Schlüter-BEKOTEC-EN  Insulated studded screed panel

The reliable Schlüter-BEKOTEC covering assembly technology is a system for functionally safe, floating screeds and heated screeds. This enables crack-free coverings made of ceramic, natural stone and other covering materials.

The system is based on the polystyrene studded screed panel Schlüter-BEKOTEC-EN, which is directly installed on top of a load bearing substrate and/or on conventional heat insulation and sound insulation panels. The geometry of the BEKOTEC-EN studded panel dictates a minimum screed layer thickness of 32 mm between and 8 mm above the studs. The stud spacing allows for clamping the heating pipes of the system, which have a 16 mm diameter, in a 75 mm grid to produce a heated screed.

Since only a relatively small amount of screed has to be heated or cooled (with a coverage of 8 mm, approx. 57 kg/m² ≙ 28.5 l/m²), the floor heating system is easily adjustable and ideally suited for operation at low supply temperatures.

The curing stresses that occur in the screed due to shrinkage are absorbed by the studded pattern. Stresses resulting from contraction buckling do not, therefore, affect the entire area, and it is not necessary to install movement joints in the screed. Once the cement screed is ready to support weight, the Schlüter-DITRA uncoupling mat (alternatively, Schlüter-DITRA-DRAIN 4 or Schlüter-DITRA-HEAT) can be installed (gypsum-based screed ≤ 2 CM %). The ceramic tiles or natural stone are then installed directly over this layer, using the thin-bed method. Movement joints in the covering layer have to be created with Schlüter-DILEX according to industry standards.

Covering materials that are not susceptible to cracking, such as parquet or carpeting, are installed directly over the screed as soon as it reaches the corresponding residual moisture level.

Technical data

1. Stud size: 65 mm Diameter of
   system heating pipes: 75 mm
   Matching heating pipes: ø 16 mm
   The studs have a cutback design on all sides to securely keep heating pipes in place without the need for clamps.
2. Connections: The studded panels have an interlocking design.
   The BEKOTEC studded panels can also be fitted at the sides of the floor with their short end. This cuts down on material waste.
3. Panel size (working area):
   75.5 x 106 cm = 0.80 sqm.
   Panel size: 44 mm
4. Packaging: 20 units/box = 16 qm
   Box dimensions are approx. 120 x 80 x 60 cm.
5. Box corners are reinforced with cardboard angles.

• Warranty:
  Schlüter-Systems offers a five-year warranty for the life of the covering assembly, provided all installation instructions were observed and the covering is used as intended.

• Crack-free covering:
  :The BEKOTEC system is designed to reduce shearing tensions of the screed within the grid of the studded panel. No construction reinforcement is required.

• Low-buckling construction:
  :The covering assembly of the BEKOTEC system is free of inherent stresses. Consequently, no buckling can occur in the area. This applies in particular to stresses resulting from temperature fluctuations, e.g. in heated screeds.

• Joint-free screed:
  No expansion joints are needed in the screed since the BEKOTEC system evenly distributes any shearing tension in the screed across the entire area.

• Movement joint in the joint pattern of the tile or paver covering:
  The BEKOTEC system allows for aligning the design of movement joints to the selected joint pattern of the covering for tile or paver coverings since expansion joints from the screed do not have to be continued into the top covering. The applicable regulations for the placement and construction of movement joints in and around the tile field must be observed.

• Short construction time:
  The uncoupling mat ensures that the screed created with the BEKOTEC system is ready for covering with ceramic tiles, natural stone or agglomerate stone as soon as the screed is ready to bear weight. Ceramic thermal comfort floors are ready for heating only seven days after the completion of the cover assembly.

• Low construction height:
  Compared to a heated screed according to DIN 18 560-2, the BEKOTEC system saves an assembly height of up to 37 mm.

• Low material requirements:
  With a screed coverage of 8 mm, only approx. 57 kg/m² ≙ 28.5 l/m² screed volume is needed. This advantage is also reflected in the static calculations.

• Fast responding floor heating system:
  A covering assembly using the BEKOTEC system in conjunction with a floor heating system is able to respond to temperature changes faster than a conventional heated screed since the volume to be heated or cooled is significantly smaller. This allows for operating the underfloor heating system in the low temperature range to save energy.

1. Install Schlüter-BEKOTEC-EN on a sufficiently weight-bearing and level substrate that has no point-like protrusions (e.g. mortar residue). Correct uneven sections in the floor with screeds or suitable bound fill in advance. If required, install suitable insulation materials over the substrate in accordance with the applicable sound insulation and/or heat insulation requirements and cover the insulation with a PE separating layer as necessary. If cables or pipes are installed on the weight-bearing substrate, the sound insulation must cover the full levelling layer as specified in DIN 18560-2.
   The max. compressive strength CP3 (≤ 3 mm) must be taken into consideration to select a suitable insulation material. If the construction height is insufficient for using polystyrene or mineral fibre insulation, Schlüter-BEKOTEC-BTS in a thickness of just 5 mm can significantly improve the sound insulation.

2. Cover the edges of the covering at rising walls or fixed structural components with the 8 mm Schlüter-BEKOTEC-BRS 810 edging strip. The integrated foil leg of the edging strip must be situated between the substrate (or the top insulation layer) and the studded panel.
   Use the Schlüter-BEKOTEC-BRS 808KF edging strip with adhesive leg if using a flowing screed. The adhesive strip on the reverse side attaches the edging strip to the wall. Placing the studded screed panel on the self-adhesive foam leg prevents the screed from flowing underneath the assembly.

3. The BEKOTEC-EN studded panels must be precisely cut to size in the edge areas. The smooth levelling panel Schlüter-BEKOTEC-ENR 1520P simplifies the cutting process and saves material. The BEKOTEC panels have an interlocking design.

4. Clamp the system pipes with a diameter of 16 mm between the cutback studs to create a BEKOTEC-THERM floor heating system. The spacing of the pipes must be determined on the basis of the required heating output, as shown in the Schlüter-BEKOTEC heating diagrams.

5. As part of the screed installation, fresh cement- or gypsum-based screed is installed with a minimum screed cover of 8 mm over the studded panels. A compressive strength of C20 to C35, as well as a flexural tensile strength of F4, max. F5, must be maintained for both cement and gypsum-based screeds. If the cement screed has a shrinkage class of SW1, using products with a higher flexural tensile strength is also possible. The layer thickness can be partially increased to max. 25 mm for levelling. Suitable flowing screeds CAF/CTF with the corresponding specifications may be used as well. Observe the system approval for this application. The studded panel EN 2520P is an exception – it is exclusively designed for traditional semi-dry screeds.
   Note: Please contact our Technical Department in advance to discuss different screed properties for specific projects.
   To prevent impact sound transmission between two rooms, separate the screed in the relevant places with the DILEX-DFP expansion joint profile.

6. The DITRA uncoupling mat (or, alternatively, DITRA-DRAIN 4 or DITRA-HEAT) can be installed in accordance with the installation instructions of the relevant product data sheets as soon as the screed is ready to bear weight. The uncoupling mat can be installed over gypsum-based screeds as soon as they have reached a residual moisture level of 2 CM % or less.

7. Coverings of ceramic tile, natural or agglomerate stone can then be installed directly on top of the uncoupling mat, using the thin-bed method. Divide the covering above the uncoupling mat into fields, using movement joints in accordance with the applicable regulations. We recommend the movement joint profiles Schlüter-DILEX-BWB, -BWS, -KS, -AKW or -F for creating movement joints (see product data sheets 4.6 – 4.8, 4.18 and 4.23).

8. Install the DILEX-EK or DILEX-RF corner movement profile as a flexible perimeter movement joint in the area of the floor-wall transition (see product data sheet 4.14). Cut off the protruding part of the BEKOTEC-BRS edging strip in advance.

9. If the BEKOTEC-THERM ceramic thermal comfort floor is to function as a floor heating system, the full covering assembly is ready for heating only seven days after completion. Start from a water temperature of 25 degrees C and increase the supply temperature by no more than 5 degrees C a day until the desired usage temperature has been reached.

10. Covering materials that are not susceptible to cracking (e.g. parquet, carpet or vinyl coverings) can be installed without the uncoupling mat, directly on top of the BEKOTEC screed. The screed thickness must be adjusted to the relevant material thicknesses. Note: In addition to the applicable installation guidelines, the permissible residual moisture level of the screed must be observed for the selected covering material.
    For detailed installation instructions in conjunction with non-ceramic surface coverings, please refer to our technical manual for Schlüter-BEKOTEC-THERM or contact our Technical Department.

Schlüter-BEKOTEC-EN 2520P, made of polystyrene EPS 033 DEO (PS 30), is especially suited for use with conventionally applied cement or gypsum screeds. Schlüter-BEKOTEC-EN 1520PF is made of polystyrene EPS 033 DEO (PS 25) and features a foil cover on the top side. It is particularly suitable for flowing screed.