Abstract: An insulating support structure for a helical wire heating coil for an electric resistance heating element includes a plurality of insulating standoff members supported by a metallic support frame. The insulating standoffs each include a pair of wedge portions that are used to separate the individual convolutions of the helical wire heating coil. Located inwardly from each of the wedge portions are a pair of V-shaped coil grooves sized to receive a portion of an individual convolution of the helical wire heating coil. A retainer tab extends into the coil groove such that the wire heating coil contacts the retainer tab and a pair of contact surfaces that define the coil groove. The insulating standoffs are each supported by an arm contained on the support frame. Each of the arms includes a pair of tines which combine to form an open slot within the arm. The insulating standoff is captured between the tines by a pair of locking projections on the outer end of the tines.