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Purchasing guide: How do you choose the right industrial heater?

The thermal needs of an industrial building differ greatly from those of a standard home or office. To choose an industrial heater, you must begin with a precise analysis of your expectations and the characteristics of your site. This guide will help you understand the issues and select the ideal solution for your industrial premises.

What are the types of industrial heaters?

There are two types of industrial heaters: Forced air heating and radiant heating (or infrared heating). These solutions are not competitive but complementary, as they meet different needs for warehouse heating.

Forced air heating: Heat by contact

Forced air heating works thanks to a blower system that draws in ambient air, heats it, and then redistributes it in the area to be heated. This method allows for rapid and uniform heating of the space. There are two types of forced air heating systems:

  • Direct space heaters which blow combustion gases along with the heat. It is therefore used outdoors or to heat workstations in large, well-ventilated volumes or in the absence of personnel or animals.
  • Indirect space heaters have a combustion chamber allowing connection to a chimney flue to evacuate combustion gases. It can therefore be used in the presence of animals or people.

Examples of use: Frost protection, heating a workshop, storage warehouse, construction site, work area, event marquee, etc.

Radiant heating: Targeted heat

Radiant heating provides a sensation of warmth in its immediate vicinity and is designed to heat a specific area. Its distinctive feature is the transfer of heat in the form of infrared radiation.

Radiant heaters are equipped with an electric resistance plate (typically made of aluminium, metal alloy, or carbon, heated by one or more resistances) which acts as the heat source. The plate stores heat and then diffuses it in the form of infrared rays.

This technology offers instant temperature rise and precise thermal comfort, ideal for individual workstations or occasionally occupied areas.

Examples of use: Heating a workstation in a large volume such as an industrial unit, car garages, markets, heating a room or wall, storage room, private terraces (restaurant or by a swimming pool).

The three selection criteria for an industrial heater

Due to their portable nature, industrial electric fan heaters allow for occasional heating of specific areas of workshops and other industrial units. Our experts identify three criteria to consider when choosing a suitable portable heater.

1. The type of application

If the space is defined based on volume (in m³), forced air heating is more suitable. It allows heat to be quickly diffused throughout the entire volume. If the space is defined based on floor space (in m²), radiant heating may be a better option. It offers gentle and uniform heat.“, our experts explain.

2. Climate conditions and insulation

For volume heating, climate parameters must be carefully evaluated. You need to calculate the difference between the lowest outside temperature and the desired inside temperature. Moreover, the building’s insulation level plays a crucial role. All these parameters allow you to determine the necessary heating power using this calculation: Volume × Temperature Delta × Insulation Coefficient = Power (W)[1].“, our experts indicate.

As a guide, for a ceiling height of 2.5 metres, a heating power between 70 and 100 W per m² may be suitable. This figure will vary depending on the region’s climate and the room’s insulation conditions. For larger spaces (from 30 m²), installing at least two radiators allows for efficient distribution of power in the area to be heated.

3. The desired type of energy

The choice of energy source depends on several elements such as the required power, resource availability, as well as installation and supply constraints. Options include fuel, gas (propane, butane, natural gas) or electricity. Be sure to check the overall electrical capacity (amperage and voltage).

So, which fuel is the most economical for your industrial heater? It depends on several factors, including the following:

  • Fluctuating energy prices;
  • Energy efficiency of boilers;
  • Characteristics of the premises to be heated.

Prices can vary considerably depending on regions, suppliers and times of the year.

How to reduce the energy consumption of your industrial heater?

Reducing energy consumption is a major challenge to control costs while meeting environmental responsibility requirements. To achieve this, several solutions can be implemented.

Limiting heat loss

To reduce energy consumption, you must limit heat loss in the area to be heated. The objective is thus to improve the energy efficiency of your industrial heating appliances and the thermal comfort of your premises. To achieve this, you have to minimise heat leaks in areas you want to maintain at an adequate temperature.

Solutions such as air curtains are particularly effective. These create a true invisible barrier against cold air currents. These systems work by blowing a high-velocity stream of warm air in opening areas such as doors and frequently used passages. They allow separating heated indoor air from cooler outdoor air without requiring physical closure of accesses. This warm air heating technology is particularly useful in spaces where doors must remain open, such as in warehouses, workshops, or loading areas.

Using programmable thermostats

Programmable thermostats are an essential solution for optimising temperature management in an industrial environment. Their use allows for precisely adjusting heat settings according to real needs, which contributes to a significant reduction in energy consumption and associated costs.

Unlike traditional thermostats, programmable thermostats offer the possibility to plan heating cycles. This means that the temperature can be programmed to increase or decrease according to the activity hours of the facilities. For example, it’s possible to maintain a comfortable temperature during working hours and automatically reduce it during periods of inactivity, such as at night or on weekends, where continuous heating is not necessary. This flexibility avoids energy waste and extends the lifespan of heating systems by reducing their demand.

Regularly maintaining industrial heaters

Regular maintenance of industrial heaters is necessary to maintain their optimal performance and increase their lifespan. Just like any other equipment, a poorly maintained heating system can quickly lose efficiency, leading to increased energy costs as well as increased risks of breakdowns or failures.

Proactive maintenance also contributes to ensuring the safety of industrial facilities. Gas heaters or oil heaters require regular checks to ensure that gas emissions comply with safety standards. Poor maintenance can lead to an accumulation of toxic gases, increasing health risks for employees or even serious accidents, such as fires or explosions. Regular checks of ventilation and flue gas exhausts are essential to avoid these dangers.

Ensuring employee well-being with an adapted industrial heater

The role of heating in an industrial environment goes well beyond simple thermal regulation. It actively contributes to team well-being, prevention of health risks, and compliance with CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) requirements.

Reducing the risk of MSDs through adequate heat

Working conditions that are too cold can lead to musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which affect employees’ joints, muscles, and tendons. By ensuring optimal heating in large industrial spaces, companies limit the occurrence of these disorders, which are exacerbated by prolonged cold exposure. A comfortable work environment thus improves the physical health of employees, but also their productivity, while reducing absences related to health problems.

Complying with legal obligations regarding thermal protection

European regulations, such as Directive 89/656 EEC, require companies to protect their employees against cooling-related risks. This includes providing suitable personal protective equipment (clothing, shoes, gloves), the presence of collective equipment (auxiliary heating, rest areas), but also the installation of heating systems to maintain a minimum temperature.

The objective is to guarantee an optimal level of comfort and safety for employees working in extreme conditions. Compliance with these legal requirements allows companies to ensure that their teams operate in safe working conditions, while avoiding sanctions for non-compliance.

[Inset] Good to know

If you opt for unit heaters, make sure they are equipped with safety accessories, such as overheating protections, protective grilles, and certifications of compliance with current safety standards. For models that use fossil fuels, it is imperative that they have adequate flue gas evacuation.

Enhancing working conditions in a CSR approach

By investing in efficient and environmentally friendly industrial heating solutions, companies strengthen their social commitment. By offering thermal comfort to their teams, they demonstrate particular attention to their well-being, a key element of any CSR strategy.

This concern for comfort also promotes employee retention, who recognise the effort made to improve their working conditions, while contributing to the reduction of the company’s environmental footprint.

As you can see, an industrial heating system adapted to your premises ensures optimal comfort, preserves your products and equipment, and generates significant energy savings.

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[1] 1,000 W = 1 kW

Lauren Warwick