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Trace heating can be used for a multitude of indoor applications, such as providing electric underfloor heating, heating hot water pipes and maintaining the temperature of fluids during industrial processes. But it also has many outdoor uses, making it a particularly versatile and adaptable solution to wide variety of problems that can affect businesses, homes and organisations.

In addition to heating indoor spaces, trace heating can be used to provide electric underfloor heating in outdoor public and commercial spaces, such as football stadiums. Such electric underfloor heating can be achieved by installing either a network of individual heating cables or heating mat systems. Because heat rises, this is a practical and efficient solution for providing heating, even in outdoor scenarios.

In addition to keeping people warm during the cold weather, trace heating can also be used to keep crucial areas from freezing – for example busy walkways and entrances to buildings.

Seasonal frost protection

It is also an efficient and cost-effective solution for preventing outdoor pipes from freezing and potentially bursting or suffering from frost damage. A trace heating cable can be simply run along the length of the pipe in question, and then further insulated to prevent heat loss. Gutters, roofing and other areas can also be kept free of ice and snow in this manner.

So how does it work? A trace heating cable contains within it an electrical heating element and a thermostat. When the thermostat registers a specific preset temperature – for example, 0°C – it will activate the heating element, so heating the cable and the pipe, gutter or other surface that it is attached to.

Miscellaneous outdoor uses for trace heating

Trace heating can also be used to maintain safety and functionality on transport networks during the winter. For example, it can be used to prevent build-ups of snow or ice on railway switches, to protect external train systems such as couplings, and to ensure passenger safety by preventing icing in key areas.

Finally, trace heating can be used in horticultural greenhouses to simulate specific climatic conditions out of season, and to precisely control the ambient temperature required by young seedlings.