Myths and half-truths about carbon films and IP protection

In the world of electric heating, especially carbon heating films, there are many myths, half-truths and distorted facts that often discourage customers from electric heating. In this article, we have focused on these facts.

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Electric underfloor heating with the use of heating films offers many advantages. The biggest ones include low acquisition and operation costs, maintenance-free and full-area heating. Thanks to its thickness, the LARX CARBON-FILM.COM heating system is suitable for all types of new buildings and reconstructions. Heating films are a low-temperature type of heating. They do not cause dust swirling or air drying, so they are an ideal type of underfloor heating for allergy sufferers, asthmatics and other people with respiratory problems.

The heating film is very simple in construction. It is a carbon paste applied by CNT (“carbon nanotubes”) technology between two copper strips fused between two strips of PET foil. The performance of the heating film is affected by the concentration of carbon in the applied paste. The carbon heating film is supplied in strips 50 cm wide, rolled into a roll with a roll of 100 m (our “yellow” foil 50 m). The strips can be divided at the marked places by cutting. After disassembly according to the laying plan, the individual strips must be electrically connected by conductors with double Teflon insulation (so-called cold cable), the ends of which are connected to the copper strips at the edges of the foil by mechanical pressing of the connector.

IP certification for heating film

We often encounter questions about the IP certification of our LARX carbon films to see if our films are as durable as the competitors ones. As mentioned above, the carbon film is always sealed between two layers of PET lamination. PET is a material that lasts in water practically indefinitely – see ordinary PET bottles. Therefore, declaring an IP certification for the carbon film itself is unnecessary. The only place endangered by water are the connectors. These can corrode and are therefore always insulated with strong self-curing butyl tape.

This clearly states that the water resistance depends on the quality of the insulation of the connectors on the construction site. The certification of the film itself in the laboratory does not say anything about this and is unnecessary. We not only care about the quality of insulation during installation, it is our daily bread. When installing under a concrete or anhydrite layer, we use a LARX-resistant carbon film designed for this purpose with double lamination and we always insulate not only the connectors, but the entire cutting edges with butyl tape. This guarantees a long service life.

Carbon heating films and reflective foils

According to some sellers of heating films, reflective foil can reflect radiant heat towards the room and thus reduce heating costs. But is it really so? No, don’t believe them. Radiant heat spreads between surfaces of different temperatures that do not touch each other. Therefore, if we place the heating foil directly on the reflective foil, no gap will be created between the heat source and the reflective foil. The heat will continue to propagate down the reflective film, as if the reflective foil was not there. Reflective metal can cause side effects. Reflective foil in combination with carbon heating film is therefore only a marketing ploy of insincere sales representatives of some sellers of heating films.

Carbon heating films and electromagnetic smog

Electromagnetic smog, ie radiation that is created by the passage of an electric current through metal conductors. But carbon is not a metal. Heating films have negligible metal components and therefore the production of electromagnetic smog is minimal, especially in comparison with heating cables or mats, which are metal, and therefore the production of smog in the room is much higher. The LARX CARBON-FILM.COM heating system meets all European and Czech standards and the strictest European certificates for operation in living rooms.

The cost of purchasing a heating system can be significantly reduced by installing heating film yourself. The installation of the LARX CARBON-FILM.COM heating system itself is simple and can be done by any skilled electrician. On our website you will find instructions, procedures, videos and lots of other information on how to install heating films yourself.

Heat travels from a warm area to a cool area by a combination of conduction, convection, and radiation. Heat flows by conduction from a hotter location within a material or assembly to a colder location, like the way a spoon placed in a hot cup of coffee conducts heat through its handle to your hand. Heat transfer by convection occurs when a liquid or gas -- air, for example -- is heated, becomes less dense, and rises. As the liquid or gas cools, it becomes denser and falls. Radiant heat travels in a straight line away from any surface and heats anything solid that absorbs its energy.

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Most common insulation materials work by slowing conductive heat flow and -- to a lesser extent -- convective heat flow. Radiant barriers and reflective insulation systems work by reducing radiant heat gain. To be effective, the reflective surface must face an air space. Dust accumulation on the reflective surface will reduce its reflective capability. The radiant barrier should be installed in a manner to minimize dust accumulation on the reflective surface.

When the sun heats a roof, it's primarily the sun's radiant energy that makes the roof hot. Much of this heat travels by conduction through the roofing materials to the attic side of the roof. The hot roof material then radiates its gained heat energy onto the cooler attic surfaces, including the air ducts and the attic floor. A radiant barrier reduces the radiant heat transfer from the underside of the roof to the other surfaces in the attic.

A radiant barrier works best when it is perpendicular to the radiant energy striking it. Also, the greater the temperature difference between the sides of the radiant barrier material, the greater the benefits a radiant barrier can offer.

Radiant barriers are more effective in hot climates than in cool climates, especially when cooling air ducts are located in the attic. Some studies show that radiant barriers can reduce cooling costs 5% to 10% when used in a warm, sunny climate. The reduced heat gain may even allow for a smaller air conditioning system. In cool climates, however, it's usually more cost-effective to install more thermal insulation than to add a radiant barrier.

A radiant barrier's effectiveness depends on proper installation, so it's best to use a certified installer. If you choose to do the installation yourself, carefully study and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safety precautions and check your local building and fire codes. The reflective insulation trade association also offers installation tips.

It's easier to incorporate radiant barriers into a new home, but you can also install them in an existing home, especially if it has an open attic. In a new house, an installer typically drapes a rolled-foil radiant barrier foil-face down between the roof rafters to minimize dust accumulation on the reflective faces (double-faced radiant barriers are available). This is generally done just before the roof sheathing goes on, but can be done afterwards from inside the attic by stapling the material to the bottom of the rafters.

When installing a foil-type barrier, it's important to allow the material to "droop" between the attachment points to make at least a 1.0 inch (2.5 cm) air space between it and the bottom of the roof. Foil-faced plywood or oriented strand board sheathing is also available.

Note that reflective foil will conduct electricity, so workers and homeowners must avoid making contact with bare electrical wiring. If installed on top of attic floor insulation, the foil will be susceptible to dust accumulation and may trap moisture in fiber insulation, so it is strongly recommended that you NOT apply radiant barriers directly on top of the attic floor insulation.

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