Fault Location Methods

As a long established specialist in the repair and maintenance of electric floor heating systems, we have extensive experience not only serving individual clients but also collaborating directly with prominent suppliers of floor heating cables, including Ambient, BN Thermic, Devi, Fastwarm, Flexel International, Floor Heating Systems, HeatMat, Rayotec, and The Underfloor Heating Store. And our expertise extends to every manufacturer that has marketed electric floor heating cables in the UK since their inception. Consequently, it is imperative that our fault detection procedures provide all parties with clear verification of the fault's origin, distinguishing between installation related issues and manufacturing defects in the heating cables.

The predominant method of fault detection in widespread use these days involves utilising high voltage equipment to generate a localised hot spot at the fault location, which can then be accurately identified through thermal imaging. We have employed this technique since the 1980s and have become adept in its careful and precise application. However, it is important to note that this approach carries the risk of increasing vulnerabilities in aging installations, potentially leading to additional failures. Therefore, we reserve this method for rare instances and apply it with utmost caution.

Currently, our standard practise in the process of fault location employs a variety of "Soft Options". We begin by analysing various instrument readings to determine the type of fault and its position relative to each end of the heating cable. The results give an approximation of the area of the fault and can reveal if there is more than one fault present in the circuit. We then use radio detection to locate the fault and where necessary, and particularly in the case of multiple faults, we apply non-invasive, low voltage regulated radio detection to amplify the signal and precisely pinpoint the fault(s) down to millimetres.