Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT Installation Handbook 2019 5,5 mm Electric Floor Warming System with Integrated Uncoupling Technology
Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT Electric Floor Warming System with Integrated Uncoupling Technology Ceramic and stone tiles are the ideal surface coverings because they are durable, easy to maintain, and hygienic. However two common barriers to the selection of tile as a floor covering are concerns about cracking and the perception that tiles are cold. Floor warming systems are a growing trend in tile applications, but none address concerns about cracking.
CONTENTS WOOD 4 6 7 7 Floors, Floors, Floors, Floors, Interior Interior Interior Interior – – – – 16, 19.2, & 24-inch o.c.
WOOD Every substrate presents unique challenges All wood materials, including OSB, plywood, and framing members, are subject to expansion, contraction, bending, and deflection as a result of changes in moisture content and loading. Further, these deformations fluctuate over the life of the building structure.
DH-W19-T-19 Ceramic or porcelain tile Schluter SET™, Schluter ALL-SET™, Schluter FAST-SET™, or unmodified thin-set mortar DITRA-HEAT or DITRA-HEAT-DUO uncoupling membrane and heating cables Schluter ALL-SET™, Schluter FAST-SET™, or modified thin-set mortar Single layer of plywood or OSB Joists, I-joists, or trusses 19.2" (488 mm) o.c. joist spacing, single layer OSB or plywood subfloor Areas of Application over any even and structurally sound OSB or plywood subfloor with 19.2" (488 mm) o.c.
Floors, Interior - Natural Stone Tile DH-W-S-19 Natural stone tile Schluter SET™, Schluter ALL-SET™, Schluter FAST-SET™, or unmodified thin-set mortar DITRA-HEAT or DITRA-HEAT-DUO uncoupling membrane and heating cables Schluter ALL-SET™, Schluter FAST-SET™, or modified thin-set mortar Double layer of plywood or OSB Joists, I-joists, or trusses Double layer of OSB or Plywood subfloor Areas of Application over any even and structurally sound double layer OSB or plywood floor interior dry or wet areas Limitat
DH-V-T-19 Tile or wood base Ceramic, porcelain or stone tile RONDEC DILEX-EKE Schluter SET™, Schluter ALL-SET™, Schluter FAST-SET™, or unmodified thin-set mortar KERDI-BAND DITRA-HEAT or DITRA-HEAT-DUO uncoupling membrane and heating cables Schluter FAST-SET™ or fast-setting modified thin-set mortar Existing vinyl Plywood or OSB Joists, I-joists, or trusses Floors, Interior - Existing Vinyl Floors Areas of Application over any even and structurally sound substrate with existing vinyl flooring interior dr
CONCRETE Every substrate presents unique challenges There are various challenges associated with the installation of hard surface coverings on concrete substrates.To begin, the coefficient of thermal expansion of concrete is close to twice that of ceramic tile. Additionally, tile contractors are often expected to install tile over young concrete (concrete cured less than 28 days). However, rigid surface coverings installed over young concrete are susceptible to damage as a result of shrinkage during curing.
GYPSUM Every substrate presents unique challenges Bonding ceramic or stone tiles directly to gypsum concrete substrates is generally considered questionable or not recommended. The challenges associated with gypsum-based underlayments include the requirement of an extended drying period before installing tile and continued sensitivity to the reintroduction of moisture throughout the life of the installation.
SHOWER ASSEMBLY Showers – Ceramic or stone tile Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT Shower Application DH-SH-19 5 8 2 8 1 4 1 2 3 6 8 8 9 7 7 7 15 6 10a 11a 16 10b 3 11b 12 15 3 13 14 14 15 1 Ceramic or stone tile 2 Schluter SET™, Schluter ALL-SET™, 10 Schluter FAST-SET™, or unmodified thin-set mortar 9 Solid backing 13 Schluter ®-SHOWERPROFILE-WSK/-WSL Shower profile 3 Schluter ®-KERDI waterproofing membrane 4 Schluter ®-KERDI-BOARD waterproof building panel 5 Schluter ®-KERDI-BO
Showers – Ceramic or stone tile Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT Shower Application DH-SH-19 Areas of Application Note: Please refer to the Schluter®-Shower System Installation Handbook for installation instructions and warranty criteria for the Schluter®-Shower System. Heating cables must be installed 3 studs from the edge of the KERDI-LINE flange and 2 studs from the edge of the KERDI-DRAIN flange. Interior showers with or without curbless applications. Interior intermittent use steam showers (e.g.
WATERPROOFING Every substrate presents unique challenges Today’s construction methods, which include the use of lightweight, moisture-sensitive materials, such as plywood, OSB, and gypsum concrete, have made the installation of hard surface coverings particularly challenging. If wood or gypsum concrete substrates are exposed to moisture, the tile covering above can be damaged as a result. Typical areas that require waterproofing include tub surrounds and showers.
MOVEMENT JOINTS Every substrate presents unique challenges DISCUSSION Movement joints are an integral part of any tile assembly. The various components of a tile assembly (tile, mortar, substrate, etc.) have unique physical characteristics that affect their behavior. Specifically, these components will expand and contract at different rates, according to each component’s intrinsic physical properties, with changes in moisture, temperature, and loading (both dead and live loads).
Typical movement joint applications 1 Schluter®-DILEX-EKE Perimeter Joints Perimeter joints are provided at the outer edges of any tile installation to accommodate movements attributable to changes in moisture, temperature, and loading. See figures 1, 2, and 3.
Note regarding residential applications Due to the increased popularity of continuous tile installations (i.e., tile continuing from room to room on a given floor), movement joints have become both increasingly important and increasingly difficult to provide. For instance, consider the residential installation shown in Figure 5.
WOOD UNDERLAYMENT Plywood/OSB underlayment installation guidelines DISCUSSION In some applications referenced in this Handbook, adding a layer of plywood or OSB before installing DITRA-HEAT and the ceramic or stone tile covering is required to reduce deflection and curvature of the sheathing between the joists. INSTALLATION GUIDE Place underlayment panels (Exposure 1, plugged-face plywood or OSB) with long dimension perpendicular to floor joists such that the following conditions are met: 1.
INSTALLATION Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT membrane and heating cables Planning For access to the DITRA-HEAT Calculation Sheet and DITRA-HEAT Online Calculator, see www.schluter.com. • Select DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO membrane according to the size of the area to be tiled.
Heating Cables Installation Warning Details • Before installing and operating this product, the user and/or installer must read, understand and follow these instructions and keep them handy for future reference. If you have a question, please contact Customer Service by phone 800-472-4588 (USA) or 800-667-8746 (Canada) or from our website at www.schluter.com.
i To avoid damaging the DITRA-HEAT-E-HK heating cable spool due to handling, we recommend turning the box over to remove the spool from the packaging box. Then pick up the spool from underneath the heating cable coil, but not by the cardboard washers. Heating Cable Tests The following table outlines DITRA-HEAT system warranty coverage based on which heating cable tests are conducted, documented, and submitted to Schluter.
Installation Check to ensure the heating cable(s) purchased match the power supply (i.e., 120 V with 120 V or 240 V with 240 V, or 240 V with 208 V). Check to ensure you are not exceeding the 15 amp limit of the thermostat. Compare the purchased cable area to the floor area to be heated. Important: The cable area purchased should be as close to the heated area as possible, without going over. The heating cable CANNOT be trimmed or shortened to fit.
Waterproofing The following steps are required for waterproofing only: Note: While the heating cable is protected by the DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO matting, be careful when applying the mortar to not damage the cable with the notched trowel. 1 At the joints, fill the matting with Schluter SET™, Schluter ALL-SET™, Schluter FASTSET™, or unmodified thin-set mortar, approximately 8" (203 mm) wide, centered over the joint.
Tiles Note: While the heating cable is protected by the DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO matting, be careful when applying the mortar to not damage the cable with the notched trowel. 1 Tile can be installed over DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO immediately; no need to wait for the mortar to cure. Fill the matting with Schluter SET™, Schluter ALL-SET™, Schluter FAST-SET™, or unmodified thin-set mortar and comb additional mortar over the matting using a trowel that is appropriate for the size of the tile.
THIN-SET FACTS Discussion of thin-set mortars and Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT installations Schluter®-Systems offers thin-set mortars designed for use with Schluter® membranes and boards. All Schluter®-Systems’ thin-set mortars, including the Schluter ALL-SET™ and Schluter FAST-SET™ modified varieties, can be used to set tile over Schluter®-DITRA, DITRA-HEAT, KERDI, KERDI-BOARD non absorptive substrates.
HEATING CABLE SPECIFICATION Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-HK DITRA-HEAT-E-HK are twisted pair heating cables designed for integration with the DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO uncoupling membranes in interior floor warming applications. Item No.
TESTING & CERTIFICATIONS Product Evaluation Schluter®-Systems is committed to providing reliable installation systems for ceramic and stone tile. As part of this commitment, we have invested considerable resources in testing our products and obtaining certifications where applicable to provide our customers and local code officials with relevant data that supports the efficacy of our systems. All the testing referenced below was performed by independent laboratories.
Vapor Management The free space under the DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO mattings allow the substrate to breathe, while the material composition provides for a very low water vapor permeance, which prevents any significant vapor intrusion in the tile assembly from below. Product Schluter -DITRA-HEAT Test Method ® Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT-DUO ASTM E96* Performance 0.21 perms 0.
SOUND CONTROL Discussion of sound control in conjunction with ceramic & stone tile Controlling sound transmission through floor/ceiling assemblies in multi-story construction can present challenges to architects and design professionals, particularly when hard surface coverings, including ceramic and stone tiles, are used. This is because sound control materials tend to be compressible and may not provide adequate support for the tile layer in thin-set applications.
Test Results Test results of assemblies with DITRA-HEAT-DUO and porcelain tile over concrete are listed in the table below. DITRA-HEAT-DUO with porcelain tile received a rating of ΔIIC 20, a significant contribution to sound rated floor-ceiling designs. To further improve IIC ratings, sound rated ceilings can be installed below the subfloor. Wood construction sound tests are in progress. No.
DITRA-HEAT-DUO Solution to improve floor warming response time The challenge of concrete substrates Concrete substrates can absorb enough heat energy to significantly increase the time it takes for floors to warm up, particularly when there is no insulation layer below the concrete. In some cases, floors may never reach the desired temperature.
CONCRETE SUBFLOORS Discussion on Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT installations over concrete subfloors Concrete substrates absorb more heat energy than wood substrates. As such, the time required for an electric floor warming system, such as Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT, to bring a tile covering to the desired temperature will be longer for applications over concrete than for applications over plywood/OSB.
208 V APPLICATIONS Discussion of Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-HK Heating Cables in 208 V Applications Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT offers complete flexibility when creating warm floors in any application. Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT-E-HK heating cables are designed for use with common 120 V and 240 V power sources. 208 V power sources are used in some cases to handle larger loads (e.g., HVAC equipment, motors, etc.) or to improve energy efficiency.
SPACE HEATING Discussion on use of Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT for space heating QUESTION: Can I use DITRA-HEAT to heat my bathroom, kitchen, or other areas in the home? ANSWER: It is possible, but full analysis of the application by a HVAC professional is required: Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT is intended to warm tile floors and make them more comfortable underfoot, but can contribute to space heating.
NATURAL STONE Discussion of natural stone and single-layer wood subfloors Natural stone is a product of nature with a wide variety of colors, patterns, and textures that come together to distinguish it as one of the premiere surface coverings available on the market. Some of stone’s characteristics, which add to its beauty and uniqueness, are veins, fissures, starts, and dry-seams.
PRODUCT & ORDERING INFO The ordering information for the Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT, DITRA-HEAT-DUO, and KERDI components outlined in this Handbook is located below. For technical support, Illustrated Price List, or to receive additional information on our complete product line, please call 800472-4588 (USA) or 800-667-8746 (Canada), or visit our comprehensive website at www.schluter.com.
Schluter ®-DITRA-HEAT-E-HK DITRA-HEAT-E-HK are twisted pair heating cables designed for integration with the DITRA-HEAT and DITRA-HEAT-DUO uncoupling membranes in interior floor warming applications. The cables can be installed without returning to the thermostat and produce virtually zero electromagnetic fields. Item No.
Schluter ®-DITRA-HEAT-E-KIT The DITRA-HEAT-E-KIT is an all-inclusive package containing the DITRA-HEAT uncoupling membrane, heating cable, and DITRA-HEAT-E-WiFi programmable Wi-Fi touchscreen thermostat. Kit containing all necessary components Item No. Matting Heating cable Thermostat DHE K RT W 120 40 5 sheets – 43.1 ft2 (4.0 m2) 88' 3" – 26.7 ft2 (26.9 m – 2.5 m2) 1 – white, programmable Wi-Fi touchscreen Kit containing all necessary components DHE K RT 120 40 Item No. 5 sheets – 43.1 ft2 (4.
Schluter ®-KERDI-FIX KERDI-FIX is a single-component sealing and bonding compound with a silane-modified polymer base. It is odor-neutral, UV- and weather-resistant, and contains no solvents. KERDI-FIX is elastomeric and bonds well to most materials, such as wood, stone, concrete, metal, glass, and many plastics. KERDI-FIX is suitable for the bonding of KERDI waterproofing membrane to vertical sections of floor/wall transitions that will not accept a bond to unmodified thin-set mortar.
HEATING CABLE TESTS LOG Validation for warranty coverage Each heating cable is subject to factory quality control. However, damage to the cables may happen after the product leaves the factory. In order to ensure that the cable quality remains unchanged throughout the installation process and for warranty purposes, tests must be conducted while the cable is still on the spool and during two specific subsequent steps.
Notes : NOTES 39
WARRANTIES Schluter ®-DITRA-HEAT System 15-Year Limited Warranty LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE: Subject to the conditions and limitations as stated in this Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT System 15-Year Limited Warranty (the “Limited Warranty”), Schluter Systems warrants that its Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT System (defined hereafter) will be free from manufacturing defects and will perform as described in the Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT Installation Handbook and Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT Technical Data Sheet (collectively, the “Written Mate
Schluter ®-DITRA-HEAT and Schluter ®-DITRA-HEAT-DUO 10-Year Limited Warranty LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE: Subject to the conditions and limitations as stated in this Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT and Schluter-DITRA-HEAT-DUO Uncoupling Membrane 10-Year Limited Warranty (the “Limited Warranty”), Schluter Systems warrants that its Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT and Schluter-DITRA-HEATDUO uncoupling membranes (the “Products”) will be free from manufacturing defects and will perform as described in the Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT Installat
Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT Thermostat 3-Year Limited Warranty LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE: Subject to the conditions and limitations as stated in this Schluter®-DITRA-HEAT Thermostat 3-Year Limited Warranty (the “Limited Warranty”), Schluter Systems warrants that its Programmable Wi-Fi Thermostat (DHE RT 104/BW), Touchscreen Programmable Thermostat (DHE RT 102/ BW), Non-Programmable Thermostat (DHE RT 103/BW), and Power Module (DHE RR 1/BW) (hereafter collectively referred to as the “Products”) will be free from ma
Schluter®-Systems Lifetime Thin-Set System Extended Limited Warranty LIMITED WARRANTY COVERAGE: Subject to the conditions and limitations as stated in this Lifetime Thin-Set System Extended Limited Warranty (the “Limited Warranty”), Schluter Systems warrants that a Thin-Set System (defined hereafter) will be free from manufacturing defects and will perform as described in the applicable installation handbook(s) and/or technical data sheet(s) (collectively, the “Written Materials1” ) for the lifetime (define
= Labor and materials are covered when Schluter® heating cables are installed with DITRA-HEAT. See complete warranty on page 40. 554508 10/2018 © 2018 Schluter Systems L.P. + System warranty! Schluter Systems L.P. • 194 Pleasant Ridge Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901-5841 • Tel.: 800-472-4588 • Fax: 800-477-9783 Schluter Systems (Canada) Inc. • 21100 chemin Ste-Marie, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3Y8 • Tel.: 800-667-8746 • Fax: 877-667-2410 www.schluter.
