No room for radiators and timber floors being retained
Infrared Heating Solutions for Heritage and Historic Buildings
Infrared heating for heritage buildings offers a discreet and energy-efficient way to improve comfort without compromising original features. Energy Carbon provides ultra-thin, low-voltage infrared heating systems designed specifically for historic and listed buildings across the UK.
As a result, property owners and custodians can enhance thermal performance while respecting the architectural and cultural value of heritage properties.
Understanding the Challenges of Heating Heritage Buildings
Historic buildings were not designed with modern heating systems in mind. For example, solid walls, high ceilings, and restricted building fabric often make traditional heating inefficient or unsuitable.
In addition, many heritage properties face limitations on visible alterations, which means heating solutions must be carefully considered from both a technical and conservation perspective.
Major excavation to site ground sourse array and feed back to building
How Infrared Heating Supports Historic and Listed Buildings
Infrared heating works by gently warming surfaces rather than circulating warm air. Consequently, walls and internal structures remain warmer and drier, helping to stabilise indoor conditions.
Moreover, because the systems are ultra-thin and discreet, they can be integrated with minimal visual impact, making them suitable for sensitive heritage environments.
Protecting Original Features While Improving Comfort
Maintaining stable indoor temperatures is essential for preserving historic materials such as stone, timber, and plaster. Infrared heating helps reduce temperature fluctuations, which can otherwise contribute to condensation and material degradation.
Therefore, heritage buildings benefit from improved comfort without introducing aggressive heat or airflow that could affect original finishes.
Energy-Efficient Heating for Heritage Buildings
Energy Carbon systems operate on safe 36V SELV voltage and deliver heat efficiently where it is needed. As a result, energy consumption is reduced compared to traditional heating systems that rely on warming large volumes of air.
In addition, lower energy demand supports carbon-reduction goals while improving long-term running costs for heritage property owners.
Designed for Listed and Non-Listed Heritage Properties
Infrared heating systems are suitable for a wide range of heritage settings, including:
Listed buildings
Conservation area properties
Historic homes and estates
Cultural and civic heritage buildings
Because installation requires minimal build-up height, systems can often be fitted without structural alterations, subject to relevant approvals.
Energy Carbon Systems Commonly Used in Heritage Projects
Depending on the building layout and conservation requirements, the following systems are commonly specified:
SmartFlex – adaptable for irregular layouts and older structures
Fleece – suitable for sensitive refurbishment projects
DRYTEC – ideal for dry internal heritage spaces
Each system can be zoned to provide controlled heating while preserving the building’s character.
A Discreet and Low-Maintenance Heating Solution
Because infrared heating systems have no moving parts, they require minimal maintenance. In addition, silent operation ensures that heritage spaces remain calm and undisturbed.
As a result, infrared heating offers a reliable long-term solution for heritage buildings where intrusive maintenance should be avoided.
Case Studies
Cranleigh Cottage Hospital –In 1446, a small cottage was built with local oak, felled by hand. In 1859, it opened as the first cottage hospital in England and a forerunner to the NHS. By 2007, it was in disrepair and forgotten by the health service. Today, it has been granted funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a new future as a community hub in the heart of Cranleigh
As the floors and walls are of historic interest they cannot be removed and yet the building suffers from damp and mould due to the warm air circulated by plug in heaters. For this project we are using a dual strategy of under floor heating using our 60wm2 ‘FLEECE’ on the ground floor and strip heating using our 290wm2 x 127mm wide ‘FLEECE S’ in the ceilings of the first floor – these will run to a background set point ensuring that the building stays dry and maintains a surface temperature above the dew point.
When the building is in use a secondary system will kick in based on presence sensor technology, radiating from strips of ‘FLEECE’ located around the rooms and bedded into the lime plaster.
The 36v mats are controlled via a suite of transformers located on a wall in a cupboard and occupying just 1.5m x 1m x 50mm.
Kingston Cottage – an old coast guard property – receiving a full retrofit utilising FLEECE and MOISTURE PROTECT
This old Pastor Haus is the oldest such example, dating back as far as 1535. It’s revealed ancient oak timbers and wattle and daub walls, along with lack of space for siting of a heat pump, made the Energy Carbon solution the only viable option
Normal integration of the heating into the walls or ceiling was not possible due to conservation restrictions and so separate fibre board panels were made to size, incorporating ‘FLEECE’ 220w embedded within the clay plaster. These panels were then delicately fixed to the interior walls using wooden nails so that they may be removed at a later date if deemed necessary.
For more case studies visit our NEWS and DOWNLOAD pages
Discuss Infrared Heating for Your Heritage Building
If you are exploring infrared heating for a heritage or historic building, Energy Carbon can help identify a solution that balances comfort, efficiency, and conservation requirements.
