Bathrooms and other wet rooms

Tiles are the most common top flooring in bathrooms, but they feel cold when having a temperature of 22-23°C (normal room temperature). Heating cables in bathroom floors are normally used all year round, to keep a comfortable floor temperature of 27-28°C.

Floor Covering
In bathrooms, tile is the most common floor covering, but coverings made from PVC or other plastic materials are also widely used. When using tiles, Nexans recommends a maximum installed power of 150W/sqm. 160W/sqm is an absolute limit of what is approved, and an installed power higher than this will void the warranty of the heating cable.

Using PVC flooring, or similar, Nexans recommends installing a maximum of 100W/sqm, but this is in the interests of the flooring and the possibility of discoloration of this. If a supplier of such flooring approves higher installed power, then the same limitations as when using tiles apply. Note, however, that a thicker layer of screeds is required when using PVC flooring as compared to using tiles.

Heat Obstacles
Heat obstacles are objects in and on the floor, near, or under, which heating cables must not be installed. Examples of these are an integrated bathtub, cabinet with a base (not feet), drains, and piping in the floor. If much floor area is lost on account of heat obstacles, it may be necessary, or desirable, to increase the installed power in the remaining, available area, so as to ensure sufficient heating of the whole room.