3rd-generation heating film
3rd-generation heating film was the first self-regulating generation: where furniture covers it, it reduces its own output. It has been available in Hungary since 2015; today we install 4th-generation heating film.
In brief
- 3rd-generation heating film was the first self-regulating (PTC) heating film: where heat cannot escape, it reduces its output by about 25%.
- It was made with a mesh contact between the copper strip and the carbon paste; in the 4th generation this was replaced by a full-width contact strip, and the carbon-paste surface was enlarged.
- Both the 3rd and the 4th generation are self-regulating: with neither is an air gap needed under furniture, unlike with the 1st and 2nd generation.
- The 3rd-generation film carries a 10-year guarantee.
- For new installations we install 4th-generation heating film today; a 15.5-year warranty applies to 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation.
3rd vs 4th-generation heating film: what is the difference?
Heating film receives its current through the copper strip running along its edge, and the carbon-paste surface gives off the heat. The two generations differ in how these two parts are designed; self-regulation is present in both.
| Aspect | 3rd generation | 4th generation |
|---|---|---|
| Contact (copper strip – carbon paste) | Mesh solution | Full-width contact strip between the carbon paste and the copper strip |
| Heat-emitting surface | Earlier design | Increased carbon-paste surface, more even heat output |
| Self-regulation (PTC) | Yes: about 25% lower output in the covered area | Yes: reduces its own output in the covered area |
| Furniture on the heated floor | No air gap needed underneath | No air gap needed underneath |
| Thickness | 0.5 mm | 0.4 mm |
| Availability | In Hungary since 2015; it is no longer what we install | What we install today; made to the order of Toma Family Mobil Kft. (futofolia.hu), and we are the only ones who sell it in Europe |
| Guarantee, warranty | 10-year guarantee on 3rd-generation film | 15.5-year warranty on 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation |
Source: the old 3rd-generation product page of futofolia.hu (the 0.5 mm thickness), the 4th-generation product page and the client's data of September 2026. The 3rd-generation product carries a 10-year guarantee; the 15.5-year warranty applies to 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation.
What is 3rd-generation heating film?
3rd-generation heating film is a thin, self-regulating electric heating element that goes behind the floor covering, plasterboard ceiling or wall, and heats with far-infrared radiation. It warms surfaces and objects, not the air, so dust is not stirred up the way it is with heating that circulates air.
Heating foil and heating film are the same product; the two words are only a distinction made by sellers. The name "intelligent heating foil" also refers to self-regulation: with this property the 3rd generation went beyond the earlier films.
According to our old product page, the 3rd-generation film was 0.5 mm thick and could be built into the floor, ceiling or wall, or used as supplementary heating. According to our old FAQ it reaches its maximum output in 3 minutes; the warmth can be felt within 5–15 minutes, depending on the floor covering.
More on the basics: infrared heating: how does it work?
What does it mean that 3rd-generation film is self-regulating?
Self-regulating (PTC) heating film reduces its own output in the covered area, while continuing to heat unchanged on the surfaces left free. As the temperature rises, the resistance of the carbon paste increases: the tiny nanoparticles of the film move apart, so that section draws less power and its temperature is lower too, by about 25% in the 3rd generation.
Why was this new?
With 1st and 2nd-generation films a 4–5 cm air gap had to be left between the underside of furniture and the floor, otherwise heat was trapped and the floor covering could overheat. The positions of furniture therefore had to be planned in advance, and rearranging later was practically impossible. With self-regulating film this is not needed: the home can be rearranged at any time.
What does self-regulation not solve?
We still do not plan a heated surface under built-in furniture that reaches the floor, and we keep to the highest surface temperature permitted by the floor covering manufacturer with the thermostat's floor sensor. Consumption is also determined not by the generation but mainly by the heat loss of the building.
Where does the 3rd generation stand in the development of heating film?
The generations of heating film differ in how the contact between carbon paste and copper strip was solved, and in whether the film regulates itself. The 3rd generation brought self-regulation; the 4th developed the contact and the heating surface further.
1st generation
Plain striped film. The contact of the copper and silver strips pressed onto each other along its long side is not stable, so discharge and short circuits could occur, and the heating strips were not connected to each other: a hairline crack could take out a whole strip.
2nd generation
A conductive polymer layer was placed between the copper and the silver, which ruled out discharge, and the heating surface became interconnected. It was not yet self-regulating: an air gap had to be left under furniture.
3rd generation
Available in Hungary since 2015. Made with a mesh contact and self-regulation (PTC), and it reached its maximum output sooner than the earlier ones.
4th generation: what we install today
Increased carbon-paste surface, a full-width contact strip between the carbon paste and the copper strip, self-regulation. The film is printed with: 4th GENERATION PTC PREMIUM HEATING FILM. Details: 4th-generation heating film.
The generations in detail, with video (in Hungarian): presentation of heating films, 1st–3rd generation; summary table: the generations of heating film.
Which generation of heating film should you choose?
For a new installation the question today is not 3rd or 4th generation, but whether the film is self-regulating and who installs it. Four situations, four answers.
You are planning new heating
For new installations we install 4th-generation heating film today: self-regulating, with an increased carbon-paste surface and a full-width contact strip. A 15.5-year warranty applies to 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation.
Részletek →You already have 3rd-generation film
3rd-generation film is self-regulating, so furniture can go on top of it. The 3rd-generation film carries a 10-year guarantee. If it does not heat properly, report the fault.
You are comparing quotes
Ask which generation the film is and whether it is self-regulating, how the carbon paste and the copper strip make contact, and ask for a photo of the film, including the text printed on it.
Részletek →You have seen cheap film in a web shop
Films costing a few thousand forints in web shops fall into the weak category, even if "intelligent" is printed on them. No furniture may go on non-self-regulating film without an air gap.
Részletek →Questions about 3rd-generation heating film
What is 3rd-generation heating film?
3rd-generation heating film is the first generation of self-regulating (PTC) heating film: where furniture or a rug covers it and heat cannot escape, it reduces its output by about 25%, so no air gap needs to be left under furniture. It was made with a mesh contact between the copper strip and the carbon paste, and was available in Hungary from 2015. Its successor: 4th-generation heating film.
What is the difference between 3rd and 4th-generation heating film?
4th-generation heating film is more advanced than the 3rd in two respects: with an increased carbon-paste surface it gives off heat more evenly, and a full-width contact strip runs between the copper strip and the carbon paste instead of the 3rd generation's mesh solution. Both are self-regulating, and furniture can go on top of both. The full comparison: 3rd vs 4th generation table.
Which generation of heating film should I choose?
For a new installation choose self-regulating film: today that is 4th-generation heating film, which we also install. Check how the carbon paste makes contact with the copper strip, ask for a photo of the film, and find out who does the installation. A 15.5-year warranty applies to 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation. Details: 4th-generation heating film.
Can I put furniture on 3rd-generation heating film?
Yes, furniture can go on 3rd-generation heating film, because it is self-regulating: in the covered area it reduces its output by about 25%, and on free surfaces it keeps heating unchanged. With 1st and 2nd-generation films a 4–5 cm air gap still had to be left between the underside of furniture and the floor. We do not plan a heated surface under built-in furniture that reaches the floor. Layers: electric underfloor heating.
What guarantee comes with 3rd-generation heating film?
The 3rd-generation film carries a 10-year guarantee. For today's 4th-generation film the commitment is longer: a 15.5-year warranty on 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation. If your existing heating film heating does not work properly, you can also report the fault online, and a colleague will contact you. Report: fault report form.
How much does 3rd-generation heating film cost?
For new installations we install 4th-generation heating film today, so we quote the price for that: in 2026 the system costs HUF 11,250–18,000 per m² gross including installation, calculated on the floor area to be heated. We give the exact price after the survey. Prices and packages: the price of heating film.
Does self-regulating 3rd-generation film use less electricity?
Self-regulating film draws less power in covered areas, because it reduces its output there; on free surfaces it heats just the same. Annual consumption, however, is determined mainly by the heat loss of the building and the set temperature, not by the generation of the film, so we calculate the expected consumption at the survey. Real examples: the planned consumption of ten houses.
How do I know which generation of heating film I am getting?
Ask the seller, and ask for a photo of the film itself, including the text printed on it. On 4th-generation film it reads: 4th GENERATION PTC PREMIUM HEATING FILM, and a full-width contact strip runs between the carbon paste and the copper strip; in the 3rd generation the contact is a mesh. The pattern visible from the outside says nothing on its own. Checklist: what to ask before buying.
Related pages
4th-generation heating film
What we install today: construction, warranty.
Heating films, 1st–3rd generation
The history of the generations, with video.
Infrared heating: the basics
How it works, cost, layers.
Electric underfloor heating
Layers by floor covering, price and consumption.
Consumption: ten real examples
Planned annual kWh, with a calculator.
Frequently asked questions
All questions and answers by topic.
See today's 4th-generation film live.
In our Budapest showroom (Rákóczi u. 4, 1039 Budapest) you can handle it and see it in operation. Installation is available in Hungary.
Sources
- futofolia.hu — 3rd-generation heating film (old product page: self-regulation, 0.5 mm, uses, 10-year guarantee) (2022-07)
- futofolia.hu — Presentation of heating films, 1st–3rd generation (in Hungary since 2015, self-regulation, air gap; revised 2026-09-14) (2018)
- futofolia.hu — FAQ (old page: 3rd-generation film reaches maximum output in 3 minutes) (2025-07)
- futofolia.hu — Infrared heating, the generations of heating film (mesh contact, about 25% output reduction in the covered area) (2026-09)
- futofolia.hu — 4th-generation heating film (contact strip, carbon-paste surface, printed text) (2026-09)
- The client's decision (2026-09-16): the 10-year guarantee may remain for 3rd-generation film (2026-09-16)
- The client's decision (2026-09-16): 4th-generation heating film is self-regulating; the colour of the contact strip is not named (2026-09-16)
- Tamás Tóth, founder of Fűtőfólia: statement on the manufacture of 4th-generation heating film (made to our own order, sold in Europe only by us) (2026-10-04)
- The client's decision on the warranty (2026-09-13): 15.5-year warranty on 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation (2026-09-13)
- Investment calculator: Lite 11,250, Standard 14,625, Premium 18,000 HUF/m² gross, including installation (2026-09)