What Kind of Radiation Does a Heat Lamp Produce?

A heat lamp is an electronic device that is mainly used for producing heat. Also known as infrared bulbs, infrared tubes, infrared emitters or infrared lamps, heat lamps are so named because they produce infrared radiations. Owing to the low-cost and low-maintenance nature of heat lamps, they are extensively used in various industrial and residential applications. A heat lamp produces moderate to intense heat that can be controlled by installing a built-in automatic temperature settings regulator.

Characteristic Features

• A heat lamp differs from a regular illuminating lamp in several ways. The filament of a heat lamp is optimized to emit a major part of its energy in the infrared range instead of the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Optimization is achieved by replacing the tungsten filament of a light bulb with a quartz filament. Consequently, the optimized filament requires a low amount of energy to heat up. They are designed to produce much less light and much more heat (infrared radiations) than conventional light bulbs.

Types of Heat Lamps

• There are two types of heat lamps: gas-powered and electricity-powered. Gas-powered heat lamps produce high intensity heating, and therefore, are ideal for use in large-area settings, such as commercial warehouses and farms. Electricity-powered heat lamps produce low-intensity heat and are therefore used for localized heating applications, such as in shower rooms and incubation chambers.

Common Applications

• Heat lamps are commonly used in farms to protect livestock against cold winds and chilly weather conditions. They are also used in incubation chambers to provide optimum temperature conditions for incubation of eggs. In restaurants, heat lamps are used in cooked food storage areas to keep food warm. Heat lamps are also used in shower rooms for creating a soothing, relaxing and warm environment while bathing. Heat lamps are used in spas for dry saunas and in massage centers to relieve sore pains and muscle aches.

Precautions

• Twenty to 30 minutes of exposure to a heat lamp, placed no closer than 18 inches from the body is considered safe (during personal use, in saunas, or massage centers). Exposure beyond 30 minutes or placement of the lamp closer than 18 inches can lead to burns on the skin. Protect your eyes against strong infrared radiations by using protective eye-wear.

  When using heat lamps in farms for livestock care, it is important to place the heat lamp in a safe location, so that no livestock comes into direct contact with the heat lamp. Placing the heat lamp at higher elevations, installing ventilation devices for even heat distribution and using an automatic on/off switches integrated with a temperature monitoring devise is advisable.