A blade or wing having a leading edge and comprising heating element assembly for the blade or wing, the heating element assembly comprising: one or more heating elements covering the leading edge of the blade or wing and characterized by: a first barrier layer covering the leading edge of the blade or wing; an adhesive layer disposed on the first barrier layer; one or more electrical bus bars disposed on the first barrier layer proximate to and substantially parallel with the leading edge, each electrical bus bar for one of the heating elements and having an electrical lead for the heating element that extends chordwise away from the electrical bus bar and the leading edge of the blade or wing; a ground bus bar disposed on the first barrier layer proximate to and substantially parallel with the leading edge, the ground bus bar having a ground lead for each heating element that extends chordwise away from the ground bus bar and the leading edge of the blade or wing; a second barrier layer disposed over the one or more electrical bus bars and the ground bus bar such that all or part of the electrical leads of the one or more electrical bus bars and all or part of the ground leads of the ground bus bar are not covered by the second barrier layer; an adhesive layer disposed on the second barrier layer; the one or more heating elements disposed on the second barrier layer over the one or more electrical bus bars and the ground bus bar, and each heating element having a first lead electrically connected to the electrical lead of one of the electrical bus bars and a second lead electrically connected to one of the ground leads of the ground bus bar; a third barrier layer disposed over the one or more heating elements; an adhesive layer disposed on the third barrier layer; and the first barrier layer, the second barrier layer and the third barrier layer comprise composite layers for insulation. a first barrier layer covering the leading edge of the blade or wing; an adhesive layer disposed on the first barrier layer; one or more electrical bus bars disposed on the first barrier layer proximate to and substantially parallel with the leading edge, each electrical bus bar for one of the heating elements and having an electrical lead for the heating element that extends chordwise away from the electrical bus bar and the leading edge of the blade or wing; a ground bus bar disposed on the first barrier layer proximate to and substantially parallel with the leading edge, the ground bus bar having a ground lead for each heating element that extends chordwise away from the ground bus bar and the leading edge of the blade or wing; a second barrier layer disposed over the one or more electrical bus bars and the ground bus bar such that all or part of the electrical leads of the one or more electrical bus bars and all or part of the ground leads of the ground bus bar are not covered by the second barrier layer; an adhesive layer disposed on the second barrier layer; the one or more heating elements disposed on the second barrier layer over the one or more electrical bus bars and the ground bus bar, and each heating element having a first lead electrically connected to the electrical lead of one of the electrical bus bars and a second lead electrically connected to one of the ground leads of the ground bus bar; a third barrier layer disposed over the one or more heating elements; an adhesive layer disposed on the third barrier layer; and the first barrier layer, the second barrier layer and the third barrier layer comprise composite layers for insulation.