Ambermat 150w/m2 Concrete Floor Installation Guide

Ambert
Installation Manual

Thank you for investing in our
Amber underfloor heating system
In this instruction manual you wi ll find important information regarding the installation of your underfloor heating system. Please follow the step-by-step instructions, ensuring
complete care is taken. Check with the floor manufacturer if you have any doubt about the suitability of laying our heating mat/s under your floor covering.
All our underfloor heating mats come with a 12-year warranty. Please register your product within 30 days from completion of installation, using our warranty registration
form, which can be found at www.amberufh.co.uk.
This warranty is only valid if installed by an IET 17th Edition qualified electrician/ electrical contractor. The installation must conform to Part P of the Building Regulations
2005. For full terms and conditions relating to our warranty please visit our website www.amberufh.co.uk
Please note: The warranty does not extend to costs of relaying, replacing or repairing any floor covering or floor. The warranty is not valid if faults are caused by damage, incorrect installation or misuse. 

 4  DO’s and DONT’s
5  Floor Coverings
6-8 Step-by-Step Installation Guide
9  Resistance Values
10 Floor Plan
11 Floor Build-ups.

Unit 4, Brickfields Business Park
Old Stowmarket Road
Woolpit Suffolk IP30 9QS
Phone: 0800 056 0494
Fax: 0800 652 4165
For technical support: [email protected]
Website: www.amberufh.co.uk

DO’s
DO read through the instructions carefully before beginning work
DO ensure your floor base has no sharp debris or objects such as nail heads protruding before beginning your installation
DO cover both heating cable and connection joint under the flooring.
DO check the AmberMat will fit into  the free floor area of the room, prior to unpacking
DO test the cable before installing, and then before and after covering AmberMat
DO ensure the AmberMat is encapsulated in flexible tile adhesive / flexible leveling compound, prior to your floor finish being laid
DO be careful not to damage the cable at any stage during the installation
DO check the heat loss if this is to be the sole heat source
DO ensure the system is controlled by a thermostat with a floor sensor
DO consider additionally insulating your sub-floor before installing the underfloor heating system
DO ensure the system is protected by a suitable dedicated RCD (30mA)

DONT’s
DON’T install the mat across two or
DON’T install the mat across two or more rooms
DON’T place the cable under any fixed furniture such as kitchen units, baths or showers
DON’T touch or cross the heating cables o damage the cable
DON’T cut the yellow heating cable
DON’T lay the system so that any cables are closer than 3cm to each other
DON’T install the floor temperature sensor close to other heat sources such as hot water pipes
DON’T turn on the heating mat while it is rolled up
DON’T install the system if the ambient temperature is below 5ºC as the cables can become less flexible
DON’T bend the joint between the heating cable and the black cold tail

Floor Finishes & Coverings

The underfloor heating system is compatible with the following most common floor finishes, such as:

	Tile / Stone Fully encapsulate the AmberMat within either a flexible smoothing compound or flexible tile adhesive, prior to the tile/floor finish being laid. Amber recommends the use of a plastic trowel when laying tile adhesive, to protect the underfloor heating cable from accidental damage.
	Carpet Fully encapsulate the AmberMat within a 10mm bed of flexible smoothing compound, to provide a minimum of 5mm above the top of the heating element., prior to the carpet floor finish being laid. Avoid rubber or foam-backed carpets. Please check with the carpet manufacturer to ensure the carpet is suitable for underfloor heating.
	Timber Fully encapsulate the AmberMat within a nominal 10mm bed of flexible smoothing compound layer, prior to the timber floor finish being laid. When installing natural wood floors it is recommended that softwood floors should not exceed 20mm in thickness, hardwood floors should not exceed 30mm in thickness.
	Vinyl Fully encapsulate the AmberMat within a 10mm bed of flexible smoothing compound, to provide a minimum of 5mm coverage above the top of the heating element, prior to the vinyl floor finish being laid.

*Floor coverings should not exceed 0.15 m²K/W (1.5 tog)
Please note that thermally resistive items should not be left or installed onto underfloor heating in a way where heat can become trapped. This trapped heat could cause failure if left without due care or attention.
Possible examples of thermally resistive items could be heavy rugs, bean bags or a mattress laid in direct contact with the floor. Some items of furniture that do not allow air flow could also cause concern. If you are unsure please contact Amber.

Installing the AmberMat 
Step-by-step guide

Let’s get started
A. Plan: Use your plan to calculate the heated area, working out how to lay the mat evenly across the floor whilst avoiding all floor obstructions and closing floor fitting objects (pipes, baths, cupboards). Detail on your plan the location of the cold tail (where the mat starts), floor sensor and connection box. It is acceptable to lay the AmberMat under suspended cupboards, washbasins and wall-mounted toilet pans. B. Once the floor is prepared: Mark the positions of the floor fitting objects that will be installed once the floor is finished, so these can be avoided when laying the mat.

Testing your AmberMat
At each stage of the installation, it is recommended that you test your AmberMat for the following:
CONTINUITY – This checks that the heating cable (blue and black wires) are intact and have the correct resistance. Checked with a multimeter, the resistance reading should match the rating on the cold tail label with a tolerance of -5 to +10%. Ensure your multimeter is capable of reading values between 28-800 ohms.
INSULATION – This checks that the earth screen around the heating cable has not been damaged and shorted to the heating cables. The test can be made with a multimeter and can be done by testing both the path between the blue cable and the earth screen and also the black cable and the earth screen – both should read infinity.

Preparation

The subfloor must be prepared as normally required for tiling, ensuring the installation surface is even, stable, dry, clean, and free of sharp objects. When installing onto existing floorboards, it will be necessary to brace the floor with WBP plywood of standard recommended thickness or tile backer boards.
Each mat is supplied with a piece of flexible tubing (only one tube is required for each thermostat), this is to house the floor sensor so that in the unlikely event that the sensor fails, it can be easily removed and replaced without lifting the floor. The sensor should be laid between two cable loops 15-20cm into the floor, avoiding any heat sources.
In some situations, a small channel may have to be made in the floor to accommodate the tubing. If so, cut a channel from the thermostat position approximately 20-30cm across the floor.

Fitting the mat

Remove the plastic outer and place the cold tail of the mat at the connection point. The AmberMat has a self-adhesive backing, lay this towards the floor and roll the mat out, referring to your layout plan. Upon reaching the end of the run, simply cut the grey mesh (NOT THE YELLOW CABLE) and turn the mat, positioning the next piece beside
the first.
When cutting and turning the mat ensure there is a minimum 50mm gap between the cable loops. To avoid risk of damage at a later stage do not lay the mat where objects will be put onto or fixed to the floor. After fitting, measure the resistance value of the mat again. Use the same procedure as in step 2 – then make a note of the values on the
commissioning certificate.
Note: If required, the cable can be removed from the mesh and loops formed manually, but ensure the cables are spaced at 75mm (the same distance as those on the mat)

Fitting/Final Measurement

The mat can now be covered in one of two methods:
CONCRETE AND WOODEN FLOORS USING FLEXIBLE TILE ADHESIVES
Working with a width of AmberMat at a time, apply flexible tile adhesive through the mat with a rubber back trowel or similar so that the heating cable is covered, making sure there are no air pockets. Another layer of adhesive can then be applied carefully using a suitable notched trowel to comb the adhesive before applying the tiles.

CONCRETE AND WOODEN FLOORS USING SELF-LEVELLING COMPOUNDS
An alternative method is to cover the AmberMat with a suitable self-leveling/latex type compound.
This product will find its own level giving you a level surface to then apply a layer of flexible tile adhesive using a suitable notched trowel to comb the adhesive before applying the tiles. Please note: Other floor finishes can be applied, please see page 5 for more details. After covering the mat, measure the resistance value of the mat again. Use the same procedure as in in step 2 – then make a note of the values on the commissioning certificate.
For professional guidance refer to your adhesive manufacturer recommendations.

Finishing

After the work has been completed the floor must dry completely before the floor heating and thermostat are connected. This process usually takes 8-10 days, but you should refer to the adhesive and floor finish manufacturers’ guidelines. To connect the thermostat, please refer to the installation guidelines supplied with the thermostat.

Resistance Values 
Ambert 100W/m 2

Ambert 150W/m 2

Please sketch your floor plan of the room and show the following:
The layout of the mats/cables, indicating your heated area Placement of junction boxes Placement of floor sensor and thermostatAmbert Installation Build-Up

Ambert onto Concrete Floors

1. – Floor Finish
2.  – Adhesive/Levelling Compound
3. – Underflow our Heating Mat
4. – Tile backer Board (recommended)
5. – Concrete Sub-Floor

Ambert onto
Timber Floors

1. – Floor Finish
2. – Adhesive/Levelling Compound
3. – Underflow or Heating Mat
4.  – Tile backer Board (recommended)
5. – Timber Sub-Floor

For optimum performance, Amber always recommends the use of suitable insulation, helping to increase the performance of the heating system.

Need technical help?
Call us on 0800 056 0494

Unit 4, Brickfields Business Park
Old Stowmarket Road
Woolpit Suffolk IP30 9QS
Phone: 0800 056 0494
Fax: 0800 652 4165
For technical support: [email protected]
Website: www.amberufh.co.uk

References

• Amber Underfloor Heating - Quality Electric Underfloor Heating