A Guide to Commercial and Industrial Heating

Owning and managing a business is a challenging task and there is much that you will need to look out for. After all, there is far more than meets the eye when it comes to your building's safety and quality. What’s more, you’ll also have to ensure that everyone on your team is comfortable and has the best conditions possible to perform their role. Naturally, there are many ways to do this but one of the most important is ensuring the building is heated sufficiently.

Ensuring that your building is a comfortable environment will facilitate productivity and create a positive working environment. What’s more, if you welcome visitors to this site then they will also enjoy their experience in the building far more. This is of course vital as without good customer relations many areas of your business will underperform. Heating your building then is a relatively easy way to improve the experience of your visitors. It's no surprise though that commercial heating is fairly complex and you’ll need to understand it to make the most of your building. Keep reading this blog to get an understanding of all things commercial heating.

Why is it important?

The short answer is heating your building to a comfortable temperature really is the minimum you can provide as an employer. Leaving your staff cold may result in a drastic decrease in productivity which may fundamentally reduce your company’s profitability. So, considering our country isn't exactly blessed with warm temperatures you’ll need to heat your building to reach a temperature in which people will feel comfortable. Usually, this is between 18 degrees and 20 degrees. Of course, this issue can go the other way and heating your building too much may also reduce productivity so make sure you maintain a consistent temperature.

There are also some other factors which determine why heating your building is so important. One of these is of course the quality of your building. Heat can at times drastically affect the quality and structural integrity of your building. If the temperature is too cold for example you can have damp issues. These damp issues naturally evolve into mould problems and if left untreated they can even compromise the structural integrity of your building.

These mould issues will also put your staff at risk. Living and working in conditions where there is fairly constant dampness can cause a variety of health issues. After all, people will be breathing in air that has small particles of mould in it. You may leave your staff members feeling under the weather.

Types of commercial heating solutions

As you might expect there is a fairly extensive range of commercial heating options. You should consider many of these options before you decide on the right one for you. So, what are these heating systems and how do they work?

Boilers

Perhaps the most well-known heating option in this list, boilers are a staple in both the commercial and residential settings. Essentially boilers work by heating water within a container using either gas, oil, or coal. This heated water is then pumped through your radiator system which releases the heat in a gradual and steady manner.

Boilers are, of course, a great option. After all, they’re fairly reasonably priced and they are extremely reliable. You can find a huge variety of boilers on the market and the likelihood is there will be one that is right for your situation.

Warm air units

These systems are slightly more modern than traditional boilers and work by heating the cold air from outside. The outside air is drawn into the building and passed through a gas flame or heat exchanger. This warm air then travels through your building using a series of air ducts, vents, and grills. This heating system is a great option if you have a particularly large building.

Warm air units are praised for their efficiency as they recycle the outside air and transform it into a heating method. Of course, there is still gas involved so it's not entirely sustainable but it's certainly not the worst heating option for the environment.

Ambi-rad heating systems

This is by far one of the most intelligent and modern heating systems available. While this may surprise you Ambi-rad systems use infrared heat that passes a reflector that moves this heat downwards. This energy passes through the air and dissipates heat when it makes contact with people and surfaces. This leaves the air temperature fairly cool but your staff will still feel warm. As you might expect this system is incredibly efficient.

Plate heat exchanger

This system works by transferring heat from hot water flowing in one direction through a heat exchanger to cold water flowing in the opposite direction. This is arguably one of the most complex systems available though it does have some very helpful uses for specific businesses.

Heating requirements for your building

Every business owner wants to create the most comfortable environment possible for their employees. Of course, there are many factors which come into this such as the comfort of the chairs and seats as well the refreshments available. Though one of the most important factors in maintaining a comfortable environment is the temperature within the building. Of course, this building should be heated to a temperature which your staff are comfortable with. Though, there is a legal requirement to which you must adhere.

In the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 the government outlined the minimum temperatures in which employees should work. As an employer, you have a legal obligation to heat your buildings to at least these temperatures. For non-physically active workers the room must be heated to 16 degrees C and for physically active workers it should be at least 13 degrees C.

Maintenance requirements

It goes without saying really that you need to keep your heating options well-maintained. It's no secret that heating systems can be dangerous and you will need to keep a sharp eye on these areas to ensure that you and your staff are safe. Of course, in the modern era, most of these heating options are impeccably built and there will be little risk of anything happening. Though it is still important that you look after the systems and ensure that everything is working as it should.

In order to ensure that your heating systems are always in the best conditions possible we would advise that you check over these areas on a regular basis. Of course, most of the time there won't be any issues at all and no action will be required. However, there will be a few instances where you will need to perform some small repairs. For these check-ups, you must make sure that they are carried out by a professional. After all, these systems are often fairly complex and professionals have years of training to become proficient enough to carry out their own checks.

Services offered by Caledonian Heating

Here at Caledonian Heating, we offer a variety of different heating services so you can ensure that your commercial building is in perfect condition. Of course, heating can be a complex business so we’re here to help you so you can get on with running your business. So, what services do we offer and how can they help your business?

Heating installation

We have a variety of different heating options for your building available and we’ll even come and install them for you. So, you can get your building toasty and warm in no time at all!

Maintenance and repairs

As we mentioned earlier, maintaining and repairing your heating systems is incredibly important and you’ll want to have this work done by a professional so that’s where we come in! We have a number of experienced heating engineers on our team that can easily repair any issues you might have.

Surveys

With commercial heating, you will need to ensure that your systems are working as they should and you can only be fully confident of this if you have a professional survey completed. Here at Caledonian Heating, we can provide you with a comprehensive survey of your heating system so you can rest assured that your heating system is in perfect working order.

Get in touch

We pride ourselves on helping our customers achieve the best results possible and ensuring that their commercial building has the most efficient heating systems possible. We have many years of experience in the industry and are trusted by many business owners to provide them with quality heating solutions. So, make sure you contact us today to find out more about our services!