Infrared Heating Technology

The Theory of Infrared Radiation and the related techniques of infrared heat generation are new to many who are considering using infrared heating sources. Infrared should not be confused with ultraviolet or any other form of dangerous radiation. It is actually used in many different commercial and consumer applications, such as incubators in nursery wards. The human body itself radiates infrared energy, and as the earth is warmed by infrared rays from the sun it too radiates infrared.

To understand how infrared relates to the body, imagine sunbathing at the beach. When the sun is out you can feel its heat warming your body, but if a cloud moves in and momentarily blocks the sun, you feel a slight chill. This is because although the air temperature itself has not had time to cool, the cloud is preventing the infrared rays of the sun from reaching you.

Infrared is a section, or "band" of invisible light found on the electromagnetic spectrum. It's a form of radiant heat that can also be called "infrared energy." About 80% of the sun's rays actually fall in this part of the spectrum.

Far infrared, the energy produced in CZ Infrared™ Heaters, is the form of this energy that occupies the region where wave frequencies measure between 5.5 and 15 microns. See the graph to the right.

The electromagnetic spectrum is the entire range of radiant energies, measured as waves or frequencies. It is divided into three segments by wavelength measured in microns:

• "near" infrared, 0.076 to 1.5 microns,
• "middle" infrared, 1.5 to 5.6 microns,
• "far" infrared, 5.6 to 1000 microns.

This invisible band of light warms objects without warming the surrounding air. The best example of infrared heat is the sun. Consider standing in the sun on a cold day. You feel warmth from the sun even though the air temperature is cold. This warmth you feel is far infrared penetrating your body to a depth of 1.5 to 3.5 inches.

Infrared heat is, therefore, a completely safe energy that raises the temperature in objects without having to heat the surrounding air. Approximately 80% of the sun's rays fall into the infrared range. (This should not be confused with ultraviolet rays, which are harmful to the skin.)

Infrared energy is not visible to the human eye but can been seen with special cameras that translate the light into visible colors. Even our bodies radiate far infrared energy through the skin at between 3 and 50 microns. Our palms emit infrared energy between 8 and 14 microns. You can experience this by holding your palms near each other without touching.