HEATING
Ceiling light panels, shown switched on (above) and off (above right).
1. Selection of a representative room or department. 2. Assessment of heating load based on building condition, size, and glazing.
3. Selection of appropriate infrared panel type and output.
Rooms with large windows typically require slightly more power, but this can be mitigated by facing heaters toward solid walls or using blinds to reflect rays back into the room. Most users are surprised by how little power is required – even in older buildings – to effectively heat a space using FIR. Infrared heating systems are available in several formats suited to healthcare environments: n Ceiling panels – suitable for offices, corridors, and wards, including models with integrated LED lighting.
n Bar heaters – effective in large-volume or high-ceiling spaces when installed at appropriate heights.
n Wall-mounted panels – suitable for smaller rooms and administrative areas.
n Combined heat-and-light fixtures – appropriate for atriums or reception spaces.
Mohamed Hanslod
Mohamed Hanslod is managing director of Bri-Tek Technologies, an LED lighting company set up 15 years ago. A few years later, he ventured into infrared heating which trades as Infrared Heating Supplies, before adding a solar PV and EV charging company to the group. Mohamed is driven by a passion for commercially viable innovation.
Most panels are plug and play, though connecting into a fused spur. NHS estates teams can often carry out installations internally. Infrared systems contain no moving mechanical components and therefore require minimal ongoing maintenance. Typical advantages include: n No moving parts. n No pumps, valves, filters, or fluids. n Zero routine maintenance.
With standard five year warranties and long lifespans, operating costs remain low.
Next steps When it comes to heating, what needs to change is what we expect a heating system to do. Instead of simply thinking ‘we have to heat this space’ it would be better if we looked at how the space will be used and how we are first going to heat the occupants, and then the space itself. Infrared heating should not necessarily be viewed as a universal replacement for heat pumps. However, across a complex and varied estate such as the NHS, it may represent a practical, complementary solution — particularly within older, poorly insulated, or intermittently occupied buildings. Key potential advantages include:
78 Health Estate Journal May 2026
n Lower installation disruption and capital cost – anyone involved in the installation of a heat pump will know the complexity – starting with understanding of the proposal, implementation, the time frame, and the associated remedial costs. Does it make sense to install a heat pump where substantial capital needs to be set aside for upgrading and adapting the structure?
n Effective performance in challenging building fabric conditions – having an infrared heating solution allows the use of buildings no matter what the age and condition, creating a comfortable heated environment.
n Modular deployment and scalability – heat one room or space at a time, experience the heat, and then scale up accordingly.
n Minimal maintenance requirements – with infrared heating there are no moving parts, which means zero maintenance costs.
n Direct occupant comfort – when simply heating a space, the occupants who will use the space are potentially overlooked. Instead, with infrared you can design and specify according to occupant type.
n Reduced reliance on air circulation – limiting the spread of dust and bacteria could aid infection control.
n Flexible, space-by-space control – with infrared you have ‘instant on’ and ‘instant off’; fast instant heating when it is required but, more importantly, when not needed, the heating can simply be switched off.
Conclusion As healthcare organisations pursue Net Zero objectives, evaluating a broader range of heating technologies — matched appropriately to building type and use — may prove essential to achieving both carbon reduction and operational resilience. An infrared heating solution can seamlessly integrate with a renewable system such as Solar PV and Battery Storage and use the energy generated in a much more efficient way, coupled with faster deployment. What is interesting is that, in the private medical space,
infrared heating is gathering pace and being installed in various buildings, whereas in the NHS, many sustainability managers may not have heard or come across infrared heating.
Ultimately, when heating a healthcare space, it should be about heating the occupants first, and this is where infrared comes into its own – fast, therapeutic heat delivering direct, gentle, comfortable warmth for the people who need it.
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