Infrared gas heaters and electric heaters use infrared technology to provide steady, even heat. Infrared technology works much like the sun to warm objects without necessarily warming the air around them. Many industries use this technology, including the petrochemical and refining industries. Industrial infrared heaters are also more cost-effective than other options.

Whether you want to learn about gas or electric infrared heaters, you can find many resources that will teach you about the technology, how it works, and how to properly install, maintain and repair infrared heaters. You can find many infrared heaters education and training options through:

1. Full-size and infrared portable heater manufacturers.

2. Training courses and seminars that teach how to operate and install the heaters.

3. Articles and case studies that offer in-depth infrared heating information.

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Use manufacturer resources to learn more about IR heater technology

Manufacturers provide the most knowledgeable resources available when it comes to learning about IR heating technology. Through the manufacturer you can learn more about how infrared technology works, how best to use it in your business, and how to install and maintain products in the workplace.

I recommend: InfraMation provides a detailed article on the use of IR technology and maintenance plans in the refining industry. Space-Ray provides detailed installation and operating instructions for its line of infrared heating products.

Take classes to learn more about quartz infrared heater technology

To learn more about infrared heaters and infrared technology, take a course designed to teach you about heating and product design. These courses will teach you about the different infrared heating technologies and which are best for indoor, outdoor, and industrial applications. These classes may be offered by organizations or manufacturers, and will vary on length.

I recommend: CCI Thermal Technologies provides a two-day course that covers all aspects of thermal technologies, including infrared heating. The Academy of Infrared Training provides different levels of classes to teach certification in installing and repairing electric, gas and solocarbon heaters.

Attend seminars to get infrared heater info from industry professionals

The best way to continue your education in infrared heating technologies is to attend workshops and seminars. Information from these sessions will introduce you to new technology, teach you specialized skills, and keep you certified to install and repair infrared types of heating systems.

I recommend: The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute provides many events and workshops throughout the year that address heating and cooling technologies, including safety practices for infrared heating technology. Roberts-Gordon is a manufacturer that holds seminars to teach people how to install its products.

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Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Whether you plan to install an electric or gas infrared heater, you should also get safety training for the system that powers the heater. Basic electricity and gas safety courses are available through many HVAC programs.

An infrared heater, also called an IR heater, can supply an alternative form of heat for your business needs. If the heating requirements of your business are too specialized for a typical heater, consider the use of industrial infrared heaters. From plastics molding to glass processing to basic space heating, these electric, quartz or infrared gas heaters have many applications.

Bring a beneficial element to your business by looking into quartz, gas or electric infrared heaters. By making use of this technology, you'll be able to specialize in or enhance jobs such as:

1. Industrial plastics and coatings work.
2. Processing glass with infrared heaters.
3. Using IR heaters for space heating needs.

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Use infrared heaters for molding plastics or curing coatings

If you're in a business that deals with shaping plastics and polymers or curing paint or other industrial coatings, you can benefit from the use of your own infrared heaters. Often used in such processes, an electric or ceramic infrared heater is ideal for this kind of work because it can heat very slowly or be focused on specific areas.

I recommend: Get a quote from Solar Products, Inc., or view various models at Intek. You can also weigh your options in ceramic heaters at National Plastic Heater.

Take care of your glass processing needs with an infrared heater

Infrared heaters are often employed in glass-making and glass processing industries because of the variety of jobs they can perform. Shaping, bending, drying and laminating can all be accomplished by infrared heaters in the glass industry.

I recommend: Contact Heraeus for a quote on an IR heater, or see what Casso-Solar has available for your glass-processing needs.

Make use of infrared heaters for simpler heating needs

If all you're looking for is a way of efficiently heating your workplace, you might still have your best option in an infrared heater. A quartz infrared portable heater would be compact and cost-effective and could be positioned for optimum radiance. With various capacities to choose from, find a solution for your business heating needs with either a heavy-duty infrared heater or an infrared portable heater, whether powered by quartz, electricity or gas.

I recommend: Look for solutions regarding infrared heaters for the workplace at Re-Verber-Ray or Solaronics.

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Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before buying, get some infrared heater info that can help you choose the right type. Depending on your applications, find out whether infrared gas heaters, electric infrared heaters or a quartz infrared heater is right for your needs. Each has its own properties fit for a certain type of heating. For instance, a quartz infrared heater works well for basic heating; evaluate your needs and get the right product for your business.

An infrared heater, also called an IR heater, supplies an alternative form of heat for your business needs. An infrared heater uses infrared technology to heat objects. Many industries use infrared technology to provide steady and constant heat. If you want to install infrared heaters at your workplace, there are several terms that you will need to understand. This guide covers some of the common terms, such as radiant power, heat absorption factor, emissivity and infrared curing.

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Infrared technology

Infrared radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation. Infrared light has a longer wavelength than visible light.

I recommend: Advanced Energy, a supplier of industrial motors and drivers, has information about infrared technology and its various applications.

Radiant power

Radiant power is the energy carried across a surface by electromagnetic radiation per unit time. In simple words, it is the total radiant energy emitted by a source of electromagnetic radiation per unit time.

I recommend: CCI Thermal Technologies, a manufacturer of electric and gas catalytic infrared heating products, has information about radiant power.

Heat absorption factor

All objects radiate electromagnetic energy. At normal temperature, the majority of this energy is radiated in the infrared segment of the spectrum and wavelengths longer than that can be seen with the naked eye. The higher the temperature of the object, the more energy it radiates and the shorter its wavelength is. This is the heat absorption factor.

I recommend: Casso-Solar Corporation, a provider of applied electric infrared heating and heat-processing systems, has detailed information about the heat absorption factor.

Emissivity

The emissivity of a material is the ratio of energy radiated by that material to energy radiated by a black body (a term used in physics to describe an ideal object that absorbs all electromagnetic radiation that contacts it) at the same temperature. It is a measure of a material's ability to emit absorbed energy.

I recommend: Solar Products, a manufacturer of custom infrared electric heaters, provides detailed information about emissivity.

Far-infrared radiant heat

Far-infrared waves heat objects by direct light conversion, a process that directly warms the object without warming the surrounding air.

I recommend: Sauna Gen, a provider of sauna equipment, has a technical article on far-infrared radiant heat and its application. Additionally, you can refer to Clearlight Infrared by Sauna Works.

Infrared curing

Infrared curing applies radiative energy to the receiver by direct transmission from the emitter. Some of the energy emitted will be reflected off of the surface and some is absorbed into the coating. This direct transfer of energy creates an immediate reaction in the coating. Cross linking, at the molecular level, begins quickly once the surface is exposed to the emitter.

I recommend: Products Finishing Magazine provides detailed information about infrared curing and its applications. You can also visit Energy Technologies.