Radiant Tube Heater Specification: Complete Guide

Use this complete guide to compare radiant tube heater specifications, sizing factors, ventilation requirements, clearances, fuel options, and product configurations for commercial, industrial, and agricultural facilities. Combustion Research Corporation helps engineers, facility managers, and design-build contractors evaluate durable infrared heating systems with proven energy savings, certified designs, and application-specific support.

Commercial radiant tube heater installed in an industrial facility

Our Radiant Tube Heater Specification Services

Specification resources for radiant tube heater selection, sizing, clearances, fuel options, and commercial application design.

Reflect-O-Ray Systems

Custom-engineered negative-pressure radiant tube systems for large commercial and industrial facilities, offering efficient coverage, 40,000 to 250,000 BTU inputs, and configurations for warehouses, hangars, natatoriums, and manufacturing plants.

Omega II Heaters

Unitary power-vented gas-fired radiant tube heaters for facilities where vacuum-system engineering is not required, available in straight or U configurations with 105,000 to 200,000 BTU inputs.

Serengeti-IR Compact

Compact 40,000 to 60,000 BTU power-vented radiant tube systems for smaller commercial, agricultural, and light industrial spaces such as service bays, workshops, pole barns, and animal confinement areas.

Sizing Guidance

Engineering reference support for BTU sizing, mounting height, clearance to combustibles, installation cost, operating cost, utility rebates, and payback analysis for radiant infrared heating projects.

System Comparison

Comparison guidance for choosing between low-intensity radiant tube heaters, high-intensity ceramic infrared heaters, forced-air heating, vacuum systems, power-vented units, gas, propane, and electric infrared options.

Application Engineering

Specialized specification support for CNG repair bays, aircraft hangars, warehouses, manufacturing plants, auto dealerships, ice arenas, natatoriums, military facilities, and other demanding commercial environments.

Engineer reviewing radiant tube heater specifications

Our Radiant Heater Specification Process

Define Facility Conditions

Begin by documenting facility use, square footage, ceiling height, insulation level, overhead door cycles, occupied zones, fuel availability, and corrosion exposure. These inputs determine whether the project needs full-building radiant tube coverage, spot heating, compact equipment, or stainless steel construction.

Select the Heater Type

Verify Sizing and Clearances

Specify Materials and Controls

Prepare Submittals and Quote

Proven Performance

Specification Success

Specified across North America for demanding industrial, commercial, agricultural, and high-bay heating applications.

"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?

CRC combines durable manufacturing, engineering support, and certified infrared heating technology.

Experience

Over 50 years manufacturing infrared heating systems for demanding commercial and industrial environments.

Certified

Systems are CSA International Design Certified to ANSI/CGA Standards for confident specification.

Engineering Support

Application-specific support helps engineers evaluate sizing, clearances, fuels, construction, and layouts.

Energy Savings

Radiant systems deliver documented 30–50% savings over conventional forced-air heating.

Meet Combustion Research Corporation

Experienced infrared heating manufacturer and specification support team.

Combustion Research Corporation has manufactured low-intensity infrared heating solutions for over 50 years from its headquarters in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The company’s product families are built for demanding commercial, industrial, agricultural, and specialty environments where conventional forced-air heating struggles with tall ceilings, open doors, dust, moisture, or corrosive conditions. CRC supports engineers, facility managers, and design-build contractors with specification data, sizing resources, warranty-backed equipment, and a North American representative network. Its mission is reflected in the company tagline: Industrial Infrared Heating Solutions Built to Last. From warehouses and aircraft hangars to natatoriums, CNG repair facilities, and manufacturing plants, CRC focuses on durable systems engineered for long-term performance.

Over 50 YearsManufacturing experience in infrared heating solutions.
30–50% SavingsOperational cost reduction compared with conventional heating.
10-Year WarrantyLimited radiant tube warranty on qualifying systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do radiant tube heaters require ventilation?

Gas-fired radiant tube heaters usually require venting or approved combustion-air planning according to the model, configuration, and local code. Low-intensity tube systems such as Reflect-O-Ray and Omega II use engineered venting approaches, while some high-intensity ceramic systems may not require direct venting. Always review the product submittal, clearance tables, fuel requirements, and authority-having-jurisdiction requirements before final specification.

What are the different types of radiant tube heaters?

What should be included in a radiant tube heater specification?

How do you size a radiant tube heater?

What clearance to combustibles is required?

Can radiant tube heaters use natural gas or propane?

How much energy can radiant tube heaters save?

What warranties apply to CRC radiant tube heaters?

Still Have Specification Questions?

Get specification guidance from CRC or a local representative.

Certified & Specified

Awards and Recognition

CSA International Design Certified logo

CSA Design Certified

Design certified to recognized gas appliance standards.

ANSI Z83.20 CSA 2.34 certification mark

ANSI Z83.20 / CSA 2.34

Meets ANSI and CSA radiant heater standards.

MasterSpec listed certification mark

MasterSpec Listed

Listed for streamlined engineering specification workflows.

Need Help Specifying a Radiant Tube Heater?

Share your facility size, ceiling height, fuel type, and application details. CRC or a local representative can help with sizing, specifications, and quote guidance.

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.