Does anyone on this BB have any experience with mats installed in concrete driveways for snow melting or de-icing? I have a contractor that says that when you have mulitple mats, the manufacturer specs tell him to splice the leads in a "T" conduit body and it is acceptable to bury said conduit body in the concrete??? I've asked him for info from the manufacturer. This splice would be not accessible. Need your comments before Monday.

Sounds crazy to me George.

I don't have any experience to relate to your situation but I would think that would be a last ditch option.

How long are the leads on the mats?

GJ

Since any repair would require busting up the concrete anyway I am not sure of why there would be a problem with this approach.
I suppose they could expose the cover of the conduit body but I am not sure what that accomplishes beyond creating a more likely place to fail.

George,
check 426.22 (NEC2002) The type of leads makes a diference about needing conduit or not. Splices with a direct burial coating would IMHO be accepted.
The buried conduit could be a Code violation if you look at 426.3
Also check 426.24 B and the reference to 300.15

Most installers are not aware of the requirement of 426.13. A warning sign must be posted to keep some contractor from cutting the concrete when the heat is turned on.
Alan--