Wall Heaters
Blustery days with chilling winds
can cause heating problems in many facilities
with high volumes of foot traffic. While the
main rooms within the building may be warm
from the primary heating source, many areas
are left out in the cold as drafts bring the temperatures
down. Vestibules, lobbies, entrance
ways, and hallways can see a steady flow of
people moving in and out throughout the day,
opening doors and letting in chilly air.
In addition to open doors, cold air manages
to find its way into facilities by any means
necessary—whether it’s through vents,
cracks, crevices or unsealed windows. To
counteract these cold drafts, facilities should
consider fan-forced wall heaters that provide
continuous comfort through optimized airflow.
Gentle heating sources are often not powerful
enough to provide sufficient warmth in drafty
areas. Fan-forced wall heaters however, push
back on the infiltrating cold air, ensuring occupants
feel the warmth as soon as they enter
the building and until the moment they leave.
These heating units can stop the drafts before
they spread throughout a building, bringing
down temperatures and reducing overall heating
efficiency.
Fan-forced wall heaters with an automatic
delay eliminate cold drafts on start-up and
discharge residual heat from the heater body
during shut down. This helps attack drafts
at their source while making the best use of
available heat. In addition, consider fan-forced
wall heaters that come with an integrated
thermostat allowing for easy adjustment
of room temperature to maintain a desired
comfort level.
As with any heating unit, it is imperative
to select high-quality products that offer
protection against common safety risks.
In terms of general design, fan-forced wall
heaters come with a clear, easily accessible
power on/off switch for added safety during
maintenance.
This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management October 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.
About the Author
Andrew Martin is a product manager at Marley Engineered Products (www.marleymep.com), based in Bennettsville, SC.