Low Intensity Infrared Tube Heater: Complete Guide

Explore how low intensity infrared tube heaters deliver durable, efficient comfort for warehouses, hangars, manufacturing plants, service bays, arenas, and agricultural buildings. This complete guide explains system types, sizing considerations, energy savings, safety certifications, construction options, and where Combustion Research Corporation’s proven infrared heating solutions fit best.

Low intensity infrared tube heaters in a warehouse

Our Low Intensity Infrared Tube Heater Services

Compare CRC’s low intensity tube heater options, applications, sizing guidance, and engineered system configurations.

Reflect-O-Ray

Custom-engineered negative-pressure radiant tube systems for large commercial, industrial, and agricultural facilities needing efficient, even heat across complex layouts and high-bay spaces.

Omega II

Power-vented gas-fired radiant tube heaters for straightforward commercial and industrial applications where unitary systems provide efficient heating without full vacuum-system engineering.

Serengeti-IR

Compact 40K-60K BTU radiant tube heaters built for smaller commercial, agricultural, workshop, single-bay service, brooder, and pole barn applications.

Sizing & ROI

Engineering reference support for BTU sizing, mounting height, clearance to combustibles, installation cost, operating cost, and payback period evaluation.

Warehouse Heating

Radiant infrared systems for distribution centers, 3PL facilities, and high-bay warehouses where dock door cycling makes forced-air heating inefficient.

Hangar Heating

High-bay radiant heating systems for aircraft hangars, FBOs, MROs, and military hangars facing oversized door cycles and rapid heat loss.

Engineered Heat

Efficient Heat for Demanding Facilities

Low intensity infrared tube heaters are specified where conventional forced air struggles: high ceilings, open doors, large thermal mass, and demanding industrial duty cycles. Combustion Research Corporation offers vacuum-vented, power-vented, compact, and stainless construction options, helping engineers and facility managers match heat output, fuel type, clearances, and corrosion resistance to the building’s real operating conditions.

Infrared tube heater installed in industrial ceiling
Proven Performance

Application Success

Trusted across demanding commercial, industrial, agricultural, military, and high-bay heating applications throughout North America.

"Our 16-bay garage runs with doors opening constantly, so keeping students comfortable through Connecticut winters was a real challenge. Reflect-O-Ray units installed over each bay solved it. The concrete floor acts as a heat sink, absorbing and re-radiating warmth back into the space, so students feel warm at lower thermostat..."

Ella T. Grasso Technical School

"We chose a two-stage Omega II 30-ft low intensity tube system for our new two-story hospital, and it's been the right call. The 60,000–100,000 MBH output keeps our rear operating area genuinely comfortable, not just warm air blowing around. Our concrete slab absorbs and re-radiates the heat, so the space..."

Fenton River Veterinary Hospital

"Hangars are the hardest buildings to heat. High bay, minimal insulation, and a massive overhead door that dumps cold air in every time it opens. Forced air simply couldn't keep up without burning through energy. Ten 40-foot straight tubes at 150 MBH with reflectors changed that completely. Radiant heat warms..."

Tac Air – Bradley International Airport

"Heating a 120-yard indoor field under a 65-foot domed roof is not a standard job, and Reflect-O-Ray was the only system engineers felt could be tailored to it. Twelve 360,000 B/H burners firing 140-foot tubes condition the entire space efficiently. Infrared fit directly into our campus energy conservation standards and..."

University of Connecticut Athletics

"Our 16-bay garage runs with doors opening constantly, so keeping students comfortable through Connecticut winters was a real challenge. Reflect-O-Ray units installed over each bay solved it. The concrete floor acts as a heat sink, absorbing and re-radiating warmth back into the space, so students feel warm at lower thermostat..."

Ella T. Grasso Technical School

"We chose a two-stage Omega II 30-ft low intensity tube system for our new two-story hospital, and it's been the right call. The 60,000–100,000 MBH output keeps our rear operating area genuinely comfortable, not just warm air blowing around. Our concrete slab absorbs and re-radiates the heat, so the space..."

Fenton River Veterinary Hospital

"Hangars are the hardest buildings to heat. High bay, minimal insulation, and a massive overhead door that dumps cold air in every time it opens. Forced air simply couldn't keep up without burning through energy. Ten 40-foot straight tubes at 150 MBH with reflectors changed that completely. Radiant heat warms..."

Tac Air – Bradley International Airport

"Heating a 120-yard indoor field under a 65-foot domed roof is not a standard job, and Reflect-O-Ray was the only system engineers felt could be tailored to it. Twelve 360,000 B/H burners firing 140-foot tubes condition the entire space efficiently. Infrared fit directly into our campus energy conservation standards and..."

University of Connecticut Athletics

"Our 16-bay garage runs with doors opening constantly, so keeping students comfortable through Connecticut winters was a real challenge. Reflect-O-Ray units installed over each bay solved it. The concrete floor acts as a heat sink, absorbing and re-radiating warmth back into the space, so students feel warm at lower thermostat..."

Ella T. Grasso Technical School

"We chose a two-stage Omega II 30-ft low intensity tube system for our new two-story hospital, and it's been the right call. The 60,000–100,000 MBH output keeps our rear operating area genuinely comfortable, not just warm air blowing around. Our concrete slab absorbs and re-radiates the heat, so the space..."

Fenton River Veterinary Hospital

"Hangars are the hardest buildings to heat. High bay, minimal insulation, and a massive overhead door that dumps cold air in every time it opens. Forced air simply couldn't keep up without burning through energy. Ten 40-foot straight tubes at 150 MBH with reflectors changed that completely. Radiant heat warms..."

Tac Air – Bradley International Airport

"Heating a 120-yard indoor field under a 65-foot domed roof is not a standard job, and Reflect-O-Ray was the only system engineers felt could be tailored to it. Twelve 360,000 B/H burners firing 140-foot tubes condition the entire space efficiently. Infrared fit directly into our campus energy conservation standards and..."

University of Connecticut Athletics
The CRC Difference

Why Choose Combustion Research Corporation?

Combustion Research Corporation combines proven manufacturing, engineering support, and energy-focused radiant heating design.

Experience

Over 50 years manufacturing durable low-intensity infrared systems for industrial environments.

Certified

CSA International Design Certified systems built to applicable ANSI/CGA standards.

Support

Engineering support helps align BTU sizing, clearances, fuel type, and construction.

Efficiency

Systems reduce operating costs while preserving floor space and improving comfort.

Meet The CRC Team

Decades of infrared heating engineering and manufacturing experience.

Combustion Research Corporation has manufactured low-intensity infrared heating solutions for over 50 years, earning a reputation for rugged systems built for demanding industrial environments. From its headquarters in Rochester Hills, Michigan, CRC supports facility managers, mechanical engineers, and design-build contractors across North America through a representative network and engineering resources. The company’s focus is practical: design infrared heating systems that lower operating costs, preserve usable floor space, reduce hazards around material-handling equipment, and provide consistent comfort in buildings where forced air is inefficient. Its product families, including Reflect-O-Ray, Omega II, and Serengeti-IR, reflect decades of field experience in warehouses, hangars, shops, arenas, natatoriums, and agricultural facilities.

50+ YearsManufacturing infrared heating systems for challenging applications.
30-50% SavingsDocumented operating cost reduction compared with forced air.
10-Year WarrantyRadiant tube warranty for internally created corrosion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a low intensity infrared tube heater?

A low intensity infrared tube heater is a ceiling-mounted radiant heating system that warms floors, equipment, vehicles, and people directly instead of primarily heating air. Gas-fired models use a burner and radiant tube assembly to emit long-wave infrared energy. This approach is especially effective in high-bay, drafty, or door-cycling buildings where forced-air heat is easily displaced.

How is low intensity infrared different from high intensity infrared?

How much energy can infrared tube heaters save?

How do I size a low intensity infrared tube heater?

Where are low intensity infrared tube heaters used?

What is the difference between Reflect-O-Ray and Omega II?

What clearances are required for infrared tube heaters?

What warranty and construction options are available?

Still Have Heater Questions?

Get application-specific guidance before selecting your system.

Certified & Proven

Awards and Recognition

CSA International Design Certified logo

CSA Design Certified

Confirms recognized gas appliance safety compliance.

ANSI Z83.20 CSA 2.34 certification logo

ANSI Z83.20

Applicable infrared heater standard certification.

MasterSpec listed certification badge

MasterSpec Listed

Specification-ready product information for engineers.

Ready to Specify Your Infrared Heating System?

Share your facility square footage, ceiling height, fuel type, and application details. Combustion Research Corporation can connect you with the right representative for sizing, specifications, and quote support.

Contact Us Today

For immediate assistance, feel free to give us a direct call at 888-852-3611. You can also send us a quick email at info@combustionresearch.com.