HZ-ICE — Intelligent Controller Electronics — is Heatizon’s smart snow melt control panel for high-end residential and light commercial installations. Available in 6-circuit and 12-circuit configurations, HZ-ICE monitors every zone individually, detecting broken heating cables, stuck contactors, and load faults in real time. Every panel ships with a built-in local Wi-Fi web dashboard accessible from any phone or laptop, BACnet/IP integration that drops natively into any building automation system, and an industrial battery backup that keeps alarm reporting active for approximately 7 hours after grid power fails. When you commission an HZ-ICE installation, you can prove it is working — zone by zone — from your phone.
Per-zone monitoring — the core difference
Every zone in HZ-ICE is switched by a definite-purpose contactor and monitored by a dedicated solid-core current transformer. When the panel commands a zone to heat, it measures the current that zone is drawing in real time.
Two fault conditions are detected automatically:
- Load fault — the panel has commanded a zone to heat, but the zone is drawing no current. This indicates a broken heating cable, a tripped breaker, or an open circuit. The fault is logged immediately and reported to the building automation system via BACnet. Without per-zone monitoring, a broken cable only reveals itself when someone notices the driveway is still covered in snow.
- Welded contactor — the panel has commanded a zone off, but the zone is drawing current. This means the contactor has failed in the closed position and is continuing to pass power even when it should be off. This is a safety-critical fault — the affected zone is flagged on the dashboard and should be disabled immediately pending service.
Both fault conditions are reported on the local dashboard and pushed to the building automation system via BACnet simultaneously.
For installations requiring more than 12 zones or custom panel engineering, see Heatizon’s custom panel builds — UL 508A certified panel shop.
Available in 6-circuit and 12-circuit configurations
HZ-ICE is available in two configurations to match the zone count of the installation.
The HZ-ICE 6-circuit is designed for high-end residential installations and smaller light commercial projects — estates with a driveway, entry walkway, and roof valley circuit to manage; restaurants or offices with a primary entry and secondary surface; and retrofit projects replacing a failed legacy panel in a building with a moderate zone count.
The HZ-ICE 12-circuit scales the same Intelligent Controller Electronics platform to larger installations — property management campuses, hotels, commercial properties with multiple surface types and building faces, and any installation where 6 zones is not enough. The 12-circuit version uses the same BACnet controller, the same local Wi-Fi dashboard, the same per-zone monitoring and fault detection, and the same battery backup architecture as the 6-circuit — it is the same intelligent platform at twice the zone count.
Both configurations are specified and quoted through Heatizon — contact a distributor with your zone count and load requirements.
Local Wi-Fi dashboard
Every HZ-ICE panel includes a built-in web dashboard hosted directly on the panel’s own Wi-Fi access point. No app to install. No account to create. No connection to the building’s network required.
To access the dashboard, connect a phone, tablet, or laptop to the panel’s Wi-Fi network and open any web browser. The dashboard shows:
- Panel status (HEALTHY or ALARM) at a glance
- All 6 zones — real-time current draw and accumulated runtime hours
- Outdoor temperature and OAT lockout state
- Snow sensor status — calling for heat or idle
- Battery health and AC-loss status
- All adjustable settings — master enable, zone enables, temperature cutoffs, and override duration
The panel’s Wi-Fi is a local access point only — it reaches approximately 30 feet from the panel and is not connected to the internet. No one outside the building can access the panel without a building-side VPN arrangement.
BACnet/IP integration
HZ-ICE exposes 35 BACnet/IP objects to the building automation system using the Contemporary Controls BAScontrol22S — a BACnet/IP certified controller. Every signal the panel tracks — zone current draw, fault status, sensor state, battery status, OAT reading — is available to the BAS without any additional drivers, licenses, or configuration beyond a standard BACnet discovery.
Compatible with any BACnet-capable BAS platform including Niagara, Metasys, and similar systems.
Battery-backed BACnet — the BACnet controller is powered by an industrial DC UPS. After grid AC fails, the controller continues reporting to the BAS for approximately 7 hours. The building automation system receives grid-loss notification from the snow melt panel before maintenance staff notice the amber light on the door. When AC returns, the panel resumes normal operation automatically.
For buildings without a BAS, none of this requires configuration — the local Wi-Fi dashboard provides full visibility and control without any BACnet setup.
OAT lockout and temperature controls
HZ-ICE includes a configurable outdoor air temperature lockout that prevents the panel from heating in conditions where it is not useful or not appropriate:
High cutoff (default 40°F) — above this temperature, snow melts on its own and heating is wasted energy. The panel does not activate.
Low cutoff (default 20°F) — below this temperature, heating cables cannot keep up with the heat loss to the cold air and running them continuously is unproductive. The panel does not activate.
Both cutoffs are adjustable from the dashboard. The OAT lockout remains active even during Force-On override — the panel will not heat outside the configured temperature range regardless of what the override commands, protecting the heating cables from running in conditions they were not designed for.
Force-On Override — runs all enabled zones for a specified number of hours regardless of the snow sensor. Useful for warming a surface before a special event or accelerating melt after a heavy storm.
2-minute test mode — activates all enabled zones for 2 minutes for commissioning verification. Stops automatically.
Compatible heating cables
HZ-ICE is designed to drive Heatizon’s heating cable family — the panel is the same regardless of cable choice:
Hott-Wire — Mineral-insulated line-voltage cable for in-slab and pedestal paver snow melt. The primary cable for surface snow melt applications including driveways, walkways, and the patented Heatizon pedestal paver heating system.
Cozy Heat — Mineral-insulated line-voltage cable for under-slab or in-slab floor/space heating or heat-loss prevention.
GutterMelt — Self-regulating heat trace cable for roof valleys, gutters, and downspouts. GutterMelt adjusts its heat output based on ambient temperature — safe for plastic and metal downspouts.
Can be used with other Heatizon products dependent on application and project.
For installations combining surface snow melt and gutter protection, HZ-ICE manages both cable types across its 6 zones — allocating zones by application as the installation requires.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Up to 6 Circuits | 7 to 12 Circuits |
|---|---|---|
| Zones | Up to 6 Circuits | 7 to 12 Circuits |
| Input Voltage (panel power) | 120VAC, 60Hz, single-phase | 120VAC, 60Hz, single-phase |
| Circuit Protection | 30A overload + 30mA GFEP — NEC 426.28 | 30A overload + 30mA GFEP — NEC 426.28 |
| Load Voltage | Variable based on project | Variable based on project |
| BACnet | BACnet/IP, 35 objects | BACnet/IP — contact Heatizon for object count |
| Battery Backup (Panel Only) | ~7 hr | ~7 hr |
| Dashboard | Local Wi-Fi — no app or account, Ethernet, or MS/TP | Local Wi-Fi — no app or account, Ethernet, or MS/TP |
| OAT lockout | Customer-adjustable (default 40°F / 20°F) | Customer-adjustable (default 40°F / 20°F) |
| Door pilots | Green (Power) / amber (Battery) / red (Alarm) | Green (Power) / amber (Battery) / red (Alarm) |
| Enclosure | Based on Project Specifications | Based on Project Specifications |
| Operating ambient | -10°F to 104°F | -10°F to 104°F |
| Code compliance | NEC 426.28, 250, 408.36, 110.26 | NEC 426.28, 250, 408.36, 110.26 |
| Listing | UL 508A planned | UL 508A planned |
| Processing | On-board micro-processor | On-board micro-processor |
Complete the system
HZ-ICE controls the panel — Heatizon’s heating cables deliver the heat. For surface snow melt, pair with Hott-Wire in concrete, asphalt, or Heatizon’s patented pedestal paver snow melting system. For roof valley and gutter protection, pair with GutterMelt. For projects requiring a larger panel — more than 6 zones — Contact Heatizon to specify HZ-ICE for your project.
A snow melt panel that actually tells you something
The standard approach to snow melt control is a contactor box — a panel that turns heating circuits on when the snow sensor fires, and off when it stops. There is no monitoring, no fault detection, and no way to know whether the heating cables are actually working until someone walks outside in a blizzard and notices the driveway is still covered in snow.
HZ-ICE is built on a different premise. Per-zone current monitoring means the panel knows immediately if a zone is drawing less current than expected — indicating a broken cable — or more current than expected — indicating a fault. A welded contactor, which leaves a zone permanently powered even when the panel has commanded it off, is detected the moment it occurs rather than discovered during the next maintenance visit. Every fault is logged, reported on the dashboard, and pushed to the building automation system via BACnet in real time.
This is not a premium feature set for its own sake. It exists because snow melt failures are expensive, happen in the worst weather, and are invisible until they cause a problem — a slip-and-fall on a driveway that was supposed to be clear, or ice dam damage on a roof that was supposed to be protected. HZ-ICE closes the gap between “the panel is on” and “the system is working.”
Industrial components, not consumer hardware
HZ-ICE is built from industrial-grade components throughout — not consumer electronics repackaged in a sheet-metal box.
The BACnet controller is a BACnet/IP certified industrial controller used across commercial building automation projects. It is not a microcontroller with a BACnet library bolted on.
The battery backup is an industrial DC UPS with sealed lead-acid batteries — not a consumer UPS with lithium cells that need replacement every few years. The industrial UPS is designed for long duty cycles in a panel environment.
The contactors are definite-purpose contactors — rated for the electrical loads of heating cable circuits, not adapted from HVAC or lighting applications.
The current sensors are solid-core current transformers — the same class of sensor used in commercial energy monitoring systems, not clip-on adapters.
Built by Heatizon — US manufacturer since 1979
Heatizon Systems has designed and manufactured electric radiant heating products in the United States since 1979. HZ-ICE is part of Heatizon’s smart heat control platform — the same BACnet-native architecture, per-zone monitoring, and local dashboard extends across the platform to floor heating and heat trace applications. For installations combining surface snow melt, gutter protection, and building automation integration, Heatizon can specify and supply every element of the system from a single source — heating cable, control panel, sensors, and activation devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
HZ-ICE
The choice depends on how many circuits the project requires. 6 or less use the 6-circuit panel and 6-12 circuits use the 12-circuit option. Currently, for projects above 12 circuits, multiple panels will be required. Both configurations use the same Intelligent Controller Electronics platform and integrate identically with building automation systems via BACnet/IP. Contact a Heatizon distributor with the zone count and load requirements for your project.
HZ-ICE is currently available in two configurations: a 6-circuit version for residential and smaller light-commercial installations, and a 12-circuit version for larger installations requiring more independent heating zones. Both configurations include the same per-zone current monitoring, BACnet/IP integration, local Wi-Fi dashboard, industrial battery backup, and OAT lockout — the 12-circuit version scales the zone count and panel capacity while maintaining the same intelligent control platform. Contact Heatizon to specify the right configuration for your project’s zone count and load requirements.
HZ-ICE stands for Intelligent Controller Electronics — reflecting the panel’s core distinction from standard contactor-based snow melt panels. The “intelligent” designation refers to the panel’s per-circuit current monitoring, real-time fault detection, BACnet/IP integration, and local Wi-Fi dashboard — capabilities that standard snow melt panels do not include. The HZ prefix identifies the product as part of the Heatizon family.
Yes. HZ-ICE is the recommended control panel for Heatizon’s patented pedestal paver and deck snow melt system. Hott-Wire MI cable is installed in the paver heating pans, and HZ-ICE monitors and controls each circuit — providing the full per-circuit current monitoring, fault detection, and BACnet integration of the smart panel platform with the reliability of Heatizon’s patented pan system.
HZ-ICE is designed for high-end residential and light commercial snow melt and floor heat installations where monitoring, accountability, and building automation integration are required. Primary applications include driveways/ramps with multiple heated surface zones, commercial properties where a snow incident becomes a liability, HOAs and property managers requiring remote visibility across multiple buildings, and mechanical contractors with existing BACnet infrastructure who need a snow melt/floor heat panel that integrates natively. HZ-ICE is also the right specification for any installation replacing a failed legacy panel where the customer needs proof the system is working.
Force-On Override allows the panel to run all enabled zones continuously for a specified duration regardless of what the snow sensor is detecting. It is useful for warming a surface before a special event, or for accelerating melt after a heavy storm has already deposited snow. The panel still respects the OAT lockout limits during Force-On — it will not heat if the outdoor temperature is above the high cutoff or below the low cutoff. The override runs for the duration specified and stops automatically.
The outdoor air temperature (OAT) lockout prevents HZ-ICE from activating heating in conditions where it is not useful or not appropriate. The default high cutoff is 40°F — above this temperature, snow melts on its own and heating is wasted energy. The default low cutoff is 20°F — below this temperature, the heating cables cannot keep up with the cold and the panel stops rather than run continuously. Both cutoffs are customer-adjustable from the dashboard. The OAT lockout remains active even during Force-On override, protecting the heating cables from running in conditions they were not designed for.
HZ-ICE is engineered to drive Heatizon’s family of heating cables. Hott-Wire MI cable is the primary recommendation for in-slab snow melting and pedestal paver snow melt installations. GutterMelt self-regulating cable is specified for roof valleys, gutters, and downspouts. Cozy Heat the preferred solution for heat loss prevention and floor/space heating. The panel is cable-agnostic in its electrical design — the cable is selected based on the surface and application, while the panel remains the same across all installations.
UL 508A listing is planned for production panels. HZ-ICE is assembled from UL-listed components throughout. For current listing status, contact Heatizon directly.
HZ-ICE accepts a variety of voltages and configurations dependent on the individual project. Enclosures vary based on project variables. The HZ-ICE panel itself requires 120V, 60hz power.
HZ-ICE includes an industrial DC UPS (with two 12V/5Ah sealed lead-acid batteries) that keeps the BACnet controller and alarm reporting active for approximately 7 hours after grid AC fails. The heating cables do not run on battery — there is not enough energy for that — but the panel’s intelligence stays active. The amber door pilot illuminates during battery operation. When grid power returns, the panel resumes normal operation automatically. The battery backup uses industrial-grade components rather than consumer UPS hardware, eliminating the replacement cycles associated with consumer battery backup products.
Each HZ-ICE zone is switched by a definite-purpose contactor. A welded contactor is one that has failed in the closed (on) position — it continues passing current even when the panel has commanded it off. HZ-ICE detects this condition by monitoring current in a zone that should be off: if current is flowing when the panel has not commanded that zone to heat, a welded contactor alarm is generated. This is a safety-critical fault — the affected zone should be disabled from the dashboard and service called immediately.
Each of HZ-ICE’s circuits is monitored by a dedicated current transformer. When the panel activates a circuit, it measures the current the circuit is drawing. If the circuit draws no current when it should be heating, the panel logs a load fault alarm — indicating the heating cable is broken, the breaker has tripped, or the circuit has otherwise failed. The alarm appears on the dashboard and is reported to the building automation system via BACnet. This detection happens automatically, without any manual inspection of the heating cable or driveway surface.
No. HZ-ICE is not connected to the internet. The panel’s Wi-Fi is a local access point — it only reaches approximately 30 feet from the panel and exists only for the local dashboard. No cloud service, no remote update capability, and no external access is possible without a building-side VPN or similar arrangement set up by the building’s IT team. Heatizon has no remote access to any HZ-ICE panel.
Yes. HZ-ICE exposes 35 BACnet/IP objects to the building automation system — compatible with any BACnet-capable BAS platform including Niagara, Metasys, and similar systems. No additional drivers or licensing are required. The BACnet controller (BACnet/IP certified) is battery-backed — it continues reporting to the BAS for approximately 7 hours after grid AC fails, so the building automation system receives outage notification before anyone else knows the panel is on battery. If the building does not have a BAS, the local Wi-Fi dashboard provides full visibility and control without any BACnet configuration.
Every HZ-ICE panel includes a built-in web dashboard hosted on the panel’s own Wi-Fi access point. No app installation, no account creation, and no connection to the building’s network is required. To access the dashboard, connect a phone, tablet, or laptop to the panel’s Wi-Fi network (the network name and password are on a label inside the panel door) and open any web browser. The dashboard shows real-time zone current draw, runtime hours, outdoor temperature, snow sensor status, battery health, and any active alarms — and allows adjustment of temperature cutoffs, zone enables, and manual override duration.
A standard contactor panel turns heating circuits on and off — and that is all it does. HZ-ICE monitors what is actually happening in each zone. Per-zone current sensing detects a broken heating cable the moment it fails — not when someone notices the driveway is still covered in snow in February. BACnet/IP integration exposes all panel signals to the building automation system. A local Wi-Fi dashboard lets anyone with a phone check panel health without opening the enclosure or calling a technician. Battery backup keeps alarm reporting running for approximately 7 hours after grid power fails.
HZ-ICE controls up to 6/12 independent heating circuits — each circuit is independantly switched by a project-specific voltage/amperage GFEP definite-purpose contactor and monitored by a dedicated current transformer. Each zone can be independently monitored and controlled. For installations requiring more than 12 zones, Heatizon will be offering larger circuit panels in the same smart platform family.
HZ-ICE is Heatizon’s smart multi-zone snow melt control panel for high-end residential and commercial installations. Unlike a standard relay panel, HZ-ICE monitors every zone individually — detecting broken heating cables, stuck contactors, and load faults in real time. Every panel includes a built-in local Wi-Fi web dashboard, BACnet/IP integration for building automation systems, and battery backup that keeps alarms reporting through grid power outages. HZ-ICE is engineered to drive Heatizon’s Hott-Wire, Cozy Heat, and GutterMelt heating cables across driveways, walkways, roof valleys, gutters, and pedestal paver systems.