Find HS Code and trade information for heating mat

Heating Mat

A heating mat is a flat, typically rectangular device used to provide localized warmth. It utilizes electrical resistance to generate heat, and is commonly employed for comfort, therapeutic purposes, and horticultural applications.

Material

• Heating Element: Typically constructed from woven resistance wires, such as nickel-chromium alloy (nichrome).
• Outer Layer: Often made from polyester, fleece, or other synthetic fabrics for durability and ease of cleaning. Some are waterproof or water-resistant, utilizing materials like PVC.
• Insulation: Internal layers provide insulation to retain heat and prevent overheating.
• Controller: May include a plastic housing for temperature controls and safety features.

Purpose

• Personal Comfort: Provides warmth for individuals, often used in beds, chairs, or on the floor.
• Pain Relief: Used to soothe muscle aches, joint pain, and stiffness through localized heat therapy.
• Horticulture: Seed starting and maintaining optimal root temperatures for plants.
• Animal Comfort: Providing warmth for pets or livestock.
• Frost Protection: Protecting plants from freezing temperatures.

Function

Heating mats function based on the principle of Joule heating. When an electric current passes through a resistive material (the heating element), it encounters resistance, converting electrical energy into heat energy. The amount of heat generated is proportional to the square of the current and the resistance of the element.

• Temperature Control: Many heating mats feature adjustable thermostats or controllers to regulate the temperature output.
• Safety Features: Overheat protection, automatic shut-off timers, and low electromagnetic field (EMF) designs are common safety features.

Usage Scenarios

• Home Use: Placed under blankets, sheets, or directly on the body for warmth and pain relief.
• Gardening: Used in greenhouses, indoor seed starting setups, or directly on garden beds to warm the soil.
• Animal Husbandry: Used in animal enclosures, breeding pens, or veterinary settings.
• Therapeutic Settings: Used in physical therapy clinics or spas for localized heat treatment.

Common Types

• Electric Blankets: Larger heating mats designed to cover a bed. Often include multiple heat settings and timers.
• Underfloor Heating Mats: Used beneath flooring materials to provide radiant heat.
• Seed Starting Mats: Smaller mats specifically designed to warm the soil for seed germination.
• Pet Heating Mats: Designed with durable, washable covers and often feature low-voltage operation for pet safety.
• Therapeutic Heating Pads: Smaller, more focused mats used for targeted pain relief. These can be electric or utilize chemical reactions.
• Reptile Heating Mats: Designed to provide a specific temperature gradient for reptiles.

Based on the material, use, and application scenarios, a heating mat is an electrothermic appliance used for domestic purposes to provide heat.

The following HS codes are relevant:

• 8516909000: This code covers electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electrothermic hairdressing apparatus (for example, hair dryers, hair curlers, curling tong heaters) and hand dryers; electric flatirons; other electrothermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes; electric heating resistors, other than those of heading 8545; parts thereof: Parts: Other. This is a broad category encompassing various domestic heating appliances, including those similar to heating mats.
  • 85: Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof.
  • 16: Insulated electrical conductors, cables, etc.
  • 90: Parts and accessories.
• 8545: Electric heating resistors, other than those of heading 8516; parts thereof. While the description specifically excludes resistors of heading 8516, if the heating mat utilizes resistors not falling under that category, this code may be applicable.
  • 85: Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof.
  • 45: Electric heating resistors.

Regarding HS code 8516909000, please note that it covers "other electrothermic appliances of a kind used for domestic purposes." It is important to ensure the heating mat falls within this definition.