Winter is not only about white, spectacular landscapes, but also slippery, icy roads and sidewalks, freezing pipes and fragile home installations. That is why it is worth installing heating systems that will ensure the full safety of residents and the comfort of maintaining buildings and properties.
nVent RAYCHEM heating cables
Modern, intelligent control systems can reduce energy consumption so that systems operate only when needed. Maintaining positive temperatures along pipes exposed to freezing, which turn on several times in the winter months when the temperature drops below zero, is practically unnoticeable on electricity bills. This is when the system prevents costly failures and saves us a lot of trouble.
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Protecting pipes from freezing and damage in winter conditions
A long winter can take its toll not only on all of us, but also on buildings and installations. Frozen pipes are a costly problem – when exposed to freezing temperatures, they burst, leading to significant damage and disruptions to the functioning of facilities.
The purpose of electric heating systems is to protect water and sewage pipes from freezing, to protect installations supplying heating oil or other liquids that change their physicochemical properties under the influence of low temperatures, and to maintain the proper temperature of the pipeline. The use of thermal insulation alone or increasing its thickness is often insufficient or unfavorable for economic reasons. Especially in the absence of a continuous flow of the medium in the installation, the use of electric heating is necessary.
Electric self-regulating heating cables are suitable for many applications:
- protection against freezing of water pipes, cables laid on pipes: nVent RAYCHEM 10XL2-ZH (10 W/m at 5°C), nVent RAYCHEM FroStop Black (18 W/m at 5°C),
- protection against freezing of water pipes, cables installed inside the pipes: nVent RAYCHEM ETL-10 (10 W/m at 5°C in air, 20 W/m at 5°C in water),
- maintaining the temperature of sewage pipes containing fatty substances: nVent RAYCHEM 31XL- 2-ZH (31 W/m at 5°C).
The pipes can be used for both metal and plastic pipes. They are laid along the pipeline under the insulation layer. The heating power that should be supplied to compensate for heat losses, i.e. which pipe should be used and what thermal insulation - we calculate or select based on ready-made heat loss tables. A complete set of components and controllers can be selected for each system. Thermostats are used to control the operation of such circuits. Basic control consists in measuring the surface temperature of the pipeline at its coldest point and switching on the heating circuits when the temperature reaches the set value. For larger installations, it is justified to use thermostats with an energy saving function, e.g. nVent RAYCHEM RAYSTAT-V5.
nVent RAYCHEM heating cables
Anti-icing system - comfortable access in winter
Electric heating systems are also an effective method of maintaining pavement surfaces, driveways and walkways in a condition that ensures smooth and safe movement. A properly designed and implemented anti-icing system guarantees the safety of vehicular and pedestrian traffic, reduces the costs of repairing pavement damage caused by freezing water, saves energy and time on removing ice and protects the environment from the use of defrosting substances.
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Benefits of this solution:
- permanent, 24/7 access to the building,
- roads clear snow "by themselves" - the system eliminates the need for snow removal
manual, - limiting the time of snow removal – the system prevents the formation of snowdrifts as they are formed,
- low system costs – the system only works when it snows. Thanks to the use of controllers, the heating system turns on when the temperature drops below the programmed value and at the same time there is precipitation.
How to choose the right heating system?
The heating system should be selected depending on the type of surface and its intended use. The description of the individual systems is provided below. To sum up, electric heating of external surfaces is a convenience that we can afford, and in the wide range available on the market - everyone will find a system suitable for their requirements and needs. That is why this solution, so popular in countries with severe winters, is quickly being adopted here as well.
Asphalt driveways
High temperature mineral insulated EM2-MI heating cables are the best solution for heating systems laid in hot asphalt. No other heating cable is as resistant to high temperatures and damage during installation. Available in sets from 1270 W to 4290 W, the EM2-MI system can be easily adapted to irregularly shaped surfaces. The factory-terminated heating cables do not require the installation of terminations and cold leads during installation and can be attached to existing reinforcement or spacer tapes.
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Driveways, sidewalks and stairs made of concrete and paving stones
In this case, it will be optimal to use cables and mats with constant resistance. This is the most economical solution, characterized by simplicity and short installation time. Raychem EM2-CM heating mats with a power of 300 W/m² and a width of 60 cm are well suited for snow removal from sidewalks and driving lanes. They can be unrolled immediately before pouring concrete.
Raychem EM4-CW factory-terminated 25 W/m constant resistance heating cables are used on stairs, complex and irregularly shaped surfaces. The 2-core cable construction means only one cold wire needs to be connected to the power supply and controller.
Constant resistance solutions are most often used in single-family housing due to low purchase costs and economical operation.
Concrete, reinforced loading ramps
In places with high traffic volume – parking lots, loading bays, entrances to underground parking lots and even helicopter landing pads and airports – durable and resistant to mechanical damage self-regulating cables nVent RAYCHEM EM2-XR (300 W/m², 90 W/m at 0°C) are used. Thanks to self-regulation technology, these cables maintain the required temperature along the entire length of the heating circuit. They are very safe – they do not overheat even at the intersection.
Self-regulating ducts are the most frequently chosen system for large projects and investments where installation takes place in concrete. By using the nVent RAYCHEM VIA-DU20 controller, the entire system allows for energy savings of up to 80%.
Also available is a factory-built controller for the nVent RAYCHEM SBS-xx-VV-20 power supply and control switchboard, which allows for powering up to 12 heating circuits.
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