Is Infrared Heating Harmful?

In ordinary heating use we know of no harmful health effect that would arise from the heat radiation of infrared heating. Heating film emits infrared heat radiation: non-ionising radiation, the same heat that sunshine or a warm stove wall gives – unlike sunlight, without an ultraviolet component. We do not attribute any therapeutic effect to it either.

Two separate questions: heat radiation and the electric field

We often hear the question from worried parents of whether infrared radiation is harmful. It is worth separating two things. One is the heat radiation of infrared heating itself: every warm body emits it, the human body too. The surface of heating film is only pleasantly warm, and the radiation warms the floor, walls, objects and the people inside, not the air.

The other question is the electric field, which forms around every device under current. This can be measured: we measured heating film and household appliances with the same instrument and compared the result with the Hungarian health limit. The details of the measurement are presented in our article on the electrosmog measurement of heating film, and the summary on our electrosmog page – with the right build-up and EMF foil, the value can be reduced further.

What we do not claim

In an earlier version of this article we wrote that infrared rays kill bacteria, clean the air, prevent mould and reduce the chance of developing asthma. We know of no reliable evidence for these, so we do not claim them. What is true: radiant heating does not create strong air currents, so it stirs up less dust (we write about this in our article on dust mites and airborne dust), and less moisture condenses on warmer wall surfaces. Nor is it worth confusing the infrared sauna with heating: there we are talking about a much higher temperature – what research says about it and who should not use one is summarised in our article on the effects of the infrared sauna.

Infrared underfloor heating: what to consider when planning?

Infrared underfloor heating can be built quickly, even retrospectively, and gives comfortable warmth quickly. It is worth thinking about the right build-up already at the design stage, because that makes the installation fast and smooth. In a newly built house the heating film most often goes directly under the concrete: this way any floor covering can be chosen, and the floor level does not have to be raised later. When planning, alongside the installation cost of electric heating, also allow for upgrading the electrical network – in many cases 32 amps is not enough.

An infrared panel, if film can no longer be built in

If heating film can no longer be built in, an infrared panel may come into question on the wall or ceiling. It can be fitted quickly, retrospectively and without demolition, and a wall thermostat provides the control.

What to pay attention to with infrared heating is covered in our article on the disadvantages of infrared heating.