FAQs for Industrial Products

There are three main differences between Residential and Industrial Heated Mats.

1. The rubber material that is used for the Industrial Mats is more durable than the thermoplastic material used in the Residential Mats. As a result, the Industrial Mats are better suited for high traffic areas with hundreds of people walking on them every day. The Residential Mats are meant to handle a few people a day.
2. The Residential Mats come in a variety of sizes - 20" x 60" & 30" x 60" (walkway mats) and 10" x 30" & 10" x 48" (stair mats) - and will likely be too small for most industrial applications. The Industrial Mats come in a variety of lengths and widths and can be made in custom sizes (see below for more details on size).
3. In contrast to the Residential Walkway Mats that need to be daisy-chained together to cover large areas, the Industrial Walkway Mats come in large enough sizes to cover large sections of walkways without the need for multiple connector cables. For example, to cover a 20 foot long walkway with the Residential Walkway Mats, you will need 4 mats - each with a connector cable to allow them all to operate on a single plug. With the Industrial Walkway Mats, you can purchase 1 mat that is 20' long and have no connector cables along the walkway. This is preferable to the safety conscious maintenance professional. (Note: the Industrial Stair Mats do daisy-chain together as the connectors lie off to the side of the stair case and are not a safety hazard.)

The cost to operate the HeatTrak mat depends on the size of the mat. On average, each mat costs approximately $0.15 an hour to operate. Assuming the mat is on for 4-6 hours per snow day, the approximate cost per snow day to operate is between $0.60 and $0.90.

The mats are very durable and are designed to be left outside for the entire winter season. The winter elements will not harm the mat in any way.

The mats only need to be left on during the snowfall and/or for a period of time after the snowfall. Best is to have an electrician wire the outlet to a switch inside the home/facility or to a snow sensor/controller (see below). This way the mats can be turned on and off from inside. It is preferable not to remove the mats from the outlet during the winter.

No.

Yes. There are automatic controllers that can turn your mat on and off. HeatTrak sells two types of controllers (see accessories). The first is a thermostat controller (EH38) that plugs directly into the outlet. This controller will power the outlet whenever the temperature drops below 38 degrees Fahrenheit. However, once energized, the controller will stay on until the temperature rises above 50 degrees Fahrenheit (may not be the best option depending on your climate). This controller does not require any professional installation. The second is a snow sensing controller (DS-2B). This device will turn the mat on whenever it senses moisture AND the temperature is below 38 degrees Fahrenheit. This controller must be hardwired into the circuit by a certified electrician. Each DS-2B can handle up to 30 amps. However, in our opinion, the best option is still to manually turn the mats on or off by having an electrician wire the outlet to a switch inside the facility, or leave them on all season long (depending on your budget).

These mats require an electrical outlet. If there is no outlet the mats will not work.

The number of mats that can plug into a single outlet depends on the mats' total amperage and the circuit breaker rating. Most household circuits can handle 15 amps. For a listing of the amperage for each mat size, refer to the "Products" page under "Product Specifications".

Residential Mats operate on 120 Volt. Industrial Mats can be manufactured to operate on either 120V, 208V or 240V current. However, the 36" x 20' mat can only come in 208V, 240V since it is so large. HeatTrak often makes custom size mats for customers' specific applications. It is best to call HeatTrak with voltage questions for all custom size mats.

Yes, for 99% of the time. There is a possibility that the 2 GFCI's will interfere with each other and cause the mats not to turn on. This is a rare occurrence, but if you suspect this is happening with your mats, call HeatTrak customer service for possible solutions.

The number of stair mats that can be connected with one plug depends on the size of the stair mat. No more than 13 amps should be put on a single plug.

he mats will maintain an average temperature of 40 degrees above the ambient temperature. So for example, if the ambient temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit, the mat's temperature will be approximately 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

The best way to use the HeatTrak mats is to turn them on before the snow begins to fall. This way, no snow will accumulate on the mats, since the snowflakes will evaporate as soon as they fall. If you turn the mats on after the snow has already fallen they will melt snow at a rate of 2 inches per hour.

The mats will melt snow at an average rate of 2" per hour (approximately).

It depends on how long the mats have been turned on and what the ground surface is made of. If you turn the mats on a few hours before a snow fall, chances are you will have snow build-up along the 1.5" perimeter of the mat. This is because there are no heating elements inside this area of the mat. However, if the mat has been turned on for a full day or so before the snowfall, then the heat from the mat will have absorbed into the ground and spread beyond the mat by about 1 -2". In this case you will have snow melting coverage well beyond the size of the mat. This is especially true if the ground surface is cement or concrete, where heat is easily retained. This will not be the case if the surface is wood.

The best way to use the HeatTrak mats is to turn them on before the snow begins to fall. This way, there will not be any water accumulation when the snow melts, because the snowflakes will evaporate as soon as they land on the mat. However, you can turn the mats on after the snow has already fallen on them. In this case, give the mat a few hours to melt through the snow. When the snow melts, there will be a slight water run-off, but the run-off will go under the snow that surrounds the mat. Also, there will be small puddles on the mat until the water completely evaporates. But have no fear, these small puddles will be beneath the non-slip treading, so there will not be any slip hazard. Eventually, all the water will evaporate.

No. The mats have a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) below the plug. This GFCI will instantaneously shut off all power to the mat if it detects a current leakage of more than 6mA. Therefore, should there ever be a cut in the mat that could potentially cause harm, the GFCI will immediately detect it and shut off all power to the mat. Additionally, all HeatTrak products are tested and approved to the UL standard 499, and carry the mark of the TUV.

he HeatTrak Walkway Mats and Stair Mats are designed with grommet holes to make securing the mats both simple and effective. To secure the mats, we recommend using screws that are appropriate for that specific surface (i.e. wood screws, concrete screws, etc.).

3/8".

The mat comes with a 6' long cord. You can use an extension cord as long as it is rated for outdoor use and you properly cover the connection point of the two cords so that water does not touch the electrical pins. Custom link extension cords are also available upon request.

The default location of the power cord is on the lower right corner of the mat, which is also the upper left corner if you rotate the mat. See below. The power cord can be reversed to the other side if requested in the purchase order.

Wherever you want. The stair mats are designed to daisy chain together using their built-in watertight connectors, so the power plug can be connected to either the top or bottom step in your series.

18". But custom length extension cables are available if a longer connection is needed.

TThe plug on the mat looks like the diagrams below. Make sure the outlet you are plugging the mat into has a similar looking receptacle.

Yes, as long as the width is 11", 24", 36" or 48" and the length is not longer than 30 feet. We recommend you contact our sales team for specific questions.

For a listing of weights per size, refer to the "Products" page under "Product Specifications".

All HeatTrak products come with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty.

All HeatTrak Mats can either be rolled up or laid flat to store. Prior to storing your mats inspect all electrical cords, plugs, external thermostats, and remote control devices to ensure all are in working order and not damaged. If replacements are required, order accordingly. Mats should be cleaned with a mild dish detergent and scrub brush to remove dirt, salt, or any other debris. Hose the mats down and allow to air dry. Make sure any connector fittings are secured with caps or electrical tape to prevent ingress of water or moisture. Mats should be stored in a location where the cords and plugs cannot be cut or damaged. If you are rolling your mats for storage, the grit surface should always be on the outside and the smooth rubber on the inside. This will prevent the ends of the mat from curling.