INDUSTRIAL CASE STUDIES: Infrared Radiant Gas Heating by Space-Ray

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Infrared Radiant Gas Heating Case Studies:

AUTO DEALERSHIP SERVICE AREA

CHARLOTTE, NC - Four unitized, low-intensity gas-fired infrared tube heaters from Space-Ray of Charlotte, North Carolina, have helped a Buick-Subaru dealer located here renovate and upgrade its service write-up area by creating a warmer, more friendly and comfortable atmosphere in which they receive their service customers.

The four LTU75 tube heaters, each with a 75,000 Btu/hr capacity, are mounted horizontally above the suspended ceiling and recessed above decorative grilles out of view of customers in the service area of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Folger Buick-Subaru.

Two heaters each are placed in the front and back of the aesthetically appealing, customer-friendly 30 ft. wide by 60 ft. long service area between one of four service consultant stations and the 12 ft. wide by 14 ft. high roll-up steel doors. Each pair of two heaters is controlled by a Space-Ray Setback 2000 thermostat, with temperatures set at 68° F. The four Space-Ray LTU75 infrared tube heaters are mounted horizontally above the suspended ceiling and recessed above the decorative grilles out of view of customers in the service write-up area.The heaters normally operate from October to March.

Before the renovation, Folger service customers had to drive through the large, noisy general mechanic bay area. The service write-up bays were heated with forced air heaters which made it cold and uncomfortable for service drive-through customers during cooler temperatures.

Installation Detail of Infrared Tube Heater above Suspended Ceiling

Perry Stokes, Folger's Director of Service and Parts, reported that the service atmosphere improved which not only benefits customers but his service reps as well. "Before, the customer entered the general bay area in full view of the mechanics and with noise created by the tools of the trade," Stokes said. "It was also cold since we didn't have heaters directly over the drive-through area."

He added that the atmosphere now is like night and day. "We have been very pleased with the quietness of the unit's operation as well as its efficiency in heating objects and bodies first instead of just heating the air as do forced air heaters," he said. "In fact, they are so quiet most of our customers probably don't even know they are there. The area is warm and the atmosphere is friendly and quieter. This allows us to concentrate first and foremost on our customers' needs."