The big freeze in February of this year surprised many Texans. We realized that we are not immune to the effects of cold weather. If the big freeze has you thinking about adding heaters for cold weather comfort, here are some considerations to help you make that decision.
Cold Weather Comfort Heating
We all know that extremely cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia and frostbite. However, long before those conditions set in, the human body begins a defense to conserve body heat. The body first begins by restricting blood flow to the extremities to preserve the heat in the body core and vital organs. This is why our hands and feet are where we first notice the effects of cold temperatures.
As the body begins its defense against cold temperatures, the productivity of an individual begins to decline. Workers performing a variety of construction related tasks found that 50º F was the point where productivity began to decline according to a study by Thomas and Yiakoumis (1987). Their data shows the productivity decline was over 1% for every degree under 50º F.
For any industrial facility where a worker can be exposed to cold temperatures, we recommend that it should be heated to a minimum of 50º F. This is provided that workers can wear additional clothing for thermal comfort. In some facilities, manual dexterity is critical or bulky clothing is a safety risk. These facilities should consider maintaining a higher minimum temperature.
Heater Size
To determine the amount of heat required for industrial heating applications, you will need to calculate the total building heat loss:
- How much heat is lost through the exterior walls and roof of the building?
- What amount of heat is lost through any air that’s being exhausted from the building?
- How much heat is lost through open doors, windows, and loading docks?
Once you have this information, you can determine the amount of heated that would be required to increase the air temperature from whatever the outside temperature is to the desired interior air temperature.
Heater Type
Facilities that require a significant volume of make -up air because of ventilation requirements for fresh air should consider using make-up air heaters. For facilities that have little or no fresh air requirements in cold weather can use industrial space heaters.
Direct fired gas heaters are the most efficient way of heating air. Compared to other heating methods, natural gas is abundant and inexpensive. One hundred percent of the heat of combustion goes directly into the incoming fresh air stream. Other methods don’t come close to this level of efficiency.
Order Now
The cold weather season may seem like it is months away. However, the time to place your heater order is now. The lead time for many manufactures have been increasing due to labor and material shortages. We represent Cambridge Air Solutions for industrial heaters in Texas and Louisiana. Their current lead times are running 8-10 weeks for both the S-Series make-up air heater and their SA-Series space heaters. You will also need to factor in delivery and installation. With an order placed today, the total time until the heaters are operational is 12-14 weeks.
Conclusion
Whether you need more help deciding if space heaters are right for your facility or if you have decided already and just need to size them for your facility, contact a ventilation expert at Eldridge and we will assist you with adding heaters for cold weather comfort.