We operate a few shops at work, one is an old (pre wars) large, not well insulated factory building. With looking at thermal comfort for the few employee's operating in this shop the energy efficent solution would look to be localised workstation station heating.

However, the Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regs state temps must be taken on a dry bulb thermometer, which in my understanding would not be affected by the radiant heat from an infra red design.

Wet bulb thermometers will display effects, but I'm unsure how using infrared heaters would leave us legally compliant.

Much searching (here and Google) has so far lead me to draw a blank, I have posted the question to the HSE also but am awaiting a response.

Regular breaks, warm refuges and issued thermal clothing aside, does anybody have any experience or knowledge they could share on the use of local infrared style heating for employees?

thanks in advance

Looking at this area from the employees view - are they bothered which way U address the situation as long as they are warm?

I appreciate the dry bulb etc situation but day to day staff do not care they just want to be warm and the electricity etc consumption rates will be what the financiers are interested in so why not go from that angle ask 'are you warm with this type of heater' and if the answer is yes go with it'

Regular breaks, warm refuges and issued thermal clothing: Irrespective of what heating system U use in that environment U will not heat it up in this weather to a temp so as staff are warm when they need to be. U probably need to create a 'refuge' where localised heating would be sufficient and warm breaks are sensibly controlled