Installation Guide

16 INSTALLATION
Heating Cables
Warning
• 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 [phone] (USA) or 800-667-8746 (Canada) or from
our website at www.schluter.com.
• If these instructions are not followed, the warranty will be considered null and void and the manufacturer deems no further responsibility for this
product.
• The following instructions must be adhered to in order to avoid personal injuries or property damages, serious injuries and potentially fatal electric
shocks.
• This product must be installed by a qualified person in accordance with this installation handbook and with the Canadian Electric Code Part I
(Canada) or the National Electric Code (U.S.) as applicable. All electric connections must be made by a qualified electrician, according to the
electrical and building codes effective in your region.
• A dedicated circuit is required for each application.
• A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is required for each circuit. The DITRA-HEAT-E-RT/-RSD/-R thermostats include a GFCI, thus a GFCI
circuit breaker is not required when using these thermostats.
• NEVER install a cable designed for a 120 V power source on a 240/208 V power source.
• This cable must be grounded. Connect the heating cable ground to the ground wire from the electrical panel.
• Mark the circuit breaker in the electrical panel that is dedicated to the DITRA-HEAT floor warming system using the identification sticker provided.
Additional stickers provided may be placed on the electrical panel door.
• De-energize all power circuits before installation and servicing.
• Very important: Never CUT or modify the heating cable in any way. This would change the cable resistance, will cause damage to the
cable, and could cause cable overheating.
• Heating cables shall not be altered in the field. If the installer or the user modifies the unit, he will be held responsible for any damage resulting
from this modification, and the warranty and the product certification will be void.
• The heating section of the cable must be entirely installed under the floor covering. The installation is characterized as a Type C (Embedded Floor
Warming) application. In order to prevent a fire hazard, do not install it anywhere else (e.g. in a wall).
• Do not run the heating cable under a wall, from one room to another; an individual cable must not heat more than one room.
• NEVER install the heating cable under vanities, bathtub platforms, kitchen cabinets or any other fixtures or in closets. Excessive heat will build
up in these confined spaces and may cause cable overheating.
• NEVER use the heating cable for any purpose other than heating a floor INSIDE a building.
• Always keep a 3 stud (3-1/2" – 9 cm) spacing between cable runs. A narrower spacing may cause a fire or damage the floor covering. A wider
spacing (e.g., 4 studs) may not provide sufficient power to warm the floor to the desired temperature. Exception: a two stud spacing is used
when connecting the 240 V cable to a 208 V power supply. See page 25 for more information.
• Heating cables may not touch, cross over, or overlap one another.
• Minimum spacing from walls is 3" (75 mm).
• Minimum spacing from fixed cabinets is 2" (50 mm).
• Minimum spacing from other heat sources (baseboard heaters, fireplaces, forced air heating ducts, etc.) is 8" (200 mm).
• Minimum spacing from any plumbing drain is 6" (150 mm).
• It is helpful to plan the location of a buffer zone, as it is not possible to predict where the heating cable will end. The buffer zone is an area where
heating is not essential and heating cable installation is not planned (e.g., behind a toilet or adjacent to a door opening). This area allows for
placement of excess heating cable. Heating cables may also be installed 6" (150 mm) from the wall to create a buffer zone.
• NEVER install the factory splice (i.e., black plastic junction between the cold lead and gray heating cable) in the wall. This will cause overheating,
system failure, and could cause a fire. This splice must be installed entirely under the floor covering, as shown in the heating cable installation
instructions.
• Heating cable testing is required while the heating cable is on the spool and at two subsequent steps during installation to ensure cable quality and for
warranty purposes.
• If a break or damage is detected during the heating cable testing, return the cable to the original place of purchase. Do not proceed with heating cable
installation into the DITRA-HEAT or DITRA-HEAT-TB matting or with the tile covering installation.
• NEVER energize the cable while it is on the spool. This would lead to overheating that could damage the cable and may cause a fire.
• Keep ends of heating devices and kit components dry before and during installation.
• The minimum temperature at which the cable should be installed is 32˚ F (0˚ C).
• Avoid folding the heating cable on itself, a radius of curvature less than 0.0625 inch (1.6 mm) could damage its sheath.
• The minimum installed bending radius of the heating cable is 0.5 inches (12.7 mm).