How is infra-red heating used to warm spaces in a building?
Gas-fired infra-red heaters are mounted overhead to direct infra-red energy to the floor and the objects, including people, at the working level of the building. The infra-red energy is absorbed by the floor and the objects at the floor level, all of which become warm and, in turn, heat the air in the building. Moreover, the floor and objects continue to release heat to the air, even after cold air is introduced or the infra-red heaters are turned off. Convection heating, in sharp contrast, has two major drawbacks: the loss of heat during transmission; hot air rises to the ceiling, where it is not needed.
