INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL HEATING Seeing red, seeing savings F


Applying shortwave infrared heating technology to the age-old problem of heating large industrial units is not only delivering a more targeted approach to heating, but considerable cost savings too. Bruce Miller, director of infrared heating specialists SunSwitch, looks at this new approach, of local, rather than global, warming, and explains how it is turning specification of heating on its head


or many decades, the specification of heating has been based largely on heat loss calculations. It has also been based mostly on convection heat technologies. For many


applications, such as domestic dwellings corporate offices and densely populated public buildings such as hospitals, this remains a key approach. For warehouses and large industrial spaces, however, a new approach is promising to make heat loss calculation a thing of the past. We have for a long time accepted without question the premise that in order to treat our workforce well, we must heat the entire building. There is wisdom in providing sufficiently warm working conditions, as they help to foster not only employee wellbeing, but also worker productivity and efficiency.


The characteristic of most industrial units, however, is that they feature wide, broad, high spaces with relatively few occupants. Using traditional heating methods, the aim has been to provide an ideal working environment throughout the building, whether it is occupied by hundreds of employees, or simply a handful. Automation and streamlining have resulted, over the years, in smaller workforces inside the same size premises. As a result, in order to keep the workforce sufficiently warm, we are now frequently heating many cubic metres of space per person, even though many of them rarely move from their work stations throughout a working day. This approach to industrial heating is therefore becoming increasingly outdated; it is time to question it. In reality, it is no longer the case that we need to heat a whole building in order to provide warmth for its occupants. Using shortwave infrared heating appliances, we can aim warmth at the areas in which people work, and ignore those which are rarely occupied. Shortwave infrared differs from longwave or mediumwave infrared in that it travels through the atmosphere without being dissipated. While longwave and mediumwave radiation rely on a combination of convection and radiation to transmit heat, shortwave infrared emissions rely solely on electromagnetic radiation. It is shortwave radiation from the sun which makes us feel warm, even on an otherwise chilly day. Shortwave infrared heaters deliver the same kind of effect; end users at whom the heaters are aimed feel as though they are being bathed in warmth from the sun. Neither does shortwave radiation contain any harmful elements; indeed, shortwave infrared heating is increasingly


commonly used therapeutically by veterinarians to aid healing, especially among horses. In large industrial settings such as workshops, churches, factories, and especially warehouses, heating the entire space can be extremely wasteful. Heat, as we know, rises, and many of these units are high ceilinged, with no occupants at all in the higher levels. We are, therefore, needlessly heating ‘dead’ spaces, using increasingly costly energy.


In stark contrast to this, by using infrared heaters, we can aim warmth directly at the specific areas in which people work. These are areas such as packing stations, workbenches, assembly line stations or retail trade counters. Workers may occasionally visit less frequented areas to collect stock for customers or materials or specialist tools for specific tasks, but at those times they tend to be active, on the move and not lingering to feel cold. These rarely visited areas largely do not require heating routinely.


One of the huge benefits of a more


targeted approach using shortwave infrared appliances, is that there is no perceptible heat build-up, and therefore no corresponding heat loss when a door or loading bay is opened. A floor area may eventually start to warm up, as the ground eventually heats when sunshine falls on it for prolonged periods, but the air is not heated. In fact, a loading bay can be left open while a packing station is warmed by an appliance such as the SunSwitch® Helios 6kW vertical high power heater, and those packing near the open door will still benefit from the radiated warmth provided. A further bonus is the instantaneous nature of this type of heating. There is no need to heat the premises before the workforce arrive and no wasted energy after they leave for the day. The warmth simply switches on or off. Some areas which are visited infrequently may require heating from time to time, for example for an inventory to be conducted. These areas can be fitted with heaters which are used only while they are occupied. This can be achieved by using a simple on off switch, or by deploying motion sensors. Perhaps the most impressive benefit is the cost saving. By eliminating pre-heating and focusing heat only on the occupied areas,


you can achieve huge cost savings. Against a background of worryingly high energy prices, it is not surprising that many specifiers are looking at shortwave infrared technology for the first time. Early adopters of this local warming approach are reporting making very significant energy savings; up to 70% reductions. This same approach can be used in buildings such as sports halls, aircraft hangers, and even churches, making infrared heating a suitably hot topic for M&E contractors and facilities managers across a wide number of sectors. Installation is very simple, requiring only an electricity supply and some wiring. Controls are also easy to operate or programme. In large buildings such as warehouses, there is often a great deal of available exterior roof space which could accommodate solar panels to generate electricity. Using electricity generated on-site makes this highly targeted heating even more cost effective to run. The potential for both cutting heating bills and reducing carbon footprints is huge. Relying entirely on electricity to run, there is no water system or gas supply to consider. No boiler is needed, other than to provide domestic hot water, some of which could also be provided using solar panels, should the building be suitable. This in turn means less maintenance, and no problems with deteriorating pipes or expansion tanks. Shortwave infrared heaters do not have moving parts, so there is little maintenance to be carried out on the appliances themselves, other than a very occasional, straightforward, replacement of a heating element, which resembles a lighting tube. Not surprisingly, shortwave infrared, as a highly


targeted form of heating, requires the specifier to think about it in a completely different way. Instead of using traditional heat calculations based on the size of the premises, shortwave infrared heaters are specified according to the usage patterns of each building’s occupants. We have found that specifiers often need assistance with their first few projects, as abandoning heat loss calculations can seem somewhat counterintuitive at first. Therefore, it is important to choose an expert such as SunSwitch who can offer expert advice on specification and installation of infrared heating products. Once they have specified a few times, however, specifiers invariably see the benefits for themselves; and we do find that this method of heating recommends itself for future projects. Quite simply, it delivers a best of both worlds; simplicity of installation and maintenance with huge savings on energy costs. Time to see red.


24 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JANUARY 2024 Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk


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