Heating for warehouse buildings – how to choose an effective heating system?
Heating for warehouse buildings It has different characteristics to those in manufacturing: lower heat gains from machinery, but a much greater influence from loading bays, glazing and seasonal temperature fluctuations.
Instant warmth throughout the hall
Security at gates and docks
Consistent temperature around the shelving units
Do these challenges sound familiar? We have proven recipes for them.
Problem: Huge gas bills are eating into the profit margin on logistics operations.
Problem: Every time the door is opened, the loading and order-picking area gets colder.
Problem: It’s cold near the floor and on the ramps, whilst precious heat accumulates near the ceiling.
Why is heating a warehouse such a challenge?
A typical warehouse or logistics centre has a large floor area (often 3,000–20,000 m²) with a height of 8–12 m, numerous gates and loading bays, work areas by the loading bays, and peak heat loss from October to March.
Low temperatures reduce order-picking efficiency, pose a risk to sensitive goods (food, chemicals, electronics) and drive up energy consumption. Modern facilities with lightweight structures and large areas of glazing lose heat more quickly than brick-built warehouses — heating for the warehouse must take into account how the space is used, not just its floor area.
Methods of heating warehouse buildings – a comparison of solutions
Forced-air heating (gas heaters)
How it works: A gas heater warms the air and circulates it using a fan. In warehouses with a height of up to 8–10 metres, the warm air can be effectively controlled.
Advantages in warehouses:
- quick warm-up after an overnight standstill,
- consistent comfort in the order-picking areas,
- low running costs when using natural gas.
Restrictions: SV curtains are required where gates are opened frequently; above 12 metres, heat accumulates near the ceiling.
Product: gas heaters EOLO BC / NBC / BCX.
Infrared heating (radiators, radiant panels)
How it works: Infrared waves heat people, the floor and objects — not the entire volume of air.
Advantages in warehouses:
- zonal heating (assembly area, offices in the hall),
- instant comfort as soon as you switch it on,
- no air movement, less dust,
- It works well in larger halls.
Restrictions: It does not heat the entire volume on its own; it requires further analysis where there are a large number of shelving units.
Products: INFRA BU/BM, OHA / OHA X lanes.
Destratification and air curtains at the gates
In warehouses, these two factors are usually the deciding factors when it comes to invoicing. Destratification DS It regulates the temperature and can reduce heating costs by 20–30% in halls over 8 m high. Air curtain SV reduces losses at loading bays and draughts in the loading area.
They do not replace the heaters — they complement them. A typical setup: EOLO + SV + DS.
A comparison of heating methods for warehouse buildings
How much does it cost to heat a warehouse?
Capital expenditure
Purchase of equipment (heaters, radiant heaters), design and installation, air curtains and destratifiers, gas and electrical installations. The cost depends on the floor area, the number of doors and the technology chosen heating of warehouse buildings.
Running costs
Gas consumption, heat loss through doors (without SV curtains) and maintenance account for the largest share of costs. When the system is correctly designed, the EOLO system is one of the most cost-effective solutions for large logistics facilities in terms of maintenance.
Indirect costs
Slower order picking in cold weather, staff absences in the loading area, damage to frost-sensitive goods, and operational downtime during the winter peak period.
Fast and even heat in the warehouse: EOLO gas heaters
A tried-and-tested solution for warehouses and logistics centres with a height of up to 8–10 metres.
EOLO heaters ensure rapid heating after an overnight standstill and a stable temperature in the picking areas.
Key parameters:
- Condensation (BC series) — capacity up to 105%.
- PREMIX burner — low NOx emissions, Class 5.
- Indoor and outdoor installation — including Roof-Top EOLO RT.
- Modulation 30–100% — The machine uses only as much fuel as it needs.
+25,000.
+1000
Precise heating in order-picking areas: INFRA radiant heaters and OHA heating strips
Ideal for zone heating in a warehouse — order picking, offices within the warehouse, and workstations at the loading bays.
Infrared waves heat people, the floor and objects, but not the entire space. The warmth is felt immediately, without stirring up dust.
Key benefits:
- Zone heating — You’re heating the order-picking area, not the whole warehouse.
- Instant comfort as soon as it is switched on, without the hall taking a long time to heat up.
- No air movement — less dust on the goods.
- Scalability: radiators INFRA BU/BM and belts OHA / OHA X.
+25,000.
+1000
Warehouse heating — from small storage facilities to logistics centres
Heating for distribution centres It requires particular attention due to the heavy traffic around loading bays, order-picking areas, temperature-sensitive goods (often requiring a minimum temperature of 10–15°C) and the height of the racking. In high-bay warehouses over 10 metres high, destratification is practically essential.
In practice heating of warehouse buildings It usually combines several technologies:
- EOLO heaters as the main source of heat,
- SV curtains at loading bays,
- DS destratifiers in halls with a larger volume,
- INFRA/OHA heaters in order-picking areas or warehouse offices.
Warehouses vs production halls — how do they differ?
| Feature | Warehouse | Production hall |
|---|---|---|
| The main source of heat loss | doors, windows, water ingress | machinery, manufacturing processes |
| Height | usually 8–12 m | often 8–15 metres or more |
| Priority | convenience at loading bays, protection of goods | processes, health and safety, production quality |
| A typical system | EOLO + SV curtains + DS | EOLO or INFRA/OHA (by zone) |
| Seasonality | winter summit | all year round |
If you’re looking for a solution for a production hall, take a look at: heating of production halls.
SV air curtains and DS destratifiers — an essential addition
Where there is heavy logistics traffic SV air curtains are practically indispensable. They create a barrier that minimises heat loss and improves comfort in the ramp area.
In halls over 8 metres high DS destratifier It regulates the temperature and can reduce heating costs by up to 30%.
When is it worth commissioning a project from a company?
A professional heating design for a warehouse is particularly important when:
- the warehouse has over 3,000 m² and numerous loading bays,
- temperature-sensitive goods are stored,
- there are plans to extend the hall or change its use,
- the current system results in high bills or uneven temperatures,
- The investor wants to compare the costs of the technologies before making a decision.
Systema Polska offers a free technical audit and a proposal including a calculation of potential savings.
How do you choose a heating system for a warehouse?
The selection should take into account the floor area and height, the number of doors, the type of goods, the location of the work areas, the budget and the availability of gas.
In practice The best results are achieved by combining several systems:
- EOLO heaters + SV air curtains,
- EOLO heaters + DS destratifiers,
- OHA radiant heaters in this section, and EOLO in the rest of the hall.
The most common mistakes when heating warehouse buildings
- Selection based solely on surface area — no gates or work zones.
- No curtains during heavy loading — the most common cause of high bills.
- Ignoring destratification in high-ceilinged halls — the heat stays near the ceiling; it’s cold by the ramps.
- One system for the entire warehouse — without distinguishing between picking and storage.
- No analysis of the type of goods — Not every warehouse requires the same temperature.
- Cost savings on the project — A poorly chosen system ends up costing more over the years.
- Lack of regular servicing — a decline in performance due to a lack of servicing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of heating works best in a warehouse?
How much does it cost to heat a 5,000 m² warehouse?
Can an air curtain replace the heating in a warehouse?
How does heating a warehouse differ from heating a production hall?
Can gas heating be combined with infrared heaters?
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