Location (cont’d) – Reznor VR Unit Installation Manual User Manual
Page 5
Form I-VR, P/N 205202 R13, Page 4
trial installations only. Do not install these tubular radiant heaters in areas that
contain corrosive or toxic fumes or where elements in the atmosphere could
produce corrosive or toxic fumes in the presence of an open flame. These
heaters do not qualify for explosion-proof installations.
Clearance to combustibles must be observed (See Paragraph 5), including
clearances to stock that might be periodically stacked underneath the heater.
The supporting structure must have a load-carrying capacity of at least 200 lbs
(91 kg).
Do not locate the heater above or too close to electric lines, gas pipes, emer-
gency sprinkler systems, or any such structures that could be adversely affected
by radiant or convection heat.
Do not locate the heater where it could be damaged by high lifts, cranes, or any
other such equipment.
Since chain suspension is required to allow for expansion and contraction
of the tubes, proper positioning near large door openings is important. If the
heater is being installed near a large door (ex: garage, loading dock, aircraft
hangar, etc.), position the heater so that it will not “swing” in the wind. Lateral
movement of the tubular system should be limited.
(2) Comfort - Because of the unique heat transfer features of an infrared heater,
the comfort quality of the heat is greatly affected by the location of the heater.
Rays of heat are emitted from the surface of the tubes and directed by the
reflectors. When radiant heat rays reach a surface, those rays are absorbed,
raising the temperature of that “object”. Since infrared heat does not heat the
air, a comfort advantage is that stratification does not occur. When the rays are
not obstructed from reaching the floor, the floor and lower level areas main-
tain a more comfortable temperature than with convection (warm air) heating
equipment.
For optimum comfort when infrared heaters are being used to “heat” personnel
(spot heating), it is recommended that (1) the rays of heat be directed toward
the person(s) from an angle rather than from directly overhead, and (2) the
heater(s) be arranged so that rays are directed against at least two sides (or
front and back) of the person(s). If the heater must be hung directly overhead,
a higher mounting height will increase the comfort level because the greater
distance will decrease the intensity level of the rays.
Another significant fac-
tor when locating the heater in relation to people is that the heat emitted
from the burner/combustion chamber end of the tubular infrared heater
is more intense than the heat emitted from the exhaust end. For this rea-
son, a U-tube configuration is often best suited for overhead spot heating
applications.
Tubular radiant heaters are engineered to provide comfort-level personal spot
and space heating, but each application should be designed individually to
determine the best, quality-comfort locations.
(3) Efficiency - Because of the unique features of radiant heat transfer, select-
ing the most efficient location for infrared equipment depends on the “floor”
coverage of the emitted heat rays. Floor coverage distance can be figured as
approximately two times the mounting height of the unit. However, comfort
level heating depends on the infrared intensity, and intensity levels decrease
with higher mounting heights and greater floor coverage.
For space heating infrared applications, the location of the units must be evalu-
ated as part of the heater size selection. Determine the total BTU’s required,
the floor coverage required, and the mounting height. From this information
design a heater size and location plan that will provide the most complete floor
coverage without excessive overlapping. In most cases, perimeter heaters
2. Location
(cont’d)