Testimonial - Infrared Heating for Manchester Craft & Design Centre
Manchester Craft & Design Centre required a new heating approach for its historic, high-ceilinged building, which is home to independent makers, designers and retailers as well as welcoming visitors throughout the year.
The existing heating arrangement relied heavily on fan heaters and was not providing the level of warmth required across the centre's large, open spaces. Improving comfort was therefore an important part of the project, alongside the centre's focus on its ongoing energy costs.
Following an assessment of the building and the areas requiring heat, high-output infrared bar heaters were selected to provide radiant heating across key occupied areas of the centre.
“With the new heating units and energy supplier, our costs have reduced significantly. We’ve noticed a big difference with the new heating system — the heat reaches further and makes the centre much more comfortable in winter.”
Jason Carr — Operations Manager, Manchester Craft & Design Centre
The Project
Manchester Craft & Design Centre is a creative hub housing independent makers, designers and retailers within a historic industrial building.
The nature of the building meant the heating solution needed to work within substantial open spaces while respecting the architectural character of the centre and the working environment of the businesses based there.
Infrared Heating Supplies assessed the areas in which warmth was required and considered how the heating could be positioned around the way the centre is actually occupied and used.
The Heating Challenge
The centre's previous heating arrangement relied heavily on fan heaters. Within a large building with high ceilings and open areas, the existing system was not providing the level of comfort required throughout the occupied spaces.
The challenge was therefore to introduce heating that could provide useful warmth across the areas where makers, retailers and visitors spend their time, without compromising the character or usable space of the building.
The Infrared Heating Solution
High-output infrared bar heaters were specified for the centre and positioned to provide radiant heating across key occupied areas.
Infrared heaters transfer radiant energy to people, objects and surfaces within their coverage area rather than relying primarily on heating and circulating the surrounding air. This provided a different approach for the centre's high-ceilinged, open environment.
The format of the bar heaters also allowed the heating equipment to be positioned without occupying valuable floor space or requiring conventional radiators around the centre's working and retail areas.
Designed around a creative heritage space
The appearance and positioning of the heating were important considerations within a building that combines historic industrial architecture with contemporary studios, workshops and retail spaces.
The infrared bar heaters could be incorporated into the existing environment while providing heating across the areas in which people work, shop and visit.
The Result
Jason Carr, Operations Manager at Manchester Craft & Design Centre, reports a noticeable improvement following the introduction of the new heating system. He says that the heat now reaches further and that the centre is considerably more comfortable during the winter.
Jason also reports that the centre's costs have reduced significantly following the introduction of the new heating units and a change of energy supplier. As both changes formed part of the overall improvement, we have retained this as the customer's reported experience rather than attributing the reduction solely to the infrared heaters.
Project highlights
- Infrared heating installed within a historic creative and retail centre
- High-output infrared bar heaters used across key occupied areas
- Heating designed for large, high-ceilinged spaces
- Installation avoids taking up valuable floor space
- Customer reports improved comfort during the winter
- Customer reports that the heat reaches further than with the previous arrangement
- Customer reports significantly reduced costs following the new heating units and change of energy supplier
Considering infrared heating for your property?
Every building has different heating requirements. If you are considering infrared heating for your home, business or project, our technical team can help with heater selection, required output, positioning and system design.