Do you want to get the most out of your new hall heating system, save energy costs and be prepared for environmental legislation of the future? Then it is advisable to consider some tips before buying. You can find out which ones in this article.

First of all, be aware that industrial and commercial buildings have different heating requirements than homes or offices. Sounds trivial? But it is not. Because, in fact, many planners still make the mistake of applying a heating strategy similar to that used for multi-story buildings. The problem: Warm air rises to the top. This is not relevant for low ceiling heights, such as in offices or apartments. In halls, on the other hand, the warm air collects quasi uselessly at a great height under the hall roof.

Until it is pleasantly warm on the ground, operators have to channel a lot of heating energy into the hall and use systems that direct air flows back down. Basically a waste of money, because heat is usually only required in large halls at a person height of around two meters, but not at higher elevations. Therefore, as a rule, it is enough to heat 20 percent of the volume of the room. Already then employees have it pleasantly warm and can develop full productivity.

Find the right technology for your hall heating

Now the question is what technology to consider to specifically heat the 20 percent or so of your hall. If you look around the market, you will notice: There are centralized and decentralized heating systems. Central systems include such things as industrial radiant floor heating, centrally supplied water-based air heaters, and hot water radiant ceiling panels. They work with a central power generator and a piping system that transports hot water to the desired location.

On the other hand, decentralized heating systems include infrared heaters that can be mounted under the ceiling. They are gas-powered and work with electromagnetic waves. As soon as the waves hit a solid body, such as a person or the room frame, the energy is converted into heat. The highlight: Infrared radiators do not heat the air! In this way, only the occupied and usage area is heated.

At the same time, hall operators enjoy flexibility. They specifically divide the hall into different heating zones with several infrared radiators – and provide more heat to employees in order picking, for example, than to colleagues in production, where machines already provide sufficient basic heat. A flexibility that strengthens employee satisfaction. Even if the hall is converted, it is easier to adapt the system with these decentralized solutions compared to the centralized system.

Another advantage of infrared technology: it is responsive. Operators switch the heating on and off in a similar way to the lights. Since the energy does not take a detour via the air, heat is available virtually at the push of a button. And you don’t even need to manually turn on and off in the automation age. This task is performed by intelligent control technology, which adapts the heating power to the changing conditions. Users thus reduce energy costs by up to 70 percent, so that the investment in the heating system pays for itself in a short time.

Get an overview of the requirements of your hall

In order for hall heaters to develop their full potential, they should be adapted to your hall like a tailor-made suit. However, this adaptation by an external service provider will only succeed if you have a clear picture of your hall building, hall use and your heating requirements in advance. Be particularly oriented to the factors that could have an impact on the temperature. These questions can help you do that:

  • What are the dimensions of your hall?
  • What is the condition of the building?
  • How is the hall used?
  • Are there different areas and times of use?
  • What about gate opening hours?
  • How has heating been done so far – is there consumption data?
  • What goals and requirements should the new heating system meet?

The answers to these questions provide a foundation on which your heating partner can build.

Think through different energy sources for your hall heating system

In times of climate change, the German government’s targets are ambitious: Germany is to be climate-neutral by 2045 at the latest. Accordingly, industry is making efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. Many companies are saying goodbye to heating oil, which will be banned for new buildings from 2026 anyway, and are instead focusing on renewable energies and technologies such as solar thermal energy or electric heat pumps.

If you decide to go this route, however, you should be aware that you are committing to a central heating system. And for this you need a hydraulic distribution system. In addition, such a system is often associated with two to four times higher investment costs and is comparatively inert, so that in many cases the heat supply cannot be adapted quickly enough to dynamic requirements.

Infrared radiators work with natural gas. But compared to other fossil fuels, this gas is environmentally friendly as thelowest CO2 among the classic fuels, as it has the lowest primary energy factor of all. In addition, natural gas is becoming increasingly green due to the upcoming feed-in of regeneratively produced hydrogen (power-to-gas technology) and is considered one of the most sustainable energy sources in Germany, especially in conjunction with the excellently developed gas network.

Now you may be wondering: The new Building Energy Act (GEG) stipulates that in the future I may only heat with renewable energies. Isn’t an infrared heater prohibited there? No! According to the GEG, from a hall height of more than four meters you are no longer bound to regenerative energy sources. While central heating systems are required to use renewable energy to meet GEG specifications, the most efficient infrared indoor heating technology allows them to be implemented using natural gas. So you don’t have to worry about compliance.

Take a close look at hall heating suppliers

To ensure that you find an efficient and future-proof hall heating system, you should check the competence of suppliers in advance. The following questions are suitable for orientation:

  • What references does the provider have?
  • Is there a nationwide service (if you have or want to set up multiple locations).
  • Can you trust that you will still receive spare parts and service in 15 years?
  • Does the provider have a development department that is innovative and develops products according to modern standards?
  • Do the employees appear competent?
  • Is the system flexible? Can it be adapted to changes in the law and conversions without much trouble?

It is also advisable to focus not only on the price of the hall heating system, but also on the total cost of ownership (TCO) – i.e. the operating costs over the entire life cycle. Only with this value can you calculate whether it is a worthwhile investment.