Best way to heat a 4000sq ft warehouse?

[TotallySport]

Hi

As the title says we have a large (ish) warehouse an this year it has only been me and the OH that has been in it, so no need to worry about it, but boy it has been cold at times, next year we would like it to be a little warmer but we are not allowed portable heaters due to the insurance, well we are allow oil heaters but lets face it that aint gunna work.

So whats the best (cheapest) way to heat such a large open space? I would also like it to be cheap to setup and run.

I look forward to your thoughts and thanks in advance.

 

[downsouth]

I dont think anything to heat an area that size would be cheap to run or indeed cheap to even set up

would you not be better partitioning off an 'office space' and heat that?

Only feeling the cold when u actually need to get out n about in the warehouse

 

[Cromulent]

Only feeling the cold when u actually need to get out n about in the warehouse

I used to work in a warehouse and that is the worst approach to take. If you stay at a constant temperature then you get used to it but if you constantly keep warming yourself up and then stepping into the cold it feels much worse.

My advice is buy a better coat . Ski jackets work well. Cheap too .

 

[davidshaw89]

perhaps you should get a building services engineer to take a look at the warehouse and advise - since every situation is different.

For large warehouses, I think it is usually roof mounted pipes, or else a warm air system.

Best solution is probably to equip your staff with an extra fleece or the like.

 

[Excel Expert]

Try doing a google for aircraft or hanger heaters. They normally used trailer based gas heaters that sit outside and push the heat down a giant hose.

This stops the fuel etc being exposed to a naked flame etc. Not sure if you can rent them or not.

Inside the trailer is the same cylinder shaped, gas jet type heaters you see on many building sites etc, its just the hose that makes them safe by keeping the gas and flames outside.

 

[sysops]

As the title says we have a large (ish) warehouse an this year it has only been me and the OH that has been in it, so no need to worry about it, but boy it has been cold at times, next year we would like it to be a little warmer but we are not allowed portable heaters due to the insurance, well we are allow oil heaters but lets face it that aint gunna work.

So whats the best (cheapest) way to heat such a large open space? I would also like it to be cheap to setup and run.

A cabinet heater, like:

http://www.bensonheating.com/enduser.html

If you have gas, get a gas one. If you don't, get an oil one.

You will need some ducting to distribute the warm air around, and a few roof fans to even out the thermal gradient.

In terms of running cost, it largely depends on the construction materials used. Our block + steel warehouse (similar size to yours) costs around £3000 a year to heat (gas).

 

[Marzipan]

We just installed a (used) Powrmatic hot air unit a couple of months back, with ducting it's heating three workspaces around 2,000 feet in total and it would do more, it's very efficient. It shares an oil tank with something else that got heavy use over new year so we haven't pinned down exact consumption yet but it seems pretty good for the heat output. It's similar I think to item 180322275323 currently on ebay (that one seems to be photographed on it's side, ours stands upright and doesn't take up much floorspace at all. The amount of ducting we've put in everywhere plus some in-line booster fans and butterfly vents to redirect where the heat goes to, all cost a lot more than the actual unit did but then we don't have one large space - the ducting wouldn't be a necessity if we had.

Two of our workshops have high roofspaces so we installed variable speed fans on thermostats to circulate the warm air back down (and they're reversible so in the summer we can shift the warm air out of the rooflights) so that might be worth considering for your space too.

(Powrmatic doesn't have an e in it.....)

ps: Sysops types faster than me!!

 

[Techsyn]

Hi

As the title says we have a large (ish) warehouse an this year it has only been me and the OH that has been in it, so no need to worry about it, but boy it has been cold at times, next year we would like it to be a little warmer but we are not allowed portable heaters due to the insurance, well we are allow oil heaters but lets face it that aint gunna work.

So whats the best (cheapest) way to heat such a large open space? I would also like it to be cheap to setup and run.

I look forward to your thoughts and thanks in advance.

No matter what, it's not going to be that cheap to run. Even if it's a pretty modern building with good insulation and no draughts it's still a big space and you'll also be heating everything in it. I'll be interested to see what you decide but an earlier suggestion for a thicker coat sounds appropriate. I guess it depends how long you are wandering about in it rather than being in an office.

 

[JTSystems]

Split the costs of the heating equipment up, offer that as a bonus to your employees on a monthly basis until they start complaining.

 

[i234i]

Im so glad my unit has been split up into rooms and soundproofed and insulated.. sometimes before you stick the heaters on in the morning its still a little cold...

roll on the raised floors

 

[TotallySport]

Hi

Thanks for all the replies, at present we have offices which have heaters in, and although nice and warm in there, it is horrid going into the warehouse when it's about -5 in the wareshouse, and I think it would be unacceptable to ask staff to work in there full time for a 8 hour shift.

The building isn't the best interms of build quality, a few bricks and then metal panels with no insulation, I know it won't be cheap in terms of the pound shop, i ment relavent to the job, I understand it will cost, but I don't want to buy the wrong equipment and it costs the earth to use and it not get switched on.

Thanks [FONT=arial,sans-serif]sysops[/FONT] for the link, thats the sort of thing I was thinking about but didn't know what they were called, and thanks [FONT=arial,sans-serif]Marzipan[/FONT] for the ebay link, I am not sure about buying second hand, as it might be a problem getting it fitted and keeping it running etc.

I have plenty of time to get this sorted so thanks for the advice everyone, and I will get on it.

 

[Rhyl Lightworks]

There is no cheap way of heating such a space, but money is better spent in some ways than others. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned what I think should be your first consideration, before spending money on heating systems, and that is to effectively insulate the existing space. Things like putting in false ceilings, eliminating all draughts, possibly adding extra insulation to existing walls, windows, doors, etc. Otherwise you will be paying for heating the surrounding outside as much as inside.
Barrie

 

[weddingcrafter]

Our warehouse is a bit smaller and the main office and workshop areas are in an insulated block with proper heating but the warehouse is unheated.

We don't try to heat the space but have small portable fan heaters for when staff are working at a particular bench - this keeps hands warm, and have rubber anti-fatigue matting which really stops feet getting cold on the bare floor. Other than that its fleeces and fingerless gloves!

Alison

 

[wodgerwabit]

Hi quite an interesting topic and something I was involved with recently. Firstly and not wanting to sound like a know it all but, under the factories act there is legislation with reference to the heating of workspaces some of the basic details of which I will copy below.

Temperature:
1) Effective provision shall be made for securing and maintaining a reasonable temerature in each workroom
2)A temperature of less than 16 degrees Celcius shall not be deemed, after the first hour, to be a reasonable temperature while work is going on.

So taking that in mind there is a legal requirement to provide what is recognised as a suitable working enviroment.

There are however easy remedies to this type of problem, some of which a lot of people do not take into account. A quick for instance:- One particular project consultancy role I was involved in last year had a similar problem to yours, the heating of a large space, and the obvious cost involved. After taking everything into account the solution was right there and no one had scene the wood for the trees so to speak. I am still currently involved with some similar projects and as a fellow member of the forum I am quite prepared to discuss with you what could be a cost effective way to sort your problem. Oh by the way I ain't trying to sell my services or anything like that but if you would like to contact me I could explain in further detail, free of charge. So please feel free to drop me a line and we can arrange an informal chat. Can't go publishing all my secrets now can I?
Cheers
DAVE

 

[murdoch]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned what I think should be your first consideration, before spending money on heating systems, and that is to effectively insulate the existing space.

yep i agree with this point

 

[KM-Tiger]

How tall is the building?

When I was in manufacturing I had 10,000 sq ft but it was over 7 m high. Installing 'destratification' fans - a fancy title for a fan that blows warm air near the ceiling down to ground level - made a big difference to our heating costs.

 

[CKG]

I've installed lots of 'Combat' floor standing warm air cabinets in warehouses and workshops.


Like KM-Tiger says installing anistrat fans is pretty inportant or all the hot air goes to the ceiling.

 

[graemepirie]

Really interesting thread...

If I can hijack it slightly I'm looking for a better way of heating my office. It's in a converted double garage (loads of insulation!). Currently I have an electric fan heater which is constantly on. It isn't ideal & costs a fortune, what would others suggest?

 

[sysops]

Really interesting thread...

If I can hijack it slightly I'm looking for a better way of heating my office. It's in a converted double garage (loads of insulation!). Currently I have an electric fan heater which is constantly on. It isn't ideal & costs a fortune, what would others suggest?

All electric heaters are essentially 100% efficient, so there are no cost savings to be made by switching to a different type of electric heater. Having said that, convector electric heaters are silent, so I prefer them.

Gal and oil are slightly cheaper than domestic electricity, but only by around 25% at the moment.

Are you sure the room is sufficiently insulated? What is the rating of the heater? If you are needing to run a 3kW heater continuously to keep a converted garage warm, it is not sufficiently insulated.

 

[graemepirie]

It's 2KW I think, it has a thermostat in it so won't be continually on heat. But I resent the electricity bill!

I have 4" insulating wool on the roof & walls, but nothing on the floor except carpet tiles. I was wondering about putting down some kingspan on the floor but it doesn't feel particularly cold... The other known problem I have is the door - it's a "proper" pvcu door but is constantly open/closed.

 

[sysops]

It's 2KW I think, it has a thermostat in it so won't be continually on heat. But I resent the electricity bill!

Don't resent it, it keeps you warm.

I have 4" insulating wool on the roof & walls, but nothing on the floor except carpet tiles. I was wondering about putting down some kingspan on the floor but it doesn't feel particularly cold... The other known problem I have is the door - it's a "proper" pvcu door but is constantly open/closed.

4" of rockwool is not enough. Up that to 12", or use 4" kingspan. Well worth insulating the floor too. You can probably halve your heating bill, but not much beyond that.

 

[graemepirie]

4" of rockwool is not enough. Up that to 12", or use 4" kingspan. Well worth insulating the floor too. You can probably halve your heating bill, but not much beyond that.

Thanks for that. How would I do the floor? Kingspan & then ply or something on top? Will that support desks/racking etc?

 

[sysops]

Thanks for that. How would I do the floor? Kingspan & then ply or something on top? Will that support desks/racking etc?

Yes, kingspan then 3/4" ply floated on top works great, and will support anything you would normally have in an office.

 

[MorrisChesterfield]

How about looking into boilers that run off old engine oil? you could even make a little bit of money by charging a few quid to remove it from places, all you would need is a waste carriers ticket (£175 for 3 years)

just a suggestion to look into?

 

[trilby274]

Have a look at the Bullfinch Industrial Spaceheater No 1400 (supplied by
most Calorgas outlets). We had the same problem and got one of these in for less than £300. It works

 

[TotallySport]

Hi

Thanks again, the unit is about 7m high at it's peak and the lowest roof level is about 4m, there are two channels although the second is only a half (if that make sense).

The problem I have with kitting it out for insulation is after the lease is up in 4 years, I cannot take it with me and effectily the landlord gains, and I don't think i will recover the costs in the gap in the middle, and my landlord as with many aint freely giving out cash for stuff like this, otherwise everyone on the estate will expect it.

I like the idea of the ones that fit in the ceilings but I plan to expend by racking to 5m's high and this will run very close, I will need to give a few companies a call I think.

Thanks again.

Regarding heating the office, we have an oil radiator only a 1.5 and our office is similar to a double garage and it gets very hot with no insulation.