Heating mat for sauna and spa
High temperatures in saunas are obtained thanks to special furnaces. Often the main source of heat is heated stones, which are poured with water in order to obtain adequate humidity. However, it turns out that often the floor and seats must be additionally heated with the help of heating mats. Why is their installation advisable and what are their characteristics? We will tell you about it in the following article.
Are heating mats needed in saunas and spas?
Installation of surface heating in the sauna may be questionable, since such rooms are heated with special stoves and it is hot there. However, warm air tends to rise upward (which is why radiators in homes are installed near the floor). In addition, thermal inertia must be taken into account.
Sauna benches and floor are made of materials with low thermal conductivity. Otherwise, after a few hours they would be so hot that it would be impossible to sit on them. On the other hand, the slower heating of the seats means that they will be cool when in use. The situation is similar with the floor, which must be neither too hot nor too cold. That's why benches are often made of soft wood, while floors are tiled, cement or highly resistant vinyl. In order to maintain the optimal temperature, heating mats are installed in them. They keep the floors and benches warm and pleasant to the touch.
Safety always comes first
In saunas and baths there is high humidity. These are difficult conditions for electrical installations. On the other hand, the safety of users should always come first. For this reason, heating mats QucikNet from nVent RAYCHEM provide above-average safety standards, in their construction ensured:
- protective PE jacket, which is a double, tightly overlapping aluminum foil, connected to ground to protect against shock in case of a puncture,
- insulation resistance withstanding more than 2,500 V DC; standard solutions use insulation up to 500 or 1000 V DC,
- insulation of the inner conductors made of PTFE (fluoropolymer), which provides the most stable operation at high temperatures (reaching up to 260°C),
- increased mechanical strength, amounting to more than 1500 N,
- the heating mat's increased safety level is also certified by the largest number of certificates and standards on the market - QuickNet meets even the strictest requirements.
Prioritizing user safety should always be a priority when installing heating mats. However, the way they are installed, as well as the stringent standards to be met, make heating floors and benches with QuickNet mats pose no danger, which is why it is the most frequently chosen solution by designers.
Application of heating mats in spa areas
Heating mats are perfect for baths and saunas. For similar reasons, surface heating is used in the spa and wellness industry.
Heating mats in steam baths
In steam baths, heating is provided by special hot steam generators that automatically maintain optimal humidity levels. The temperature in a steam sauna is in the range of 45-55°C. The floor, seats and walls are usually covered with a mosaic of ceramic tiles and require separate heating for the comfort of the user to provide pleasant warmth. High humidity, above 40%, promotes the use of heating mats, which do not access the air in the room.
Heating mat for dry sauna
In a dry sauna, humidity is kept low, up to 15%. However, the air temperatures reached can reach up to 100°C (minimum 60°C). For this reason, it is necessary to use materials with high thermal insulation (wood) to avoid burning the body. However, ceramic tiles on a floor that is not heated despite the high temperature will be cooler than the floor, so with the solution comes the use of QuickNet heating mat.
Heating mat for chaise lounges
The chaise lounges can be found in spa areas. They can also be purchased for the home in luxury form. This is a form of recliner, often made of concrete, marble or finished with a mosaic of small ceramic tiles. Such structures can take a long time to heat up, making them cold and unpleasant to the touch. The spa center, on the other hand, should have fully comfortable conditions for users. That's why heating mats are also used in chaise lounges, in order to increase their temperature for a pleasant experience for our bodies.
Heating mat in massage table
Marble massage tables look very aesthetically pleasing, and thus increase the prestige of the spa salon. This is another example of the use of QuickNet heating mats by designers. As a result, the massage takes place in perfect conditions, and clients are eager to return for more sessions.
Electrical installation
The use of heating mats in spa centers, municipal swimming pools, saunas and baths is common. However, it is worth remembering that an electric surface heating system requires electricity to operate. The connection to the network should be done through appropriate electric shock protection and overcurrent protection.
For this reason, it is recommended that the installation be carried out only by a specialist with the appropriate SEP authorization. This will ensure that the electric floor heating system is fully safe for users. In turn, using the help of PRO RAYCHEM instlators will allow you to further extend the warranty on the applied heating mats.