Abstract: A membrane for decoupling heated flooring from a subfloor includes a flexible base and a plurality of projections formed into the base and extending outward from the base. Each projection of the plurality of projections has a perimeter wall defining a height of the projection and a top surface integral with the perimeter wait for supporting a flooring adhesive and/or for bearing a load when the heated flooring is installed. The projections have one flange portion extending from the perimeter wall and effective for retaining a heater cable within a channel formed between each pair of adjacent projections Each channel may have exactly one flange portion extending over it and forming an overhang for retaining heater cables of different diameters. The corresponding flange portions of adjacent projections do not face in the same direction or the opposite direction, providing for a minimum number of flange portions to be used.

Abstract: A membrane for decoupling heated flooring from a subfloor includes a flexible base and a plurality of projections formed into the base and extending outward from the base. Each projection of the plurality of projections has a perimeter wall defining a height of the projection and a top surface integral with the perimeter wall for supporting a flooring adhesive and/or for bearing a load when the heated flooring is installed. The projections have one flange portion extending from the perimeter wall and effective for retaining a heater cable within a channel formed between each pair of adjacent projections. Each channel may have exactly one flange portion extending over it and forming an overhang for retaining heater cables of different diameters. The corresponding flange portions of adjacent projections do not face in the same direction or the opposite direction, providing for a minimum number of flange portions to be used.

Abstract: A heater cable, which may particularly be a self-regulating heater cable, has a heating element including two bus wires spaced a distance apart by a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material, giving the heating element a major axis and a minor axis. Bending the heater cable transverse to the major axis gives a tighter bend radius than bending the heater cable transverse to the minor axis. To facilitate bending in multiple directions, the heating element is twisted around the longitudinal axis of the heater cable. The twisting may be done uniformly to give the bus wires a helical configuration, which reduces electromagnetic interference and facilitates heater cable diameters as small as 0.25 inches. Additional layers, such as polymer jackets and a braided metal ground plane layer, may be added over the heating element. Each of these layers may be twisted or untwisted in various implementations.

Abstract: A membrane for decoupling heated flooring from a subfloor includes a flexible base and a plurality of projections formed into the base and extending outward from the base. Each projection of the plurality of projections has a perimeter wall defining a height of the projection and a top surface integral with the perimeter wall for supporting a flooring adhesive and/or for bearing a load when the heated flooring is installed. The projections have one flange portion extending from the perimeter wall and effective for retaining a heater cable within a channel formed between each pair of adjacent projections. Each channel may have exactly one flange portion extending over it and forming an overhang for retaining heater cables of different diameters. The corresponding flange portions of adjacent projections do not face in the same direction or the opposite direction, providing for a minimum number of flange portions to be used.