Applications

Homeowners choose electric underfloor heating for three reasons: the comfort of radiant warmth underfoot, the freedom from radiators that get in the way of furniture, and the simplicity of a system that has no boiler, no water pipes and almost no annual maintenance. SunAura film and mats are designed to do exactly this job, in room sizes ranging from a single bathroom to a full villa.

Bathrooms. A tiled bathroom is the classic underfloor heating application. The floor warms up within thirty to sixty minutes, dries out moisture after a shower, and removes the cold shock of stepping onto tile in the morning. We typically recommend a self-adhesive heating mat at around 160 W/m² in a well-insulated bathroom, paired with a WiFi thermostat that has a floor sensor. The floor sensor is essential in a bathroom because tile can overheat if it is controlled by air temperature alone. For very small bathrooms where a mat will not fit neatly, a cut-to-length film roll is often easier to lay around the toilet and vanity.

Kitchens and dining areas. Kitchen floors are usually tile or stone, which makes them another natural fit for heating mats. Because kitchens are occupied at predictable times, a programmable thermostat can schedule warmth for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and let the floor idle in between. This zoning behaviour is what keeps running costs reasonable in a modern home.

Living rooms and bedrooms with floating floors. Where the finish is laminate, engineered wood, vinyl or cork, film is the better choice. It is only a few millimetres thick, does not raise the floor level noticeably, and warms the surface evenly without the cold spots that can occur when cables are spaced too far apart. Because wood-based floors have a maximum safe surface temperature, the thermostat must include a floor sensor rather than relying on air temperature alone. Our range of smart thermostats is designed for exactly this pairing.

Attics, spare rooms and seasonal spaces. In rooms that are used only occasionally, film is again the most practical option. It can be rolled out when the room is in use and scheduled to stay low in between. There is no need to run a hydronic loop to a rarely used room; the film simply turns on when the thermostat calls for heat.

Renovation versus new build. In new build, insulation boards are placed under the heating element to reduce downward heat loss. In renovation, where raising the floor is costly, film is often laid directly over the existing floor with a thin underlay, and the new floor finish goes on top. This is the reason film is so popular with homeowners who want to add comfort heating without rebuilding the whole floor.

Commercial buyers care about four things: predictable commissioning, zoned control, low maintenance and a warranty that survives multi-room projects. SunAura supplies film, mats, cables and thermostats to hotels, offices, clinics, schools, restaurants and retail spaces across more than fifty countries, and we support these projects with layout drawings, commissioning guidance and batch documentation.

Hotels. Hotel bathrooms are one of the highest-volume commercial uses of underfloor heating. Guests expect a warm tile floor when they step out of the shower, and a thermostat that is simple to use without a manual. We supply heating mats paired with intuitive touch-screen thermostats, and we work with hotel operators to standardise the specification across rooms so that housekeeping and maintenance staff only need to learn one model. For hotel retrofits, film is often the better option because it adds very little floor height, which matters when doors and skirting boards have already been installed.

Offices and co-working spaces. Open-plan offices benefit from zoned underfloor heating because staff occupancy varies by desk and by time of day. Film laid under raised access flooring, or mats laid under carpet tile, lets each zone be scheduled independently. This is more efficient than heating the whole building from a central boiler, and it removes the draughts and hot corners that radiators tend to create.

Clinics, spas and wellness centres. Clinical environments value the absence of forced air movement, which can disturb dust and contaminants. Radiant underfloor heating warms surfaces without a fan, and the smooth floor is easy to clean. For treatment rooms, changing areas and spas, film or mats are a natural fit.

Schools and nurseries. In classrooms and nurseries, floor heating provides a warm, draught-free surface at child height. It also removes radiators that small children could touch. Safety-wise, our film and mats are EMF-free and controlled by thermostats with a maximum floor temperature limit, which makes them suitable for learning environments.

Retail and restaurants. Shop floors and restaurant dining areas benefit from the comfort of warm stone or tile, especially at entryways where customers walk in from cold weather. A mat or film system under the main dining area improves perceived warmth without raising heating costs, because the system is scheduled for trading hours.

For commercial projects, we recommend starting the conversation early. Send us the floor plan, the room schedule, the target surface temperature and the local voltage. Our engineers will calculate heat load, recommend power density, and provide a layout drawing that your installation team can work from. Bulk orders are packed per room, with labels that match the drawing, so that on-site installation is fast and unambiguous.

Beyond buildings, SunAura heating cables are used wherever a pipe, tank, roof or piece of equipment needs to stay above a critical temperature. The same double-conductor cable that warms a bathroom floor can be rated for outdoor use, buried in concrete or strapped to a pipe, and controlled by a thermostat that reads a pipe or ambient sensor.

Pipe freeze protection. Exposed water pipes, fire-suppression lines, sprinkler pipes, drainage pipes and outdoor process piping can freeze even in moderate climates when the wind chill drops. A heating cable strapped to the pipe, insulated and controlled by a thermostat that switches on near freezing, keeps the pipe above 5 °C and prevents burst damage. Double-conductor cables are preferred because they are easier to terminate, less prone to earth leakage, and can be cut to length on site. We supply cable in continuous lengths, with connection kits and end seals, and we can pre-terminate sections to order.

Roof, gutter and ramp snow melting. In colder climates, ice dams in gutters and sliding snow on ramps and walkways are a real safety hazard. Heating cables embedded in ramp concrete, laid in gutter channels, or run along roof edges melt snow and ice on demand. A weather-sensing thermostat or a simple ambient thermostat ensures the system runs only when freezing conditions occur, rather than continuously. For accessibility ramps, loading bays and pedestrian walkways, this is often the difference between a usable site and a closed one during winter.

Process temperature maintenance. Industrial pipes carrying viscous fluids, oils, syrups or chemicals often need to stay above a minimum temperature so that the material flows properly. Heating cable, wrapped in insulation and controlled by a thermostat that reads the pipe surface, maintains that temperature around the clock. We work with contractors to select the correct watt density, cable length and sensor placement for the fluid and pipe material.

Tank and vessel warmth. Small tanks, drums and intermediate bulk containers can be kept at process temperature with flexible heating mats or cable-wrapped insulation. This is common in food, chemical and agricultural applications where a material would otherwise solidify overnight.

For industrial projects, we always recommend talking to our engineers before you specify a product. Cable length, power density, sensor type and control strategy depend on pipe diameter, insulation thickness, ambient minimum temperature and the desired maintenance temperature. Get these right once, and the system runs for years without intervention.

Bottom heat is one of the most reliable tools a grower has. Seed germinates faster and more evenly when the root zone is warm, cuttings root more successfully, and young plants grow stronger before they move to cooler outdoor conditions. SunAura seedling heat mats and heating panels are used by commercial nurseries, greenhouse operators, hydroponic growers and home gardeners who need consistent, low-energy root-zone warmth.

Seedling propagation. A seedling heat mat placed under propagation trays warms the growing medium from below, while the air above remains at normal greenhouse temperature. This temperature differential encourages root growth without forcing top growth. Our seedling heating mat range is available in standard tray sizes, with optional thermostats that hold the root zone at a set point between room temperature and around 30 °C. The mat is waterproof enough to sit in a propagation tray humidifier, and the surface is easy to wipe down between seasons.

Greenhouse bench heating. In larger greenhouses, film or cable laid under the bench surface provides bottom heat to rows of pots and trays. Compared with heating the entire greenhouse air volume, bench heating is dramatically more efficient because warmth is concentrated exactly where the roots are. For commercial growers, this can reduce heating bills while improving germination and growth rates.

Hydroponics and aquaponics. Nutrient solution temperature is critical for healthy root systems. A too-cold reservoir slows growth and encourages disease; a too-warm reservoir deprives roots of oxygen. Flexible heating panels controlled by a thermostat with a water-safe sensor keep the solution within the optimal band. We work with hydroponic installers to size panels for reservoir volume and ambient temperature.

Livestock and brooder warmth. Heat panels and mats are also used in livestock contexts, such as brooder boxes for chicks, whelping boxes for puppies and kitten rearing. These applications overlap with our pet heating range, and the same safety and low-EMF construction applies.

For agricultural buyers, we recommend telling us the tray or bench size, the desired root-zone temperature, the ambient minimum in your greenhouse, and whether you need a simple on-off control or a digital thermostat with a probe. We will recommend the correct mat or panel size and control strategy, and we can supply mixed cartons that include mats, thermostats and spare probes for retail distribution.

Reptiles, amphibians, birds, small mammals and domestic pets all rely on external heat to regulate their body temperature. SunAura pet and reptile heating products are designed to provide safe, uniform bottom heat in enclosures, with simple controls that an owner can set and forget.

Reptile and amphibian terrariums. Tropical and desert species require a temperature gradient across the enclosure: a warm basking spot at one end and a cooler retreat at the other. A reptile heating pad mounted under one section of the terrarium creates that gradient without drying out the air as quickly as an overhead lamp. Our reptile pads are available in several sizes and with ten-speed temperature control, so an owner can tune the surface temperature to the species and the room. Low-EMF construction and a stable outer layer make the pad safe for glass, plastic and wooden vivariums.

Cat and dog beds. Indoor dogs and cats, especially older animals with joint stiffness, benefit from a gently warmed bed in winter. Pet heating pads are sized to fit standard beds and whelping boxes, and are controlled by a thermostat that holds a comfortable surface temperature. The surface is water-resistant enough to handle accidents and easy to wipe down.

Whelping and rearing boxes. Breeders use heat pads to keep newborn puppies and kittens warm during the first weeks, before the litter can regulate its own temperature. A thermostat-controlled pad, placed under part of the box rather than the whole box, lets the mother and puppies move between warm and cool zones as needed.

Birds, small mammals and poultry. Heat panels are also used in aviaries, rabbit hutches, guinea pig cages and chick brooders. The same film technology that warms a bathroom floor, at a much lower wattage, provides the steady radiant warmth these animals need.

For pet retailers and breeders, we supply mixed cartons of pad sizes, thermostats and replacement probes, with multilingual packaging and manuals. If you are developing your own pet heating brand, we can also produce private-label pads with your artwork and your model number.

Many of SunAura’s customers are not end users at all. They are heating brands, electrical distributors, pet-product companies, garden-tool importers and installation firms that want to sell our products under their own name. We have operated as an OEM and ODM partner for more than fifteen years, and we treat these projects as a core part of the business rather than an afterthought.

What we can customise. Custom widths and lengths of heating film, custom watt densities on mats and cables, custom thermostat housing colours and button layouts, custom firmware schedules, custom packaging and printed manuals in your target language, and custom model numbers on labels. We can also combine film, mat, thermostat and accessories into a retail kit that is ready to sell on a shelf or on an e-commerce listing.

How the project runs. We start with a technical specification: voltage, wattage, dimensions, certification target, packaging language and estimated annual volume. We then produce a pre-production sample, which you validate in your market. After sign-off, we release the configuration into mass production, run the standard incoming, in-process and outgoing QC, and ship to your warehouse. Repeat orders follow the same approved configuration, so your customers receive a consistent product every time.

Documentation for your market. We provide CE, RoHS, IEC 60335 and SGS test reports that you can reference in your own DoC and product listings. We can supply multilingual manuals, safety labels and packaging artwork in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Dutch or Japanese. See our certifications page for an overview of the documentation we hold.

If you are exploring a private-label heating range, the fastest way to start is to send us your target retail price, your target market and the product family you want to sell. We will come back with a realistic factory price, a sample plan and a lead time. You can read more about how we work on the OEM and ODM page.