During construction of the 190-unit, 15-story JeffJack Apartments building in downtown Chicago, the owner sought an effective method to prevent snow and ice build-up on the buildingโs parking garage ramps during winter. Infrared heaters from Marley Engineered Products paved the way.
Situated on the corner of Jefferson and Jackson streets, the JeffJack building features an open air, naturally ventilated two-level parking garage. One side of the garage features a chain link fence wall that opens the space to the elements.
โChicago winter weather can wreak havoc on streets and quickly make driving and walking conditions unsafe,โ said Kenneth Maruyama, AIA, of Thomas Roszak Architecture, the firm that directed the construction.
Maruyama turned to Chicago-based electrical contractor Kelso-Burnett, and Thomas Sales & Marketing, an electrical equipment manufacturerโs representative, for a solution.
After careful consideration, the subcontracting team recommended installation of 40 Berkoยฎ 4800-watt, three element infrared heaters manufactured by Marley Engineered Productsยฎ.
Berko infrared heaters are designed to provide total or supplemental spot heating in commercial and industrial areas, and feature heavy gauge bright anodized aluminum reflectors and a steel enclosure.
โInfrared radiant heat warms objects and people but not the air, and are ideal for parking ramps,โ said Thomas Molk, president of Thomas Sales & Marketing. โInfrared heaters also are ideal for taxi stands, overhangs, hotels, airports, rail transport stations, work stations in buildings and much more.โ
Installation Heats Up
Jeff Weir, branch manager with Kelso-Burnett, and Molk, oversaw the design and installation of the system.
โI usually recommend infrared heating over slab heating cables in ramps,โ said Molk. โCars cause a lot of vibration with concrete and the failure rate of slab systems can be a real concern in these applications.โ
The design of the space did pose some challenges. Infrared heaters are typically installed on the ceiling above, but there wasnโt enough clearance in some areas for vehicles to pass through.
โThe height of the garage was limited in some areas which didnโt lend itself to putting the heaters directly on the ceiling in those places,โ said Weir. โThus, we needed a design that allowed us to heat those spaces another way.โ
Where overhead clearance was limited, the team decided to mount the heaters along a side wall. However, this method required a special mount because the standard mounting bracket didnโt allow for the heater to be tilted. ย ย
โWe had a sheet metal shop fabricate a special mounting bracket for the side wall heaters that would allow them to be angled downward toward the floor,โ said Molk.
Where vertical space was ample, the heaters were installed above and parallel to the ramp with the standard mount that comes with the unit.
Conduit and junction boxes were placed in the concrete during construction and wire fed to the units to provide electrical power.
With the units mounted, the heaters were then connected to a sensor that detects and measures moisture and temperature. This allows the system to turn on automatically when temperatures drop to a certain level or if it detects moisture. The units also can be controlled manually.
Numerous Benefits Realized
Carlos Rosario, chief engineer of the JeffJack Apartments, attests to the effectiveness of the radiant heaters and the automatic sensor system.
โThe radiant heaters have worked efficiently through our second winter now with no issues whatsoever,โ said Rosario. โThe units prevent snow from accumulating on the ramps and freezing, which would be a major issue for residents trying to drive on or walk down the ramps.โ
Rosario keeps the units operating on automatic so they activate when needed.
โI always have the sensor on because itโs more efficient, and I donโt always have time to monitor the conditions myself,โ said Rosario. โThe heaters activate when the conditions warrant it.โ
Another time saver, according to Rosario, is that he doesnโt have to salt the ramps to keep cars and residents from slipping.
โThese heaters have really made my job easier,โ said Rosario. โAnd, I know that building residents really appreciate them, too.โ
ย About Marley Engineered Productsยฎ
Marley Engineered Productsยฎ is a leading North American designer and manufacturer of reliable comfort heating and ventilation solutions for residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Founded in 1926, the companyโs expertise in thermal engineering began in 1922 with the inception of the Power Plant Equipment Company, which later became the Marley Company.
Today, Marley Engineered Products is recognized by contractors, architects, engineers and HVAC professionals for providing a wide range of high-performance, reliable heating and ventilation equipment. Marley Engineered Productsโ brands include QMarkยฎ, Berkoยฎ, Fahrenheatยฎ and Leading Edgeยฎ, providing a wide range of innovative, quality engineered, commercial, industrial, and residential electric comfort heaters as well as ventilation solutions.
Marley Engineered Productsโ manufacturing operations are based in Bennettsville, S.C., with regional sales representatives located throughout the U.S. and an administrative office in Burr Ridge, Ill.
Visit our website at www.marleymep.com.
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