Portable Heaters: Nothing Beats Safe and Warm

Written by Diane M. Calabrese | Published November 2024

Unpredictable weather is often redundant.

Even so, in August, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) at the National Weather Service issued a temperature outlook for September, October, and November. CPC reported that the majority of the contiguous U.S. states would experience above-normal temperatures for the period.

There are no predictions yet for December and beyond as we write in September. But we can anticipate that exceptionally few parts of the nation, if any, will be so consistently hospitable that no auxiliary heat source will be required.

Can portable heaters be an important ancillary for contractors? “Yes, especially in the colder climates and during the winter months,” says Karl Loeffelholz, distributor division manager, Mi-T-M Corporation in Peosta, IA.

“It is important to have a comfortable working environment—it can improve productivity and help avoid delays on projects,” explains Loeffelholz. “Portable heaters are versatile and are easy to move around a jobsite.”

A contractor should consider several factors when choosing a portable heater, says Loeffelholz. One is the area to be heated. “A larger space will require a heater with a higher BTU rating or heating capacity.”

Fuel type must also be weighed. “Portable heaters can be powered by various fuels, including propane, natural gas, diesel, kerosene, and electricity,” explains Loeffelholz.

Ventilation becomes an essential factor to consider for any heater that is not electric powered. “All heaters that burn fuel require proper ventilation to prevent carbon monoxide buildup,” explains Loeffelholz.

But safety features must be components of any type of heater, says Loeffelholz. “Look for heaters with features such as automatic shut-off, overheat protection, and tip-over protection to prevent accidents.”

Distributors may benefit from both using and selling portable heaters. “Portable heaters appeal to a wide range of customers, including contractors, homeowners, and industrial users,” says Loeffelholz. “They’re also more in demand during the winter months and can help drive seasonal sales and boost revenue during slower periods for other products.”

A portable heater may be tapped as needed, adding flexibility in the workplace. “Distributors can use portable heaters to keep their unheated workspaces comfortable or have back-up heating in emergencies,” explains Loeffelholz. Manufacturers can use them “to heat specific areas or warehouses, keeping the temperature comfortable for employees and at ideal conditions for materials or products.”

USE, SELL, AND RENT

Portable heaters provide opportunities across our industry. In use, they improve working conditions for contractors and make cold spaces inhabitable.

Moreover, distributors that carry portable heaters can both sell them and rent them. And distributors should think of portable heaters as “something they can rent out to contractors,” says Delany Johnson, senior sales engineer at Wayne Combustion Systems in Fort Wayne, IN.

Distributors who serve customers at latitudes with distinct seasons and unpredictable winters can open an important line of sales with portable heaters on the product roster. The distributors should be prepared to provide the expert help that contractors require to use the heaters correctly and to their maximum advantage.

For example, there are many questions that a contractor—with assistance from a distributor—will want to answer, says Johnson. “What is the size of space they need to heat? What fuel do they want to heat with? Is this temporary or permanent heat?”

There’s another question specific to the distributor who is planning inventory. “Which size heaters are most commonly used?” says Johnson.

Understanding the ways portable heaters are used and knowing well the needs of customers in the locale where a distributor is anchored will inform the decision of a distributor to carry portable heaters. The heaters can be a good way to fill out product offerings, explains Johnson.

And, of course, distributors also use portable heaters in-house to “help them add heat to an area,” says Johnson. Contractors can gain working hours with the correct portable heater. “The heater keeps the area where their crews are working warm enough to work in comfortable conditions.”

Manufacturers are firmly in the picture, too. They not only make portable heaters, but they also deploy them.

“Often, in manufacturing plants there is not enough central heat like we have in offices,” says Ken Yoshitake, president and CEO of J.S. O’will Inc. in Federal Way, WA.

“In colder temperatures equipment—machinery—can stop working if the ambient temperature is low.”

Anything that slows down the start-up or impedes the continuity of a manufacturing process causes a problem for the manufacturer. “Having portable heaters would help manufacturers to minimize, if not eliminate, downtime due to colder temperatures,” Yoshitake.

As for the type of portable heater that serves well in a manufacturing setting, Yoshitake has a definite recommendation. “Simply, nothing works better than portable infrared heat,” he says. More than being “portable”—at the ready when needed to boost air temperature—infrared heat can “achieve maximum heat efficiency.”

The decision to add portable heaters to a product line is very much an individual one for each distributor. Weighing it begins with understanding “the function of the distributor,” says Yoshitake.

“For our Val6 heaters, our distributors sell to their direct dealers,” explains Yoshitake. “Having the best product for heat source is key in the success of their dealers, which would only benefit the distributor. Distributors sell more than one product, so having a portable heater in their product line is important so that they could offer options for customers needing heat.”

Specifically, says Yoshitake, the distributors for his company’s heaters sell only one or two products. And their success depends on selling “the best portable heater on the market.” His company has reached the 20-year mark in the United States.

Overall, when choosing a portable heater, the basics do not change. “I believe the most important criterion is heat output,” says Yoshitake. But the output must be considered in conjunction with “fuel efficiency” that will inform cost of operation, and “quality” first and foremost.

Regarding the alignment of heat output, efficiency, and quality, Yoshitake says that it can be made perfectly. And “it can all be done in a manner that is safe and best for the user and the environment.”

SAFETY

Manufacturers and distributors focus on safety as an integral part of doing business. In the realm of portable heaters, as with all products, they receive input on best practices—and expected practices—from federal, state, and local regulators.

Start with OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration]. Standard 1926.154—Temporary heating devices— enumerates the regulations for use of portable heaters. The necessary requirements begin with ventilation.

If a heater is used in a confined space, ventilation must be sufficient to not only ensure proper combustion but also ensure no one on the jobsite is overcome by inhalation of combustion products (e.g., carbon monoxide). OSHA also specifies that the heater must be mounted to have sufficient clearance, be stable (level), and be equipped with safety controls to stop the flow of fuel if there is a failure. That’s the short list.

OSHA standard 1926.154 falls under 1926 Subpart F, Fire Protection and Prevention. As with all OSHA standards, the expectation is that an employer will comply with the regulations. An incident or an inspection that reveals noncompliance can result in fines (or even imprisonment in serious incidents).

Here’s an interesting fact about the limitations on the use of portable heaters. Using a portable heater (or fan or similar device) in a facility controlled by the federal government requires

authorization from the building manager for the entity. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.gov), part of the Department of Homeland Security (HHS), has a component known as the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA).

The USFA provides a great deal of valuable information on safe heating in the context of fire safety. For example, kerosene heaters should only be purchased if they have been tested by a recognized testing laboratory. They should be equipped with an automatic shut-off to stop fuel flow if the heater tips. And they should only be filled outdoors after they have been cooled.

The PDF guides available at the USFA website (usfa.fema.gov), such as the one on kerosene heaters, are excellent resources for contractors, distributors, and manufacturers.

What are the regulations concerning portable heaters beyond those from the federal government? It all depends upon location. States and local governments both get involved in regulating portable heaters.

New York City requires a permit (renewable annually) be obtained before using a portable fueled space heater at a construction site. To obtain the permit, the applicant must document liability insurance. In addition, there are three certificates the applicant must attain. The certificates demonstrate that there will be proper supervision, fire guards (employees to make sure nothing goes awry), and suitable storage of the fuel. An inspection to ascertain everything is in place is also required.

Distributors that sell portable heaters can be of great help to their customers by predetermining whether any local or state permits are required by contractors using heaters at jobsites. Sharing information about permit application process(es) is a good way to connect with contractors. It’s also a good way to enhance safe practices across the industry.

Nothing beats safe and warm.