Safety tips for using temporary heaters

1 minute read

Improperly installed temporary heaters are often the cause of major fire losses on construction projects.

Check out our insurance solution for construction and contracting businesses.

In construction, temporary heaters are commonly used for specific heating tasks such as ground thawing, concrete curing, or general drying purposes. Heaters, such as salamander or radiant type, are common on construction sites. They are typically un-vented and self-contained portable units. These heaters can be either LPG propane/natural gas or liquid fuel units. The heat radiating from these units is extremely intense and commonly requires 8 feet clearance. The most common reason for fires from temporary heating is the lack of proper clearance when the unit is installed.

Guidelines for Using Temporary Heating

Only units “listed” or “approved” by a recognized testing organization such as UL/ULC or CSA should be used on the job-site
Temporary heaters should be used for their intended purpose only. They should be installed and operated according to manufacturers’ instructions
Check with your insurance company to ensure that the types you are planning to use are not prohibited under policy coverage
A written operating procedure should be established based on the manufacturers’ instructions. This will ensure safe installation and operation of the unit
Each heater has a data plate indicating the necessary clearances to combustibles, ventilation requirements and fuel type, etc. You must adhere to these specifications
Multi-purpose fire extinguishers with a minimum of a 3A 10BC rating should be provided where temporary heaters are used

Alternative solutions to temporary heating

Placing a heater outside and away from the building. For hot air units, ductwork will be required to bring the heat into the building
Heating units that pipe hot water into a building and distribute the heat through various methods are another safe alternative to an open flame heater. The heater should be located in a safe location outside the building
If possible, the building’s permanent heat source is the preferred method of heat
Using alternative solutions to temporary heating will significantly reduce your risk of fire.