Temporary Heat

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Alwayslearningelec

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NJ
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Estimator
On new construction jobs we usually exclude this.

GC want us to include. Assume would only be needed until building is fully enclosed.

Any you guys ever provide temp heat on newe building? How would you figure this and what heaters would you provide?
 
Alwayslearningelec said:
On new construction jobs we usually exclude this.

GC want us to include. Assume would only be needed until building is fully enclosed.

Any you guys ever provide temp heat on newe building? How would you figure this and what heaters would you provide?
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Until the building is closed in, how the heck can you provide any meaningful temporary heat? Wait, I hear my dad calling; "What are you trying to do, heat the whole neighborhood?!?" And he's been gone for 40 years.
 
Temp heat is fairly common in new construction. Are they asking the electrical contractor to come up with a plan? We've installed temp switchboards and risers for temp heat many times. Someone has to decide what they're willing to pay for. Are you providing an electrician for 24 hour standby?
 
infinity said:
Temp heat is fairly common in new construction. Are they asking the electrical contractor to come up with a plan? We've installed temp switchboards and risers for temp heat many times. Someone has to decide what they're willing to pay for. Are you providing an electrician for 24 hour standby?
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Since you're in my neck of the woods, I have to ask, what kind of circumstances are we talking about here? If you don't have a roof and at least the exterior walls, and coverings for all the openings, you're trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon.
 
gadfly56 said:
Since you're in my neck of the woods, I have to ask, what kind of circumstances are we talking about here? If you don't have a roof and at least the exterior walls, and coverings for all the openings, you're trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon.
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If it's a high rise building the bottom floors will be closed in before they even top out with the roof level. In order to tape and paint Sheetrock during the middle of the winter they'll need temporary heat. As you've surmised pumping heat into a open building would be useless.
 
Last couple new builds I've done people brought their own propane, K-2, or whatever heaters as needed during rough in. No way you are holding any significant heat until you at least have ceiling covered on top level those heaters before then are to just knock off the worst of the chill if it really cold outside. 30 or 40 degree day we likely don't even run any heat during rough in stages.

Drywall finishing is when heat is needed. They don't like anything that is combustion type heat that doesn't have the "exhaust" vented to outside, so most those heaters used at rough in are not acceptable. Propane is worst - puts the most moisture into the air where we are trying to dry things out. I often end up having to make a temp connection to some used air handler with electric heat strips in it that the HVAC guy supplied for drywall finishing and up until is either warm outside or permanent HVAC is placed into operation.
 
infinity said:
Temp heat is fairly common in new construction. Are they asking the electrical contractor to come up with a plan? We've installed temp switchboards and risers for temp heat many times. Someone has to decide what they're willing to pay for. Are you providing an electrician for 24 hour standby?
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No standby. Whatr type of heater did you use?
 
Alwayslearningelec said:
No standby. Whatr type of heater did you use?
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Something similar to this. We got them from a rental company.

825_P1800_1.jpg
 
ActionDave said:
Find out how much heat you need, call a rental company and get the cost, charge the customer.

In all my years in the trades I've only seen three types of heaters on job sites- gas, electric and kerosene. I would use one of those.
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Yeah and all the jobs I worked on, the GC provided the temp heat. We only provided power if needed.

Ron
 
They use giant propane salamanders in Indiana. They're the size of jet engines and they sound like them to. I am pretty sure a professional company set them up and maintained them. They set outside the building in a door way sealed up like a giant duct. I never smelled carbon monoxide. I'm not sure how they worked.
It was nice and toasty inside and 5 degrees outside.
 
qcroanoke said:
I guess the old salamander fuel oil heaters are out of the question
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We haven't seen those in a decade. Maybe the open flame is an issue when compared to electric. For poured concrete jobs they do still use coal pots for heat when they're heating the concrete in the winter but during their use the job is wide open.
 
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