When in the combined mode the dial controls the ambient room temperature, and the maximum floor temperature limit is set by an internal adjuster.

The EB100 is rated at 12 amps, or 2.7 kW.

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Ebeco Cable Board

Ebeco Cable Board is a grooved insulation board of extruded polystyrene cellular plastic, specially designed for Ebeco Cable Kit. This combination forms an energy efficient and easily installed floor heating system. It is designed for heating ceramic tiles and natural stone floors laid over existing concrete floors. The Cable Board reduces heat transmission downwards and at the same time allows moisture to pass through the breathing holes. It is fast acting and raises the temperature 5–7°C within an hour, making it possible to use an energy saving thermostat with day/night reduction. Cable Board can withstand most environments and is insensitive to water. Cable Board is sold in packs of 3,6m2, equal to 5 boards. Each board is 60cm x 120cm, = 0.72m2. Installation Cable Board is mounted directly onto the concrete floor with a flexible tile adhesive. The cable is placed in the pre-made grooves, fixed with tape and then the grooves are filled with flexible tile adhesive. Apply a new layer of flexible tile adhesive and lay out the ceramic tiles. Filling of the grooves and ceramic tiles laying can also be made in one operation. Ebeco Cable Board is only 20mm thick, giving only a small build-up height. The distance between the grooves is 10 cm giving an output of approx. 100 W/m2.
Depron Insulation Board
Depron is used under the Ebeco Ecoflex heating foils. It is one of the most efficient insulation materials available. 6 mm of Depron provides the same level of insulation as 24 mm of pine, a 100 mm brick wall or a 360 mm concrete slab! This makes it an ideal insulation material for all floors. Due to the special cell structure of the board heat transmission is minimised. If Depron is laid in the floor, heat will efficiently be reflected back to the surface. Since the reflected heat is utilized in an efficient way, the energy consumption of the floor heating system can be reduced. Depron is not only energy saving, it is also an efficient protection against both coldness and moisture. The material is resistant to concrete, gypsum and most alkali materials but cannot withstand organic solvents. Depron is water resistant – it is unaffected by mould and will not rot. Furthermore, Depron has good sound deadening properties which makes the floor quieter to walk on. Depron sheets are 1250 x 800mm so cover an area of 1 sq. metre each.