Infrared energy, upon striking an object, excites the molecular particles on the surface. The activity of these molecular particles generates heat, which in turn transfers by conduction through the object being heated. This object then becomes a radiant emitter, but at a much lower temperature and intensity.

If two objects are placed in close proximity to one another, they will exchange radiant energy, with the higher temperature object radiating heat to the lower temperature object -
“HEAT ALWAYS FLOWS FROM HOT TO COLD.”
If we place a high temperature infrared heater above a cold concrete floor, the infrared heater will transfer heat energy to the cold concrete until it becomes warm.
The floor slab then becomes a giant low-temperature radiant emitter, radiating to the side walls and roof structures until they reach the thermal equilibrium with the floor slab.
Human and animal skin absorbs “Far Infrared” specifically well, as 80% of body is made up of water, making Far Infrared heaters must suitable for Comfort heating applications such as in a Hotel, Café, Restaurants, Party Lawns, Aircraft hangers, Offices, Residences, Yoga studios, Wellness centers etc.

Infrared is so similar to light energy, it follows the same basic law of optics.

It is a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum located between visible light and the top end of the radar and microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

It is a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum located between visible light and the top end of the radar and microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum.

All objects (including people) absorb and emit infrared energy. Whether one is absorbing or emitting depends on the difference in temperatures between objects in an environment. If objects in an environment are warmer than you are, you will warm up from them. If you are warmer than objects in an environment you will radiate out to them and feel cold.

Infrared Heat covers the whole spectrum of radiated heat (ranging from very intense heat from a light bulb at 2600°C to heat you’d feel from a glowing coal at 600°C, to a rock, warmed to 20°C by the sun), three correspondingly different categories of Infrared have been defined as under:
a) “Near” Infrared (Also called Shortwave or IR-A);
b) “Medium” Infrared (also called Middlewave or IR-B) and
c) “Far” Infrared (also called “Longwave” or IR-C).

Infrared -A is classified as the “hottest” Infrared with surface temperatures of the heater up to 2,700 ˚C generating a corresponding wavelengths of 0.7 – 1.4 microns. It is also called “Short-wave” or “Near” Infrared.

Infrared – B is the infrared with surface temperature of the heater ranging between 500˚C – 800˚C and corresponding wavelengths of 1.4 – 3 microns. It is also called as “Middle-wave” or “Medium” Infrared.

Infrared – C is the infrared with surface temperature of the heater of less than 500˚C and is the final and broadest waveband of 3 microns – 1mm and is also called “Longwave” or “Far” Infrared.

It is very important to understand that not all Infrared energy is converted to heat. The following may happen to all infrared energy:
• Absorbed
• Transmitted
• Reflected
The magnitude of each affect of infrared energy depends on the surface and material characteristics. IR that is reflected will not be converted into heat, whereas IR that is absorbed is converted to heat directly. IR that is transmitted may be partly converted to heat depending on the thickness of the target, and how much radiation can pass through. Shorter wavelengths are usually more transmissive and therefore penetrative, while medium and long wave infrared energy usually penetrate less converting most of their energy to heat in the surface micro region.

In the case of comfort heating for humans or animals, this surface is the skin. The skin covering the human body has evolved absorption, transmission and reflective characteristics, probably as a result of exposure to the sun. Natural defense characteristics of human skin have evolved in a manner, such as it is favorable for absorption of long wave IR and creates a high reflectivity of short wave IR. Thus, making the Infrared in the bands IR-B (Medium Infrared Heaters) and IR-C (Far Infrared Heaters) more suitable for comfort heating of humans and animals.