Heating an Elevated Metal Platform

metal-deckA recent Warmquest project called for heating an elevated metal platform to prevent ice buildup and protect patrons from slip and fall hazards. The elevated deck was constructed of steel plates fastened to a grid of beams and supports.

In order to effectively heat this deck, plates were welded into place on the lower side of the deck. These were then covered with insulation to drive the heat upward, and Heatizon Hott-Wire was installed over the top. To keep the cable in place, the Hott-Wire was fastened to a wire mesh. The snow melting system was designed using data from ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) to guarantee effective snow melting for the location of the project.

The installed Hott-Wire was covered in sand to conduct and spread the heat. The steel plate could then be installed over the sand bed. As part of the installation, it was critical that the sand bed be completely sealed to prevent sand from leaking through the bottom of the pan, or from being washed out if water entered from above.

The Hott-Wire was connected to a temperature sensor to activate the system during cold weather. A temperature only sensor was selected instead of a temperature and moisture sensor to prevent drifting snow and runoff from above from refreezing on the deck.

To learn more about heating decks and other surfaces, visit our snow melting page.

For more examples of Warmquest’s work, check out our sample projects.

For Snow Melting, Tuff Cable Can’t Be Beat
Flat Roofs and Snow