Like swinging heaters? All I've ever seen in mechanics garages are either swinging heaters or radiant tube heaters.

 

I mean the ones that look like this one:

http://www.rezspec.com/en/na/products/product-unit-heaters-f

That's what I have always called "a unit heater".

I thought I remembered that a garage situation required sealed combustion?

PHM
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According to this http://www.cfins.com/wp-content/upl.../uploads/2013/04/LC_TechGuides-Property-GasFiredSuspendedUnitHeater-2014-06.pdf

"Unit heaters should not be installed in hazardous areas where there are combustible dusts, flammable liquids, vapors or gases, or lint producing fibers unless specifically listed/classified for the occupancy"

 

Ditto to jtrammel. Dont know about the code but have serviced quite a few in repair shops here in Austin, Texas.

 

I don't know if it's code, but I have seen them in many mechanics garages. I have even seen them and wood shops and they were full of wood dust.

 

We always use Space Ray infrared tube heaters in shops. They work great even when the bay doors are wide open.

 

finding a copy of the local code book would be a good idea . I've seen a lot of things installed were they don't belong. that pic,s pretty but those are usually pretty tired by now and selling an upgrade to code is usually pretty easy . the newer style reznor's have been good to us and they make hazard area units, although a lot of munc. codes vary its your head in the nose if they have an event the. Wrong kind of hanging unit is often DIY or a buddy(hack) put it in

 

We've had nothing but HX problems with all reznor units. They're all junk imho. I changed a HX on a udap 2 years old, every cell had a 4" split...

Anyways, unit heaters are our preferred method of heating garages, as they tend to last longer than tube heaters, and are more serviceable.
The ADP line of heaters are great, Lennox uses them. Also have good luck with modine.

 

I see them often. Heck I remember year back seeing one mega direct fired unit heating the whole shop.

 

Don't really understand why you would think they would not be legal.....

See them all the time and had one myself. I even had infra reds in my shop. What's the issue? They are typically 10' in the air.

GT

 

I think the part that PHM is concerned about would be the gas station part. I don't know the answer to weather or not they are allowed, but I do know that gas stations fall under a more restrictive set of codes due to the explosive nature of gasoline. I know that electricians have a whole separate set of codes that they must follow at gas stations.

I'm sure the answer lies in with how far from the pumps the mechanics area is, and whether or not there are doors facing the pumps.

 

I see them here in repair shops all the time. What difference does it make if they are open flame or not, when engines spark, grinders and torches are in use, etc? Also, cracks in the HE are the least of the worries in an auto repair shop.

 

What difference does it make if they are open flame or not, when engines spark, grinders and torches are in use, etc?

You make a good point. On the other hand though, some gas station employees will shut the pump off and yell at you if you are seen using a cell phone while pumping gas, because apparently they are capable of blowing up the place some how.

 

Here's the IMC 2012 and what I've always though it was.

304.3 Elevation of ignition source.
Equipment and appliances having an ignition source and located in hazardous locations and public garages, private garages, repair garages, automotive motor fuel-dispensing facilities and parking garages shall be elevated such that the source of ignition is not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor surface on which the equipment or appliance rests. For the purpose of this section, rooms or spaces that are not part of the living space of a dwelling unit and that communicate directly with a private garage through openings shall be considered to be part of the private garage.

Exception: Elevation of the ignition source is not required for appliances that are listed as flammable vapor ignition resistant.

 

Gasoline vapors are heavier than air. This reminds me of when I went to a friend's house and he was kneeling down at the entrance of his garage (which was part of the house with a story on top) cleaning some parts with gasoline. I say, Mikey, you shouldn't be doing this with that gas fired water heater in here. He sez, it's OK I got the door open. Well....before he could get the words out of his mouth, the whole floor erupts into a huge fireball and it's gone a split second later. The only thing that kept burning were some frayed strings hanging off the bottom of his pant legs. Of course I was in full LMAO mode while he was hopping around like a loon trying to put them out. :grin2:

 

The manufacturer can tell you if a given heater is listed for use in a given environment.

The many garages in which I worked all used open flame heats with a roof vent.

 

somewhere in the code does say that all hanging heaters in garages/buildings must be higher than the garage door. This prevents vehicles from hitting unit.

 

304.3 Elevation of ignition source.
Equipment and appliances having an ignition source and located in hazardous locations and public garages, private garages, repair garages, automotive motor fuel-dispensing facilities and parking garages shall be elevated such that the source of ignition is not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor surface on which the equipment or appliance rests. For the purpose of this section, rooms or spaces that are not part of the living space of a dwelling unit and that communicate directly with a private garage through openings shall be considered to be part of the private garage.

Exception: Elevation of the ignition source is not required for appliances that are listed as flammable vapor ignition resistant.


304.6 Public garages.
Appliances located in public garages, motor fueling-dispensing facilities, repair garages or other areas frequented by motor vehicles, shall be installed a minimum of 8 feet (2438 mm) above the floor. Where motor vehicles are capable of passing under an appliance, the appliance shall be installed at the clearances required by the appliance manufacturer and not less than 1 foot (305 mm) higher than the tallest vehicle garage door opening.

Exception: The requirements of this section shall not apply where the appliances are protected from motor vehicle impact and installed in accordance with Section 304.3 and NFPA 30A.

304.7 Private garages.
Appliances located in private garages and carports shall be installed with a minimum clearance of 6 feet (1829 mm) above the floor.

Exception: The requirements of this section shall not apply where the appliances are protected from motor vehicle impact and installed in accordance with Section 304.3.

http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/imc/2012/icod_imc_2012_3_sec004.htm

 

They have to be mounted 8' from floor