Intelligent heating film and intelligent heating foil
"Intelligent" heating film is self-regulating (PTC) heating foil: where furniture or a rug covers it and heat cannot escape, it reduces its own output. This property came with the 3rd generation; today we install 4th-generation heating film, which in addition differs in its contact and its heat-emitting surface.
In brief
- Intelligent heating film (intelligent heating foil) is self-regulating PTC heating film: as the temperature rises, the resistance of the carbon paste increases, so in the covered area its output is about 25% lower.
- Heating foil and heating film are the same product; the word "intelligent" refers to self-regulation, not to a generation or a manufacturer.
- Self-regulation came with the 3rd generation; with the non-self-regulating 1st and 2nd generations a 4–5 cm air gap had to be left under furniture.
- 4th-generation heating film is also self-regulating, and in addition is made with an increased carbon-paste surface and a full-width contact strip. It is made to the order of Toma Family Mobil Kft. (futofolia.hu), and we are the only ones who sell it in Europe.
- A 15.5-year warranty on 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation.
What is intelligent heating film?
Intelligent heating film is self-regulating (PTC) electric heating foil that reduces its own output in the covered area, while continuing to heat unchanged on the surfaces left free. It goes behind the floor covering, plasterboard ceiling or wall, is invisible once installed, and heats with long-wavelength infrared radiation.
Heating foil and heating film are the same product: the two words are only a distinction made by sellers, and there is no technical difference between them. The word "intelligent" does not denote a manufacturer or a model either, but the self-regulating property. We introduced the term to the Hungarian market; today many sellers use it, so on its own it does not tell you which generation or construction of product you are getting.
Heating film consists of carbon-paste stripes sealed in plastic, supplied with current by copper strips running along its two edges; the heat is given off by the carbon-paste surface. It is the design of exactly these two parts, the contact and the carbon-paste surface, that changed between generations, along with whether the heating film regulates itself.
How does self-regulation work?
As the temperature rises, the resistance of the carbon paste increases: the tiny particles of the heating film move apart, so that section draws less power and its temperature is lower too, by about 25% in the covered area. On free surfaces the heating film keeps heating just the same.
Why was this new?
With the non-self-regulating heating foils made before 2015, 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 lifespan of parquet could be drastically shortened as a result, and adjusting the thermostat did not help. The positions of furniture had to be planned in advance, and rearranging later was practically impossible. With self-regulating heating film the home can be rearranged at any time.
What self-regulation does not replace
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. Self-regulating heating film draws less power in covered areas, but annual consumption is determined mainly by the heat loss of the building and the set temperature, so we calculate the expected consumption at the survey.
How does intelligent heating film heat from under the floor covering?
The heating film warms the screed and floor covering above it, and the surface of the floor covering becomes the radiating surface, typically at 20–28 °C, within the limit permitted by the floor covering manufacturer. The reflective foil goes under the heating film so that the heat does not escape downwards.
Radiant heating warms surfaces, objects and people, not the air directly, so it feels comfortable even with cooler air, and because it creates no air movement, it stirs up less dust. It has no moving parts, so it is silent and needs no maintenance.
Where can it go?
- In the floor: directly under laminate flooring, under tiles with a 4–5 cm layer of concrete or Rigidur board: electric underfloor heating.
- In the ceiling: behind a plasterboard suspended ceiling, also retrospectively, without breaking up the floor: ceiling heating.
- In the wall: behind plasterboard or a wall rug, typically as supplementary heating: wall heating.
On how heat passes through floor coverings and on the layer build-ups in detail: how does heat get through the floor covering?
Which generation is "intelligent"?
The word "intelligent" refers to self-regulation. The table shows which generations have this property, and how today's 4th-generation heating film differs. Where our sources contain no comparable data, the cell shows "—".
| Aspect | 1st–2nd generation | 3rd generation (intelligent heating film) | 4th generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-regulation (PTC) | none | yes: about 25% lower output in the covered area | yes: reduces its own output in the covered area |
| Furniture on the heated floor | a 4–5 cm air gap was needed under furniture | no air gap needed | no air gap needed |
| Contact (copper strip – carbon paste) | 1st: pressed copper and silver strips, discharge could occur; 2nd: conductive polymer layer | mesh contact | full-width contact strip between the carbon paste and the copper strip |
| Heat-emitting surface | — | — | increased carbon-paste surface |
| Thickness | — | 0.5 mm | 0.4 mm |
| Availability | heating foils made before 2015 | in Hungary since 2015; we no longer sell it | 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 | 15.5-year warranty when we do the installation |
Source: the /infrafutes/, /harmadik-generacios-futofilm/ and /negyedik-generacios-futofilm/ pages of futofolia.hu, the old 3rd-generation product page and the client's data of September–October 2026. The full comparison by generation: table of the 1st–4th generations.
How does 4th-generation heating film differ from earlier intelligent heating film?
4th-generation heating film is self-regulating just like 3rd-generation intelligent heating film, but differs in two structural points: the contact and the heat-emitting surface.
- Full-width contact strip: instead of the mesh contact of the 3rd generation, a continuous strip runs along the full width between the carbon paste and the copper strip. In the early generations this was exactly the weak link.
- Increased carbon-paste surface: heat is given off over a larger area, more evenly.
- Thinner: 0.4 mm instead of the 3rd generation's 0.5 mm; 50 cm wide, in outputs of 110, 220 or 400 W/m². Together with the reflective foil and the vapour barrier, the whole layer build-up is 6 mm.
- IP67 protection, in every case fitted with an earthing mesh: with the right layer build-up it can also go in a bathroom.
- Longer commitment: a 15.5-year warranty on 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation; 3rd-generation film carried a 10-year guarantee.
4th-generation heating film is made to the order of Toma Family Mobil Kft. (futofolia.hu), and we are the only ones who sell it in Europe. The film is printed with: 4th GENERATION PTC PREMIUM HEATING FILM, SwissWarm, Fűtőfólia. We no longer sell 3rd-generation heating film; the warranty on earlier installations remains valid.
In detail: 4th-generation heating film · 3rd-generation heating film · heating film in Hungary, price and installation: heating film across Hungary.
What should you ask if you are offered "intelligent heating foil"?
The name alone is not enough. Four questions that reveal what product you are being offered; for the fourth, also ask for a photograph.
Is the heating film self-regulating (PTC)?
If not, the positions of furniture must be planned in advance, and an air gap must be left under it.
How do the carbon paste and the copper strip make contact?
On 4th-generation heating film a full-width contact strip runs along it; in the 3rd generation the contact is a mesh.
What is the warranty, and what is its condition?
With us, a 15.5-year warranty on 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation.
Which generation is it? Can I have a photo?
Ask for a photograph of the heating film itself, including the text printed on it. On 4th-generation heating film it reads: 4th GENERATION PTC PREMIUM HEATING FILM, SwissWarm, Fűtőfólia.
Safety and electrosmog: what did we measure?
We answer the most common question about electric heating with our own measurement (KMOON GM3120 instrument; hand-held measurement, not a laboratory test):
- on the surface of a 220 W/m² heating film, not installed: 345 V/m;
- under a 2 cm Rigidur board: 273 V/m;
- at a height of 20 cm: 0 V/m;
- the magnetic field: 0.16–0.93 µT.
The Hungarian regulation (ESzCsM Decree 63/2004 of 26 July) sets residential limits of 5,000 V/m for the 50 Hz electric field and 100 µT for the magnetic field. For comparison, with the same instrument we measured 525 V/m on a laptop adapter.
We fit heating film with an earthing mesh in every case, and commissioning is concluded with an electrical safety inspection. The full measurement with pictures and video: electrosmog: measured values.
Questions about intelligent heating film
What is intelligent heating film?
Intelligent heating film is self-regulating (PTC) electric heating foil: where furniture or a rug covers it and heat cannot escape, it reduces its own output by about 25%, and on free surfaces it keeps heating. It goes behind the floor covering, plasterboard ceiling or wall, and heats with infrared radiation. Self-regulation came with the 3rd generation; today we install 4th-generation heating film.
What is the difference between intelligent heating foil and intelligent heating film?
None: heating foil and heating film are the same product; the two words are only a distinction made by sellers, and there is no technical difference between them. With both, "intelligent" refers to the self-regulating property. The real difference lies in the generations: whether the heating film is self-regulating, and how the carbon paste makes contact with the copper strip. Comparison: table of generations.
Why is heating foil called intelligent?
Because it is self-regulating: as the temperature rises, the resistance of the carbon paste increases, so where heat cannot escape, the heating foil in that section runs at lower output by itself and does not overheat. We introduced the term to the Hungarian market; today many sellers use it, so on its own it does not tell you the generation of the product. Details: how self-regulation works.
Which generation is intelligent heating foil?
With the self-regulating property the 3rd generation went beyond earlier heating foils, which is why the name "intelligent heating film" spread with the 3rd generation. 4th-generation heating film is also self-regulating, and in addition is made with an increased carbon-paste surface and a full-width contact strip. The 1st and 2nd generations were not self-regulating. The full comparison: the 1st–4th generations.
How does 4th-generation heating film differ from intelligent heating film?
4th-generation heating film is self-regulating just like 3rd-generation intelligent heating film, but a full-width contact strip runs between the carbon paste and the copper strip instead of the mesh solution, its carbon-paste surface is increased, and it is thinner (0.4 mm instead of 0.5 mm). A 15.5-year warranty on 4th-generation heating film when we do the installation. Details: how the 4th generation differs.
Who makes and sells 4th-generation intelligent heating foil?
4th-generation heating film is made to the order of Toma Family Mobil Kft. (futofolia.hu), and we are the only ones who sell it in Europe. Fűtőfólia is a brand of Toma Family Mobil Kft.; since 2012 we have been installing heating film throughout Hungary, with more than 5,000 installations. The film is printed with 4th GENERATION PTC PREMIUM HEATING FILM. Details: manufacture and sales.
Can I put furniture on intelligent heating foil?
With self-regulating (3rd and 4th-generation) heating film, yes: where heat cannot escape, the heating film reduces its own output, while that of the free surfaces does not change. With the non-self-regulating 1st and 2nd-generation films a 4–5 cm air gap 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.
Does intelligent heating foil use less electricity?
Self-regulating heating 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 or name of the heating film, so we calculate the expected consumption at the survey. Real examples: the planned consumption of ten houses.
How do I know I am getting genuine self-regulating heating film?
Ask the seller whether the heating film is self-regulating (PTC) and which generation it is, and ask for a photo of the film itself, including the text printed on it. On 4th-generation heating film it reads: 4th GENERATION PTC PREMIUM HEATING FILM, SwissWarm, Fűtőfólia. Films costing a few thousand forints in web shops fall into the weak category, even if "intelligent" is printed on them. Checklist: what to ask.
Is the electrosmog of intelligent heating foil harmful?
According to our own measurement (KMOON GM3120), the electric field strength is 345 V/m on the surface of a 220 W/m² heating film, 273 V/m under a 2 cm Rigidur board and 0 V/m at a height of 20 cm; the magnetic field is 0.16–0.93 µT. The Hungarian residential limit at 50 Hz is 5,000 V/m and 100 µT (ESzCsM Decree 63/2004). This is a hand-held measurement, not a laboratory test. The full measurement: electrosmog.
Related pages
4th-generation heating film
What we install today: construction, manufacture, warranty.
3rd-generation heating film
The first self-regulating generation.
Infrared heating: the basics
How it works, cost, layers.
Heating film in Hungary
Price, installation and delivery across the country.
About us
Fűtőfólia: since 2012, more than 5,000 installations.
Electrosmog: measured values
V/m on the heating film, under the covering and at 20 cm.
Consumption: ten real examples
Planned annual kWh, with a calculator.
Frequently asked questions
All questions and answers by topic.
Try self-regulation live.
In our Budapest showroom (Rákóczi u. 4, 1039 Budapest) you can handle 4th-generation heating film and see it switched on, with a thermal camera. Open Monday to Friday 10:00–17:00, on Saturday by prior appointment. Installation is available in Hungary.
Sources
- futofolia.hu — Infrared heating (/infrafutes/): heating foil and heating film are the same; the generations (shortcomings of the 1st–2nd generations, heating foils made before 2015), self-regulation (about 25%), the floor covering as radiating surface (20–28 °C), reflective foil, layer build-ups, 50 cm, 110/220/400 W/m², 6 mm, IP67 (2026-09)
- futofolia.hu — 3rd-generation heating film (/harmadik-generacios-futofilm/): the name "intelligent" refers to self-regulation, mesh contact, 0.5 mm, 10-year guarantee, in Hungary since 2015, web-shop heating foils (2026-09)
- futofolia.hu — 4th-generation heating film (/negyedik-generacios-futofilm/): contact strip, carbon-paste surface, 0.4 mm, printed text, installation (2026-10)
- futofolia.hu home page — the name "intelligent" was introduced to the Hungarian market by Fűtőfólia; construction and recognition of the 4th generation (2026-09)
- 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)
- futofolia.hu — Heating film across Hungary (/futofolia_magyarorszag/): Toma Family Mobil Kft., since 2012, earthing mesh, silent operation, showroom opening hours, 3rd-generation film no longer sold (2026-09)
- futofolia.hu — Electrosmog (/elektroszmog/): own measurement with a KMOON GM3120 instrument — 345 V/m, 273 V/m, 0 V/m, 0.16–0.93 µT; laptop adapter 525 V/m (2026-09)
- ESzCsM Decree 63/2004 (26 July) on the residential limit values of electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields between 0 Hz and 300 GHz (Hungary) (2026-09-14)
- futofolia.hu — Intelligent heating film (old /intelligens_futofilm/ page: the self-regulating property of heating film, areas of use) and Intelligent heating foil (old /infrafutes/inteligens-futofolia/ page); old claims that cannot be verified were not carried over (2022)
- 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)
- Company data: since 2012, more than 5,000 installations; showroom: Rákóczi u. 4, 1039 Budapest (the client's confirmation) (2026-09)