Helo Steam Expert 2012

Customer Edition

index

Become a steam expert 3

What exactly is steam? 4

Why bathe in a steam bath? 5

Why buy Helo? 6

The Basics... 7

What door should I use? 9

What shower tray should I use? 9

Do I need to use special tiles or grout? 10

Do I need special steam proof lights? 10

Where does the generator go? 12

How does the steam come out in the shower? 13

Some steam shower examples... 14

Water supply 16

Electrical supply 17

Does the generator need to be connected to a drain? 19

What about the steam generator pressure relief valve? 19

How long does the steam shower take to get hot? 20

Do I need special ventilation? 20

How do you control the steam temperature? 22

How do I make the ceiling for my steam shower? 23

What is the best height for a steam shower? 24

Do I need a special drain in the shower? 25

Do I need to insulate the room? 25

Still have some questions? 25

Become a steam expert

For many years, we have been asking customers why they

decided to choose Helo steam. More than 90% say “for a bit of

luxury at home”. Steam is a simple way to turn any bathroom

into a luxurious home spa. But isn’t it complicated?

No, not particularly...

This booklet has been written to answer the various questions

raised when planning steam, but also to give as much

background information and discussion as possible so that

you can fully understand the product.

In fact, you can know everything we know...

3

What exactly is steam?

When you boil water you produce water vapour otherwise known as

steam. Steam in its pure form is clear, however when it mixes with cooler

air it starts to condense and this is the condition, when it is visible, that

most people associate with steam.

Filling a shower with steam increases both the humidity and the

temperature. Humidity is the key to heat sensation – the higher the

humidity, the hotter you will feel at the same temperature. This is why

a steam shower will feel hot at 40ºC, whilst a dry sauna needs to be

70-80ºC to feel as hot.

Why bathe in a steam bath?

Steam bathing is a luxury that dates back thousands of years,

first enjoyed by the ancient Greeks, then the Romans, who built

“Sudatoria” in public baths across their expansive empire.

The Turkish still enjoy steam in the same way in their public

“Hamman” baths, as do the Russians with their “Banja”. In the

UK, many people will have enjoyed steam bathing at their health

club or spa as part of their fitness/health regime.

Much research has been done into the benefits of heat

treatments such as sauna and steam, and use is claimed to

alleviate many types of breathing, joint and muscular disorders.

However, the clearest benefits are relaxation (body and mind),

stress relief and deep skin cleansing.

54

Why buy Helo?

Helo is the world’s largest sauna & steam company, with factories in

Germany, Sweden, Finland and the US. Helo sells more than 15,000

steam generators, 100,000 sauna heaters and 15,000 sauna cabins each

year. You benefit from our global investment in product development,

manufacturing efficiency and purchasing power.

In the UK we have been selling sauna & steam products for almost 20

years, and during this time we have built a reputation for quality and

service.

We understand that when you come to Helo you are not just buying a

steam generator, you need a complete service, and that’s what we aim

to provide.

The Basics...

Filling an area with steam raises humidity and temperature,

creating a pleasant environment within which to relax and

detoxify.

The most popular space to use for steam is a new or existing

shower – there are three reasons for this:

A compact steam generator is installed within 5 metres of the

steam room, for example in a cupboard, under the stairs, in a

loft or garage. The generator needs water and an electrical

supply. The steam is then delivered to the shower in a lagged

22mm copper pipe.

The more powerful the

generator, the more steam it

will produce; the larger the

room the more steam it needs

to get hot. To find out what

size generator you require, use

the spec your steam function

on our website www.helo.co.uk

No extra space is needed

1 2 3A regular shower enclosure is 90% ready for steam

It’s nice to shower after steam bathing

76

The space you are using has to retain most of the steam, otherwise it won’t

get hot. So you need to choose a door that has relatively small gaps, and

either cap the shower enclosure with a Helo dome, or box in above the shower.

It is not necessary to get the area 100% steam proof – some steam will always

escape when you open and close the door, but standard bathroom vent

extraction will cope with this.

The idea is to relax, so you need to provide somewhere to sit – this can be

achieved by creating a structural bench in the shower, or by using a foldaway

shower seat.

What door should I use?

The only factor to consider when

choosing a door is whether it will keep

most of the steam in the shower. The door

does not need to be air-tight, any shower

or steam door which has a reasonable

vertical seal, and not too large gaps top

and bottom will be fine for steam.

What shower tray should I use?

Any shower tray is suitable for steam – there

are no special requirements. The steam outlet is

mounted on the wall 300mm above the shower

tray/floor. The steam is directed back at the wall,

therefore the shower tray or floor below will not

be adversely effected by the heat.

See page 13 for steam outlet details.

More detailed guidance is given in the pages following, but if you

are unsure about anything please don’t hesitate to

call Helo on 01342-30055598

Do I need to use special tiles or grout?

No, any tiles or grout suitable for a shower will be fine for steam.

We understand that when you come to Helo you are not just buying

a steam generator, you need a complete service, and that’s what we

aim to provide.

The humidity in a steam room is higher than a regular shower, but

this is only water in the air, and the temperature is raised, but only

to about 40-45°c, which is not hot enough to cause a problem.

Do I need special steam proof lights?

No, any lights suitable for a shower will be fine for steam.

Use low voltage (12v), IP65 rated lights. These are also available

from Helo.

1110

Where does the generator go?

The steam generator should be located in a room or space up to

5 metres from the shower, for example in a cupboard, under the

stairs, in a loft or garage.

Helo generators are all quite compact (see measurements below),

but please allow enough space around the generator in case

access is ever required.

Model Width Depth Height

N-series 520mm 160mm 380mm

M-series 520mm 160mm 380mm

T-series 520mm 160mm 380mm

A-series 420mm 170mm 330mm

The steam generator can be located in a cupboard, under the stairs.

How does the steam come out in the shower?

The N, M, and T-series generators all come with a white steam

outlet made from a material called Acetal (shown below right, with

optional weep box steam diffuser). This material does not conduct

heat and therefore remains relatively cool to touch, hence reducing

the possibility of the steam bather getting burnt by the steam outlet.

This steam outlet features a small stainless steel reservoir where

essential oils can be placed in order to infuse the steam with a

chosen aroma.

Where space is tight, and there is a chance that the user’s feet may

be close to the steam outlet, you may wish to diffuse the steam with

our “weep box” (shown below left). This is a Perspex cover, which fits

over the outlet, diffusing the steam gently into the shower area.

The A-series generator comes with a cool touch steam outlet, with

plastic interior and plated exterior. This means the A-series steam

outlet is available in different finishes, such as chrome or gold. This

outlet also has a built-in reservoir for essential oils.

1312

A few examples...

Marble Steam ShowerThis smart marble enclosure built by a

Helo retailer in Surrey demonstrates how

steam works with a frameless glass door.

Steam Shower with glass frontA beautiful steam room with all glass front created by a Helo retailer in

Manchester. The clean, open look is enhanced by the use of moveable

stools in wood and chrome finish.

Larger Steam RoomLarger rooms allow for more seating

space, either for multiple users or

for lounging in comfort. This room

with a shower was created by a Helo

retailer in London and features

L-shaped benching.

Compact Steam ShowerThis shower created by a Helo retailer

in Stroud shows how a luxury shower

and steam room can be created in

compact dimensions, neatly recessed

with a purpose built tiled seat.

1514

Water Supply

The generator needs a 15mm cold water supply (warm water can also

be used) with a minimum pressure of 6-foot head or 0.2 bar. This is

because the water inlet solenoid on the generator needs a small amount

of pressure to work. If there is less than 0.2 bar pressure, the steam

generator will not work, or may only work intermittently, as it fills up

with water very slowly.

It is very unlikely that the water pressure in a house will be this low.

However, there is one instance you should be aware of, which is when

the generator is located in a loft area and the water supply comes from

a tank which is also in the loft – here the water has not dropped far

enough to create any pressure. In this instance, the water supply should

be taken from the supply to the water tank, rather from the tank itself.

Ideally, the pressure should not exceed 1 bar or 33.5 foot of head, this is

because if the pressure is too high, the bather may hear the noise of a

rush of cold water hitting the boiling contents of the generator tank. If

the only water supply available is at high pressure, the installer should

fit a pressure-reducing valve (this is an item that can be bought from any

plumbers’ merchant).

Some commercial installations, where the steam generator is working

many hours per day, require a water softener to filter out any

impurities such as lime scale or chalk. However, in a domestic

application only the worst water would need filtering. The rule is that if

other water-fed equipment (such as a washing machine or kettle) is OK,

then no filtering is required.

Some houses get their water from a borehole supply, which tend to be

very chalky. In this case a water softener should be used.

Electrical Supply

The steam generator needs a suitable power supply –

please see the table below.

Power 1Phase 3Phase

3kW 13amps 5amps

4.7kW 21amps 7amps

6kW 26amps 9amps

7.7kW 34amps 12amps

9kW 40amps 13amps

10kW 44amps N/A

12kW 53amps 18amps

14kW N/A 21amps

The supplies shown above are for single generators. For larger power

requirements, multiple generators can be linked together to achieve up

to 36kW.

Helo generators need to be wired to a dedicated supply. Therefore, a

qualified electrician will be required to carry out this work. The time

required to install the supply and connect a steam generator depends

on the particular complications of the house / location, however

typically this work should take approx half a day to complete.

1716

Electrical Supply - continued

Generally, the generator should not be housed in the bathroom itself.

This is because it is a high voltage piece of equipment, and electrical

regulations state that such items should not be fitted in a wet area. If

you have to house the generator in the bathroom, access must only be

provided from outside the room. For example, if the generator is

located under the steam shower bench, the bench must be 100%

permanently sealed, and ventilation and access should be given only

from the room behind the shower (assuming this is a dry area). A

qualified electrician will have to certify the installation, so the main

factor is whether he is happy with the location.

Does the generator need to be connected to a drain?

The only practical reason to fit an automatic drain to a steam

generator is to help counter the effects of limescale. Helo

generators feature incalloy elements and a stainless steel tank, both

of which are highly resistant to limescale, therefore reducing the need

for an automatic drain.

Helo generators are available with a manual or automatic drain upgrade.

Specify where the generator is being heavily used, where there is very

heavy limescale, or where a water softener is connected to the generator

water supply.

A-series generators use copper elements and are supplied as standard

with an automatic drain system.

What about the steam generator pressure relief valve?

All Helo steam generators have a pressure relief valve. This is a safety

precaution – if for some reason the steam pipe were to get completely

blocked, with the steam generator on, there would be a pressure build

up in the steam generator tank, which would be able to escape from the

pressure relief valve. In almost 20 years of selling domestic steam in the

UK, to the best of our knowledge, this has never happened. However,

although we do not consider it necessary, it is quite simple to run a

copper pipe from the pressure relief valve connection on the steam

generator to an outside wall or drain, should you wish to do so.

1918

How long does the steam shower take to get hot?

The steam generator should start to produce steam within a few

minutes, and the steam area will be comfortable to bathe (+/- 30ºC)

within 10-15 minutes.

When a thermostatic control is being used, the steam room

temperature will continue to rise until the preset temperature is

reached, at which point this temperature will be maintained by the

generator. If the generator is installed in manual state (with a simple

ON/OFF button instead of a thermostatic control), the steam room

temperature will continue to rise until the user presses the button to

stop it. For safety, manual generators are fitted with a default 25-minute

run-time, which switches the generator off.

Do I need special ventilation?

No, you do not need any special ventilation for a steam room or steam

shower. The steam will condense back to water and drain away. You can

speed up this process by running the shower.

Most bathrooms have a vent extract, which should be sufficient to

remove any steam that escapes during use. If you are building a larger

steam room with a particularly well-sealed door, a vent inside the area

will assist the steam circulation.

2120

How do you control the steam temperature?

Helo offers four generator ranges, N, M, T and A-Series:

N Series – the popular N-series model, this spec adds

a recessed digital control to maintain the temperature

automatically at a chosen level within the 25-minute

cycle. A bright LED display keeps you informed and your

chosen temperature is held in memory. The steam may

be stopped and started at any time with the push button.

M Series – digital time/temp control with “soft steam”.

Developed from the popular N-series generator, the

M-series uses a neat, slim line control with on/off button,

variable time and temperature with twin LED display and

a handy button to turn on the shower light. The control is

surface mounted so only a thin wire has to pass through

the tiled wall. Chrome and White bezels are included. A

special benefit with the M-series is the “soft steam”

function, which ensures there is always plenty of steam

even when the room has reached temperature.

T Series – packed with features to ensure the best

possible steam environment. The latest design T1 control

has a proximity sensor built-in to the screen, so when it

senses movement, it wakes up. Set the run time,

temperature and myriad other functions using the

touch-screen and let the control and the generator work

together using Helo’s unique soft steam function to

create the perfect bathing experience.

A Series – luxury generator with “warm start” and “soft

steam”. For clients who want the best! The smart inte-

rior control allows time and temperature setting, while

a press on the special “warm start” button outside the

steam room will preheat the generator so the steam is

immediate! The automatic “soft steam” function ensures

a constant steamy atmosphere and auto-flush keeps the

tank clean – useful when a water softener is fitted.

How do I make the ceiling for my steam shower?

To keep the steam in a shower enclosure, you need to either box-in above

the shower, or use one of Helo’s acrylic steam domes. If you decide to

box in, simply infill above the shower door and finish to match the rest

of the bathroom.

You can then form a false ceiling in the

shower area, perhaps with a low voltage,

IP65-rated light. The ceiling should be made

from a material that is water resistant, for

example Helo steam panels or tiles.

If possible you should incorporate a

slight fall (approx. 1 in 40), so that any

condensation will run away. If you opt for

the steam dome solution, just choose a

dome size/shape that matches the shower

enclosure. If you can’t see one the right size,

call Helo and there is a good chance we will

be able to have one made to suit. The dome

comes with simple fixing clips, which allow

it to be removed later for cleaning.

2322

What is the best height for a steam shower?

Heat rises, so the lower the ceiling in the steam shower, the easier it is

to heat up and the more comfortable it will be at low level.

Helo recommends an idea height of 2.1m, and a maximum effective

height of 2.4m, however provided the steam generator is powerful

enough the ceiling can be any height, within reason.

Do I need a special drain in the shower?

No, any standard shower waste of wet area drain will be fine.

By the time the steam reaches the drain it has already condensed back

to water and will simply drain away.

Do I need to insulate the room?

Insulation is not necessary. However, as with a standard shower

enclosure, using a simple tile backer board (such as Wedi or Dukka-

board) does help to keep the chill off tiles, which enhances the shower/

steam experience, and also acts as additional DPM. Using a tile backer

board will also reduce heat up times if you are using steam.

Still have some questions?

We have tried to include as much information as possible in this

booklet, however if there is anything at all that you are still unclear

about please do not hesitate to contact us on 01342-300555.

2524

Helo UK Limited3FelbridgeCentre,ImberhorneLane,EastGrinstead,WestSussexRH191XPTel.01342-300555Fax.01342-300550E.sales@helo.co.uk

www.helo.co.uk