The icicle-free roof is the latest system for heating the roof of a building, which completely eliminates the possibility of frost formation, which forms not only in gutters, in gutters and along the edges of roofs, but also in other places of its possible occurrence.
To select the most suitable option for you, you need to understand what parameters you need to choose the most optimal solution, taking into account all the conditions and tasks for heating.
Intelligently designed system roof insulation from the inside, drains, gutters and valleys, will allow you to avoid unnecessary and unreasonable costs in the future, as well as ensure high-quality and reliable operation of the entire system for many years of its operation.
The appearance of unwanted ice is very dangerous.
Undesirable consequences of this phenomenon can be identified as follows:
- Fragments of an impressive ice mass that poses a real threat to human life, which can cause significant physical and material damage.
- The ice mass that has come off the roof can damage standing vehicles, as well as cause damage to underlying architectural elements and structures.
- The high mechanical load exerted by water retention on the entire surface of the roof can lead to further wear of the roof and reduce its trouble-free service life.
- Retention of melt water on the roof surface, especially during a thaw, due to the fact that drains and gutters are closed, leads to unwanted leaks, and, accordingly, to significant material damage.
- More often, residential floors located under the roof part, as well as the facade parts of buildings located in the immediate vicinity of the drains, are damaged.
- The need for mechanical cleaning of the roof also significantly reduces its service life.
The success of the implementation of anti-icing systems made using heating cables, first of all, lies in their correct design. Subject to all the features of the roof design and high quality installation, you get:
- The absence of the possible formation of icicles and ice, due to relatively low material costs and very low electricity consumption.
- Ensuring the operability of general drainage systems throughout the winter period and in the off-season.
- Exclusion of the possibility of leakage, as well as mechanical damage to facades and drainage systems.
Complete set and types of systems
Roof and gutter heating systems are equipped with a heating cable and specialized accessories that prevent the formation of frost and help remove ice and snow.
Do-it-yourself roof insulation is very effective.
Anti-icing system - protection against icicles of roofs, is used on roofs of the following types:
- With a "permanent seam", that is, a metal roof.
- With a "variable seam" - a soft type roofing.
Roofs with a variable seam can be made of various roofing materials: metal, plastic, wood, pebbles, rubber and resin.
Anti-icing systems can also be used in gutters made of common materials: metal, plastic and wood; and in funnels made of standard material: metal and plastic.
Components of an anti-icing cable system
Roof anti-icing and roof heating system consists of the following components:
- The heating section is a specialized sleeved cable designed for connection to a 220 V electrical network and alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hz.
- Temperature regulator.
- Wiring blocks: UZO, magnetic starter.
- Mounting box: for connection and branching.
- Mounting kit: clips, rope, swing hooks, mounting bracket, mounting tape, rivets, dowels and self-tapping screws.
Heating cables
The main characteristics of the heating cable:
- Linear thermal power.
- Working voltage.
- Section dimensions.
- The ratio of operating and maximum allowable temperatures.
Cable types:
- Resistive type.
- self-adjusting type.
A resistive cable is a cable in which heat is dissipated through "ohmic losses" occurring in the cable strands. In addition to heating conductors, the cable may contain conductive conductors, which greatly simplify the scheme of its installation.
The heat output of this type of heating cable does not directly depend on the operating temperature. In order to ensure long-term, continuous and reliable operation of such a cable, as well as to protect it from overheating, it is necessary to comply with the design conditions for heat transfer.
Self-regulating cable with two parallel conductors surrounded by a conductive plastic in which heat is released.
The conductivity of the plastic depends on the temperature. This guarantees self-regulation of the heat output: the cable gives more heat, the lower the temperature; and conversely, as the temperature rises, the heat becomes less. Such a cable saves energy and will never burn out, even with a short circuit.
Temperature controllers, temperature sensors and cables
In heating systems - a roof without icicles, thermostats are used with a complete set of various sensors, depending on the purpose and coverage of the heating areas.
To carry out the installation of anti-icing systems of the roofing system, it is necessary to perform the following actions:
- Determine areas for cable laying: roof, gutter, drain funnels, and so on.
- Determine the method of laying the cable - it is chosen separately for a specific specific case. It all depends on the type of roof.
- Select the type of system control.
- Select the components required for the overall connection of the system.
- Install heating sections.
- Install and install junction boxes.
- Determine the electrical requirements for the power system and select the necessary blocks.
- Carry out installation and installation of control cabinets.
- Mount the power cables supplying the heating sections.
- Install and mount the temperature sensor.
- Connect the system.
- Perform a test run.
Laying heating cables
In cable systems - a roof without icicles, there are several ways to lay heating cables, directly dependent on the following factors:
- The thermal regime of the roof.
- Roof type.
- Location features.
- The presence of gutters
- Availability of water outlets.
Based on the parameters of the thermal regime of roofs, they are conditionally divided into several varieties:
- A cold roof is well-insulated and has a low level of heat loss through its surface, especially if the under-roof space is ventilated. For this type of roof, the power of snowmelt systems is used to a minimum, so the installation of heating systems is carried out only in the drain.
- Warm standard roof - a roof with poor thermal insulation. On it, the process of snow melting occurs at a low negative air temperature. Water flows by gravity to the cold edge and drain. As a result, it freezes and icicles form. For such roofs, it is necessary to use an integrated snowmelt system, which is installed on the roof, in gutters and gutters. The power used is higher than with the organization of the "cold roof".
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