Infrared heaters are harmful to health

DIY heaters

Of course, it is almost impossible to make complex design models in the absence of special tools and knowledge at home. But to make the simplest infrared heater for heating a garage, summer house or greenhouse is within the power of everyone.

And even more so if you are a great jack of all trades and at home you have your own small workshop

The simplest infrared heater is a sheet of foil placed behind a heating battery. For the manufacture of more serious designs, you can use any type of heater - from a spiral to a laminated plastic coated with crushed graphite. As a reflector (reflector), you can take an aluminum plate or a shiny polished steel sheet.

Infrared glass and foil devices

small infrared heater

We will need two glasses of the same size, foil, sealant, wax candle, epoxy glue and a wire with a plug:

• before starting work, we remove all greasy and dirty stains from the glass
• now it needs to be carefully smoked: we fix the candle in the candlestick and evenly cover each glass on one side with an even layer of soot - it will serve as a current conductor
• we clean the edges of the glass around the perimeter from it - a clean strip of 0.5 cm in size should form on all sides
• cut out a rectangle from the foil slightly larger than the glass
• coat the smoked surface with epoxy glue and put a cut piece of foil on top; its edges should slightly extend beyond the glass
• glue the second smoked glass with glue and lay it on the foil; we bend its excess and wrap it on glass
• the joints of the glass are carefully treated with sealant
• we attach two metal plates to a wooden block - we solder a plug to one of them
• firmly press the bar to the foil bent around the glass
• check the operation of the received device by plugging it into a power outlet

Using old reflectors

As a basis, you can take any old reflector

• We clean any old but working reflector from dirt and dust
• We check the integrity of the cord, spiral, terminals, etc.
• Replace them if necessary
• We measure the length of the spiral and cut off the same piece of steel rod
• We wrap it with a nichrome thread in increments of about 2 mm
• We remove the resulting nichrome spiral and lay it on the dielectric, attaching it to the power terminals
• We connect the current and check the operation of the device
• The heated spiral is easy to fit into the grooves

Laminated carbon heaters

Film heater

Devices with a carbon-based film can be built from improvised materials. For this you will need:

• graphite powder
• a couple sheets of paper-based laminate
• copper terminals
• epoxy adhesive
• wire with plug

Graphite powder, which is a good conductor, must be fixed on the sheet. To do this, it is mixed with an adhesive and applied in a zigzag pattern to the paper laminate. The sheets are glued together.

Then copper terminals and wires are attached to the graphite conductor on both sides. For ease of control, it is better to connect a thermostat to the finished device. All workpieces must be thoroughly dried before turning on.

Close attention should be paid to insulation

Possible problems associated with the use of infrared heaters

It cannot be unequivocally said that an infrared heater is completely safe or absolutely harmful, since this depends not only on the type of device, but also on the correct choice of it and compliance with simple operating rules.

The principle of operation of the heater

It is safe to say that the benefits and harms of infrared heaters mainly depend on how correctly you use them, how you select and install specific models for space heating or outdoor use. But in order to do this correctly, it is worth understanding the principle of operation of an infrared heater and its main difference from other heating devices.

So, traditional heaters are usually designed to raise the temperature of the air, although they emit a small amount of infrared heat energy that we can feel when we are in close proximity to the device.

The same can be said about the feeling of warmth that a person experiences when he enters the zone of action of the device. You can feel about the same when you are in the sun or by a fire, where you can also get warm, or you can get burned.

Before using such a heater, you should know that being near a powerful device that radiates energy at you for a long time, you can cause yourself some harm, which is:

• In the drying of the skin, eyes.
• The occurrence of headaches.
• Severe overheating of the skin, which can cause burns and damage to subcutaneous tissues.

At the same time, soft infrared heat in small doses is even useful and is used in medicine during physiotherapy for the treatment of a number of diseases.

How to eliminate the harm possible with improper use of infrared heaters?

First of all, when buying an infrared heater for a room, try to choose a device that is either designed to work in a room of such an area, or has a power adjustment that will allow you to reduce it if necessary. When installing the device, try to direct it so that its radiation is directed to an area where you are not usually located, for example, it can be one of the walls or the floor.

Outdoor infrared heater

Even if you sometimes like to sit in the area of ​​​​the device, try not to let the radiation get on your head, this can cause a headache. Change your body position frequently to avoid uneven long-term exposure to heat radiation, which can dry out areas of the skin due to uneven sweating.

In other words, you can sit for several minutes in the coverage area of ​​​​such a heater without harm to health, for example, coming from the street, but you should not sit in front of it for a long time, for example, to work or watch TV.

Also very often such heaters are used for heating on the street, for example, in the country. In this case, you can not be afraid of any harmful effects that outdoor infrared heaters can theoretically have, since people usually move in the fresh air and local overheating does not occur. In addition, they are usually in thick clothes on the street, and under the influence of infrared radiation it is she who heats up, creating comfort even in cold and damp weather.

In any case, with the right approach to the selection and operation of infrared heaters, they can be considered one of the safest, you just need to carefully consider the tips and recommendations for their use.

Published: 21.10.2014

Infrared Protection Methods

Infrared Harm Protection:

• Exclusion of the use of open-type heaters emitting short waves. Short waves are the reason for the non-normalized rate of surface heating.
• Use of clothing to protect against magnetic rays. Information about the throughput of the fabric is indicated on the labels.
• Competent installation, taking into account the necessary distances, height, installation of a protective screen on the heater.
• Rationing of the time spent in the heated zone.
• Installation of a heater with good characteristics. The seller must provide invoices, warranty card, instructions, fact-finding booklets. It is necessary to check the components of the device.
• Avoid installation in the bedroom, nursery, play-type rooms for children. Use of low power models.

Advantages of IR heaters, recommendations

Advantages of infrared heating:

High speed distribution of beams.

Based on the principle of operation, the rapid distribution of radiation over the surface is a rapid warm-up in general.

Save oxygen.

Conventional systems burn the gas in the air necessary for breathing.

Retain moisture.

The absence of combustion of particles in air masses leads to the conservation of oxygen and water vapor. Humidity remains constant in the room

Important in production, in places of temporary residence (hospitals, sanatoriums), living rooms (nurseries, bedrooms)

Possibility of local heating.

The convention is carried out with all the air in space. Infrared heating is zonal, extending only to the "illuminated" space.

Lack of sounds.

The heater does not crackle, does not create discomfort with extraneous sounds, and maintains good audibility. In a heated room, you can make music, relax in silence, install stereo systems.

What is IR radiation

Any heating household appliance emits a certain amount of infrared radiation. This applies even to conventional steam heating radiators. But when using infrared heaters, their frequency and wavelength are much larger.

Infrared radiation is one of the types of electromagnetic flows. The strongest natural source of such radiation is the sun. But despite this, being under the rays of the sun is not dangerous for humans.

With the help of these devices, you can warm only certain areas in the room. Radiated waves are of the following varieties:

1. Short. Their length is 0.76 - 2.5 microns, and the temperature of the element is not less than +800 degrees.
2. Medium. 50 microns long, and the temperature is about +600 degrees.
3. Long. Their dyne is 200 microns, and the temperature is +300 degrees.

If the instructions are not followed, infrared heaters are harmful to health, because their radiation can penetrate human skin. The depth of impact on the skin largely depends on their intensity. The waves that occur during the operation of the IR heater can be of the following three categories:

1. IR-C - characterized by an insignificant effect on the human body. Their length is 3 microns. The effect is on the surface of the skin.
2. IR-B - the length of which is from 1.5 to 3.0 microns.These waves penetrate only the surface layer of the skin.
3. IR-A - these waves have the deepest penetration. Their length is from 0.76 to 1.5 microns. The penetration depth is approximately 4 cm.

During the operation of the IR heater, waves of various sizes are formed. In this case, the number of certain rays may be different. But studies show that the higher the heating temperature, the more short waves will be.

Much depends on the material from which the radiating surface of this heating device is made. The biggest negative impact is the black heated surface. If the case is made of ceramic materials, then the strength and frequency of radiation is much lower.

First aid for heat stroke

If complications cannot be avoided, it is necessary to take a set of certain measures.

When providing first aid for heat stroke, the following steps should be taken.

1. Call an ambulance.
2. Move the victim to a cool place, preferably in the shade, where there will be fresh air.
3. Make it easier for him to breathe by removing or unbuttoning his clothes. Give validol.
4. Put the victim in a horizontal position, lifting his legs.
5. Give the victim 1 liter of water to drink with a little salt added.
6. Cool the person by wrapping him in a cold wet towel, apply ice to his forehead.
7. In case of loss of consciousness, it is necessary to give the victim a sniff of ammonia.

What is the use of an IR heater

Unlike other heaters, which are presented in a large assortment in household appliances stores, this home sun has such important advantages:

• allows local heating of certain objects;
• does not burn oxygen at all;
• does not dry out the air;
• does not make noise during operation;
• makes it possible to quickly adjust the direction and area of ​​the radiation zone;
• helps to keep warm in the room for a long time even after turning off;
• during operation there is no convention of air masses, which means that there is no movement of dust particles;
• infrared rays, hitting a person, help improve blood circulation and normalize metabolism, as well as cheer up.

The human body also radiates heat in the long-wave range, so people are in great need of periodic replenishment of this heat. When replenishment with long-wave heat does not occur for a long time, malfunctions in the functioning of organs are observed, general well-being is disturbed and severe weakness occurs.

The heat generated by infrared heating is almost not absorbed by the natural environment, because it consists of electromagnetic waves. Air for this type of waves is absolutely transparent. Such devices can provide comfort and warmth in a certain corner of the apartment, in a country house, in a gazebo or during outdoor recreation.

Popular myths about emitters

Despite a lot of obvious advantages, the issue of harm to IR heaters stops many from buying. Let's try to debunk the most common prejudices regarding radiant heating equipment.

Myth number 1. IR heaters are dangerous a priori

It is impossible to speak categorically about the dangers of infrared equipment. This is tantamount to saying that the Sun is 100% evil. After all, their action is similar.

On a hot summer day in the sun, especially without a hat, you can easily go down with a heat stroke.But if you choose the right time for a walk, put on a scarf and sit in the shade, the sun's rays will bring exceptional benefits.

The same applies to infrared emitters. Sitting "in an embrace" with a device of dubious quality is definitely dangerous. And a well-chosen and located device of a proven brand will not bring any harm: on the contrary, it will improve well-being, have a tonic effect on the body and save money on heating.

The effectiveness and safety of infrared radiation at a reasonable dosage has been proven by many scientific studies. A weighty argument in favor of IR radiation is its widespread use in medicine and production (including food).

Correctly dosed infrared radiation has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, stimulating and circulatory effects. Do not take it as an absolute threat to health

Myth #2. Devices burn oxygen

Not a single heater burns oxygen - this is an ordinary "bike". Oxygen is an oxidizing agent, and combustion is, in fact, a special case of oxidation, accompanied by the release of heat. Oxidize the oxidizer? This is some unscientific bullshit.

It is more correct to say that heating equipment can “dry” the air (and with it all the mucous membranes) in the room. After all, a decrease in the relative humidity of the air is a natural process when it is heated. Only house dust can “burn” the heater.

By the way, do not believe the advertising slogans of manufacturers that there are good heaters that do not dry the air at all (read - their products), but there are bad ones (that is, all other companies).All heating units reduce the humidity in the room. ICOs in this matter are no worse, and no better than others.

How to deal with "drought"? In order to breathe easier in the house during the heated period, the rooms should be regularly ventilated, wet cleaned daily, and perhaps purchase a humidifier.

High-temperature IR devices must not be used in fire hazardous areas. To avoid burns, do not touch the surface of the operating device

Three ways to transfer heat

In the eighth grade, in physics lessons, teachers said that there are three types of heat transfer:

• Thermal conductivity is the transfer of heat from less heated bodies to hotter ones. For the process to be carried out, the contact of the bodies is necessary. The object on top of the radiator will heat up due to heat conduction.
• Convection is a process in which heat is transferred by fluid or gas flows. All classical heating systems are based on this effect. Hot air goes up, cold air goes down. Therefore, all radiators must be located below, near the floor.
• Radiation (radiant heat transfer) - heat is transferred using waves. The infrared radiation discussed above refers to this method of heat transfer.

Features of infrared heating

IR heaters are widely used in various rooms. Depending on the installation location, the devices are of the following types:

• Wall-mounted infrared batteries replace the traditional heating system; they are produced in the form of radiators, skirting boards, stylish panels; do not allow the formation of mold. The disadvantages include high cost, poor heating of the room in frosty weather.
• Floor systems are easy to install, are not dangerous in terms of fire, have a long service life, and prevent dampness in the room. The disadvantages include the selectivity of places for installation, it is necessary to cover the structure with materials that conduct heat.
• Compact devices are usually installed on the floor. Mobility allows you to move the device from place to place.
• Ceiling infrared heaters are also popular.

The whole truth and myths about them are as follows:

1. Misconception No. 1. This technique is dangerous in itself. In fact, just as we are not afraid of the sun, an infrared heater should not be intimidating either, long-term intense action of short waves can bring harm to health.
2. Misconception No. 2. Burning oxygen. Experts prove that modern devices do not create conditions for the combustion of a chemical element. The smell of burning comes from settled household dust. Any device that raises the temperature of the air in the room dries it out, this also applies to the central heating battery. Therefore, in winter, to create a healthy microclimate, it is recommended to use a humidifier.

Advantages of heaters

Many are interested in whether infrared heating is harmful to humans. Experts say: devices with electromagnetic radiation are beneficial provided that all components are of high quality. In this case, the pros are:

• lack of released toxins;
• the ability to quickly heat the required area;
• silent operation;
• ease of installation;
• create a microenvironment that is detrimental to the fungus;
• the safety of the device, the surface of which does not heat up above 46 degrees;
• economical energy consumption.

According to experts, systems with infrared rays also have disadvantages, the harm of infrared heaters for humans occurs when they are used incorrectly.

How to avoid negative influence

For safety reasons, infrared heating should be installed correctly, otherwise harm to health can be significant. Experts do not recommend installing the system on the ceilings in the children's room. You can not sleep under these reflectors, it is fraught with deterioration of health, migraines, nausea and heat stroke.

The harmfulness of such a source of rays lies in the effect of "baking". When the skin heats up, it does not have time to sweat and dries out. With intense exposure, you can earn a burn. This is especially dangerous for the eyes, when heated, the lens and retina are damaged, there is a threat of cataracts.

If you imagine how chicken is baked under the grill, you can understand what will happen to the skin with prolonged exposure to short IR rays. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a heating device in the range of medium and long waves of 50–200 µm.

Heaters with halogen and carbon elements have a negative impact on health, instead of them it is better to choose sources with a ceramic case.

Types of radiation

There are a lot of rumors around IR heaters. Some exalt them as medical procedures, others are categorically “against” and identify radiation almost with radiation. To find the golden mean and understand who is right, you need to understand the nature of the rays.

Do not confuse infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The latter is harmful, and it has been proven. The influence of infrared radiation depends on its wavelength.

Radiation of such heaters is compared with sunlight.But, as you know, the sun's rays are not all useful.

IR heaters can be of three types:

1. Shortwave (0.75-2.5 microns).
2. Medium wave (2.5-50 microns).
3. Longwave (50-2000 microns).

Infrared heater SCARLETT SC-254

The first two options are heated up to t 600-800 C, and it is they who tempt with their instant warm-up rate. Such devices are used for short-term heating (heaters of the UFO type), street heating, heating of industrial and non-residential premises, and it is not recommended to be directly under direct short-wave radiation. The temperature of long-wave heaters is not so high - about 300 C.

The shorter the wave, the deeper such radiation penetrates under the skin (and this is bad). And the higher the heating temperature, the more short waves in it.

How infrared rays work

Infrared heaters have a simple device - they use special heating elements that generate infrared radiation. This type of radiation is thermal, it is emitted by the sun and any other heat sources. Even the most ordinary fire, on which we fry shish kebab, is a powerful source of infrared radiation. It is this radiation that allows you to warm residential premises and even open and semi-closed areas.

Infrared heaters heat objects and the floor in the room, and they in turn warm the air.

Studying the harm of infrared heaters for humans, you need to know about the principle of operation of these heaters. It is very simple - IR radiation, leaving the heater, reaches the surrounding objects and begins to heat them. Those, in turn, heat up, starting to give off heat to the atmosphere.This method of heating is more efficient than the same convection heating the air masses.

The devices we are considering do not heat the air, since infrared radiation is weakly absorbed by it. Air masses are warmed up only from surrounding objects. A person can also feel infrared radiation - he perceives it in the form of directed heat. Remember how warm it is when we approach the fire - this is how its IR radiation works. And if we turn our backs to the fire, the face will feel the coolness of the surrounding air.

What are the advantages of infrared heaters? They provide:

• rapid spread of heat throughout the heated room - infrared radiation propagates at the speed of light and over a fairly large distance (hot air from convectors diverges through the room ten times slower);
• preservation of air humidity - this indicator does not change;
• preservation of the amount of oxygen in the air - the oxygen necessary for breathing is not burned, its percentage remains the same.

IR devices are characterized by high efficiency and fairly good economy.

Carbon infrared heaters have the best characteristics - they surpass any other heating devices in their efficiency and economy.

What is an infrared heater?

Infrared devices have a simple device - for their design, special heating elements are used that generate infrared radiation. This type of radiation is thermal, and it is emitted not only by the sun, but also by any other heat sources.It is these rays that make it possible to warm residential premises, as well as open and semi-closed areas.

The principle of operation of such units is similar to the main source of infrared rays - the sun and is manifested in the following:

• Creation of thermal IR rays.
• Transfer of the received heat to the surrounding air masses.
• IR absorption of floor, wall and ceiling surfaces.
• Occurrence on the basis of this radiation of the thermal effect inside the room.

If we think in a global sense, then each object that gives off heat, i.e. actually being its source, may well be considered an IR heater.

There are such heaters by wavelength:

• emitting long waves reach an operating temperature of +300-400°C.
• with medium waves reach a working temperature of +400-600°C.
• using short waves, have a standard temperature that reaches + 800 ° C, and sometimes even exceed the specified parameter.

Specially designed heating systems of this type are based on a different design, but at the same time they have an identical principle of operation. The reflector and emitter in the design form the necessary IR rays and direct them in the right direction.

Types of IR heaters. There are several types of infrared heaters:

1. Floor.
2. Wall.
3. Ceiling.

Which of these options is most preferable depends on the purpose and location of the installation.

In a house where there is a child, only wall-mounted appliances should be installed, while maintaining a height out of reach for his growth.

In a room with low ceilings, the installation of a ceiling variant is undesirable, since there is a high risk of overheating of household appliances and furniture.Also, this option is not recommended for installation in a children's room, bedroom and other places for a long stay.

Outdoor specimens are quite mobile, their location can be changed. Their use eliminates the risk of overheating any part of the body.

How infrared rays work

Infrared radiation was borrowed from the sun. It is this type of energy that heats everything that is on earth: people, objects, soil, etc. Unlike oil heaters that spend energy on heating the air, infrared rays warm every object that enters their zone of action.

Such heating is more efficient, and after the device is turned off, the walls of the room and the furniture will give off the heat energy accumulated during the period of operation of the heater for a long time. At the same time, the air does not dry out, and the room maintains a normal level of humidity. The rays directed at a person will provide a comfortable temperature even in the fresh air in cool or frosty weather.

Floor heaters should be installed so that the rays warm up the walls or furniture

Infrared waves have long been used by physicians to treat skin diseases and microbial infections. They speed up metabolism, promote tissue regeneration. But! In medicine, waves of a specific length are used, and in small dosages. Only in this case, infrared radiation does not pose a threat to health.

Basic "myths"

Let's highlight a few common misconceptions:

1. IR radiation negatively affects vision - this is a serious misconception. Ultraviolet radiation can cause harm to the eyes, but they have nothing to do with IR, so you don’t have to worry about the health of your eyes.
2. Fire hazard.There are also myths that most infrared heaters are dangerous to health, but in fact this is not so, because all the models presented in our country have all the necessary certificates of quality and conformity. However, you should not buy Chinese heaters, they can be dangerous, so look only at trusted manufacturers.

Varieties of IR heaters

Comparison table of infrared heaters

View	Peculiarity	Temperature of heated elements	Note
Quartz	The radiation is filtered by quartz glass.	450-500 degrees	The safest for home heating.
Halogen	Instead of a vacuum, a gas is used in the flask.	2000 degrees	Good for heating large rooms, rarely used at home. Gases from the flask can be harmful to health if it is damaged.
Carbon	Carbon heating elements	600 -700 degrees	The spiral is practically not subject to damage under the influence of high temperatures. This makes carbon heaters very durable and reliable.
Mycathermic	Plates covered with mica	60-80 degrees	The highest efficiency (up to 85%), safety and novelty, because of which this type is only gaining popularity.