Solutions to prevent the buildup of snow and ice on various installations and outdoor surfaces.
In cold climates, there is often a need to protect various types of installations, mainly gutters and downpipes, roofs, and outdoor surfaces such as sidewalks, parking ramps, and stairs, from snow, ice, and frost. Thanks to their effectiveness and ease of installation and use, heating cables have become the go-to solution for these applications.
→ For the de-icing of outdoor surfaces, a surface power of 250-300W/m2 is installed to ensure that the system operates effectively at temperatures well below freezing point.
Thanks to heating cables, it is possible to protect any access route (sidewalk, entrance, parking ramp, loading dock, stairs, etc.) against ice formation and snow accumulation.
Regulation is a key element for the proper functioning of the system, enabling immediate activation as soon as frost risk appears. In addition to controlling temperature, the system needs to monitor the moisture of the surface to be protected. Manual and delayed activation of the cables would result in several hours of delay before the snow is cleared.
On pedestrian pathways, the cable is installed in a sand bed or within a layer of concrete.
On stairs or terraces, the cable can be installed directly into the adhesive mortar used to fix the floor covering.
For vehicle access routes, it is recommended to embed the cable in a layer of concrete to protect it from potential damage caused by the load supported by the roadway.
In areas with frequent snowfall, one of the main problems occurs in the gutters and downpipes of roofs. When accumulated snow begins to melt due to sunlight or heat loss from poorly insulated homes, the resulting water can refreeze in the gutters and downpipes. This phenomenon causes a series of issues:
Ice buildup can damage pipes due to frost pressure or the weight of the ice itself.
Blocked water can form icicles or seep under the roof covering or behind the façade, causing significant structural damage when it refreezes.
Installing heating cables in gutters and downpipes provides a simple and effective solution to these problems. For standard ducts (up to 150 mm in diameter), it is recommended to use a power output of 30 to 40 W/m, increasing to 60 W/m in higher altitude areas. To efficiently cover a larger surface area, it is advisable to use 15 to 20 W/m cables arranged in 2 to 3 strips.
Heating cables are secured using clips and plastic chains specifically designed to ensure proper placement and durability. Additionally, entire roofs can be protected by installing heating cables in a zig-zag pattern with an approximate power of 200 W/m², or 250–300 W/m² in colder areas.
For efficient operation, it is essential to have a regulation system that controls both temperature and humidity. Manual activation may lead to partial de-icing, leaving ice patches that act as thermal insulators and hinder complete removal. Therefore, we recommend automatic regulation systems that optimally activate the heating cables based on weather conditions.
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