Assumptions
Assumptions
When producing a quotation through Heat Mat’s professional specification tool, a number of standard assumptions are applied to ensure consistency and accuracy. These are based on recognised installation practices, product data, and industry standards. They form the basis of our recommended system design and should be reviewed and confirmed against individual site conditions before installation.General Assumptions
- Room measurements entered into the tool are accurate and represent the usable heated floor area only, excluding all fixed furniture and fittings such as kitchen units, sanitaryware, and built-in storage. The user is assumed to have either used the ‘Cold Spots’ tool to mark areas that should not be heated or drawn the room in such a way that these unheated areas have not been included within the heated floor space.
- The subfloor is structurally sound, level, and suitable for the installation of an electric underfloor heating mat system.
- Electrical supply and loading are adequate for the total system wattage, with all circuits protected by RCDs in accordance with BS 7671 (18th Edition Wiring Regulations).
- The quotation assumes a single-phase 230 V supply unless otherwise stated.
System Design and Output
- The quotation assumes the use of Heat Mat heating mats with rated outputs of 160 W/m², 200 W/m², or 240 W/m².
- The system is designed as a primary heat source unless otherwise specified.
- The heat output selected corresponds to the room’s heat-loss category:
- 160 W/m² (Normal Heat Loss): suitable for most well-insulated rooms with tile or stone floors.
- 200 W/m² (High Heat Loss): recommended for tile or stone floors in rooms with higher heat losses, such as conservatories or spaces with large window areas.
- 240 W/m² (Very High Heat Loss): used for tile or stone floors in rooms with very high heat losses or where the system provides the sole heating source.
- 160 W/m² mats may also be used beneath laminate, engineered wood, LVT, vinyl (including Karndean and Amtico), and carpet finishes where lower surface temperatures are required. When installed beneath these finishes, it is assumed that a flexible levelling compound has been applied above the heating mat to a minimum depth of 12 mm before the floor covering is fitted.
- 200 W/m² and 240 W/m² mats must not be used beneath laminate, engineered wood, LVT, vinyl, or carpet finishes.
- The design assumes the installation of a suitable thermal insulation layer beneath the heating mats to minimise downward heat loss and maximise efficiency.
Installation and Controls
- Installation is to be completed by a qualified electrician or competent installer, following Heat Mat installation guidelines and all relevant electrical regulations.
- Each heating zone will be controlled by a dedicated thermostat supplied or approved by Heat Mat.
- Floor sensors are installed within the heated area and embedded within the floor finish in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.
- Thermostat locations are suitable for both accurate temperature sensing and convenient operation by the end user.
Product Selection and Coverage
- Heating mat sizes are selected to achieve the closest possible match to the available heated floor area without exceeding it.
- In some instances, the total mat coverage may be up to 10 % less than the available floor area, which is within acceptable design tolerances.
- Product layouts assume standard rectangular room shapes. Irregular or complex room layouts may require modified or multiple mat designs.
- The visualisation of your heating mat layout shown on your plan represents one possible configuration generated by the software. In some cases, the software may leave small areas of the floor without matting coverage. This is entirely normal and easily resolved during installation. If this occurs, adjustments are simple and may include widening the fitting space at the room edges, slightly increasing the cable-to-cable spacing in a small area, or extending the gaps between mat runs to achieve full and even floor coverage. Please contact our technical support team on 01444 247020 for further guidance.
- All mats are assumed to be installed beneath the appropriate floor finish using compatible adhesives, levelling compounds, or underlays approved for use with electric underfloor heating.
