Case Study – Shop Heating

This Chemist shop sits at the centre of the picturesque Devon village of Chagford on the edge of Dartmoor. Their pharmacy serves the local community as well as many visiting holidaymakers

The Problem

The Chemist shop is open-plan but has two distinct ‘sections’. The general heating to the establishment keeps the whole shop warm but in the winter there is an acute problem to the front of the shop due to the heat loss through the main entrance as customers come and go.

The Solution

By installing a single 1.5kW electric infra-red heater, supplied by Leisure Heating Ltd, the heat loss at the front of the shop is now compensated for by direct radiant heating.

The Benefits

Due to the effect of radiant Infra-red, people shopping in the chemist are heated directly without the need to increase the general heating. As a consequence, overall heating costs are reduced, and customers feel comfortably warm in an improved shopping environment.

Electric Infra-red Heating

Infra-red heating is based on the transfer of thermal energy by electromagnetic radiation. Infra-red emitters are classified according to the temperature dependent peak wavelength which they emit and can be short-wave, medium-wave and long-wave.
Short-wave infra-red heaters have the ability to heat people directly without having to heat up the air first. They are compact, energy efficient and easily installed.

The element used has a thermal response similar to an electric light bulb so is instant. Infra-red heaters can be easily used with PIR movement detectors or with power controllers.