Choosing the right industrial warehouse heating system depends on ceiling height, occupancy pattern, energy source, and whether the building needs to meet future low-carbon targets. The most commonly specified solutions for UK industrial buildings are unit heaters and radiant panels, and understanding the difference between them is the most important decision a specifier or facilities manager will make at the design stage.
SPC (S & P Coil Products Limited), a Leicester-based manufacturer with over 50 years of experience and ISO 9001:2015 certification, produces both product types and supports specifiers across the full design and specification process.
What Are the Main Options for Industrial Warehouse Heating?
Two product types dominate industrial heating specifications in the UK.
Unit heaters use an axial fan to distribute warm air across a large area from a wall or ceiling-mounted position. Unit heaters respond quickly, cover large floor areas from a single unit, and are straightforward to commission and control. SPC’s CiRRUS Unit Heaters are a widely specified example, with outputs up to 50.9kW and throw distances up to 27 metres.
Radiant panels heat occupants and surfaces directly through infrared radiation rather than heating the air. Radiant panels operate silently, with no fan or air movement, and are particularly effective in large, draughty spaces where heated air would be lost rapidly. SPC manufactures a range of industrial radiant panels designed for high-bay and varying ceiling height applications.
Both product types are available in LPHW (low pressure hot water) versions compatible with heat pump systems.
When Should You Specify Unit Heaters for an Industrial Building?
Unit heaters are typically the right choice when:
- The space needs to reach temperature quickly at the start of the working day
- Heating is intermittent rather than continuous
- Budget or installation constraints favour a simpler system with fewer distribution points
- The building has variable occupancy or zoned heating requirements
CiRRUS Unit Heaters are wall or ceiling mounted, require no floor space, and can be commissioned with BMS control via 0-10V or BACnet. For workshops, service bays, and distribution centres with high traffic through loading bay areas, they are a practical, high-output solution.
When Should You Specify Radiant Panels for an Industrial Warehouse?
Industrial radiant panels are typically the better choice when:
- The building is frequently ventilated or has large openings, where heat loss through air movement is a factor
- Continuous background heating is more efficient than intermittent operation
- Silent operation is a requirement
- The building is targeting net zero and a heat pump is part of the energy strategy
- Occupant comfort at low ambient temperatures is a priority
SPC’s industrial radiant panels are practical for large floor areas without excessive pipework. The range covers high-bay and mid-height applications, with appropriate panel configurations available depending on ceiling height and building type.
Are Industrial Radiant Panels Compatible with Heat Pumps?
Yes, where the system is designed with the right flow temperatures. Radiant panels are among the most heat-pump-compatible emitter types available for industrial applications. Because they rely on surface radiation rather than convective air heating, they can deliver effective comfort at lower water temperatures, which is precisely the condition under which heat pumps operate most efficiently.
Unit heaters can also be used with heat pumps, but their performance is more sensitive to water temperature reduction. At low-temperature outputs, a unit heater’s thermal output drops more significantly than a radiant panel’s, which is worth accounting for at the design stage.
What Is the Best Industrial Warehouse Heating System for Net Zero Compliance?
For warehouses and industrial facilities with decarbonisation targets, the typical specification direction is a heat pump as the energy source with radiant panels as the emitter. This combination works because radiant panels deliver meaningful comfort at flow temperatures that a heat pump can sustain efficiently. SPC’s industrial radiant panel range covers high-bay and mid-height industrial buildings, and the right configuration for a given project can be confirmed with the SPC technical team.
SPC also offers the Decarbonisation of Industrial and Commercial Heating Systems CPD, a CIBSE-approved session covering heat pump integration, low-temperature emitter design, and embodied carbon assessment aligned with the CIBSE TM65 methodology. The CPD is available to architects, mechanical consultants, and contractors. Book your CPD session today!
Frequently Asked Questions
SPC’s CiRRUS Unit Heaters deliver outputs up to 50.9kW (Ci8, 3-row coil, 82/71°C). They are available in four sizes (Ci5 to Ci8) and can cover floor areas up to 25 x 25 metres per unit at high fan speed.
Yes. This is actually one of the strongest arguments for radiant heating in industrial environments. Because radiant panels heat occupants and surfaces directly rather than heating the air, the comfort effect is less disrupted by air movement or infiltration through open doors. A unit heater in the same scenario would lose its heated air rapidly.
SPC’s industrial radiant panel range covers both high-bay and mid-height applications. The appropriate panel configuration depends on ceiling height, building type, and heating load. The SPC technical team can advise on the right specification for a given project — contact 0116 249 0044 or spc@spc-hvac.co.uk.
CiRRUS Unit Heaters support BMS integration via 0-10V signal or BACnet, allowing full remote control of fan speed and waterside modulating valves. Manual rocker switches and local thermostatic control are also available.
Yes, and for some industrial buildings this is the optimal approach — for example, radiant panels for the main floor area with unit heaters in loading bay or reception areas where rapid response is needed. SPC can support specification across both product ranges.
Talk to SPC About Your Warehouse Heating Project
Contact SPC to discuss the right industrial warehouse heating solution for your project.