This note outlines the personal heater purchasing scheme set up for UNSW schools and departments. The information below is aimed at administration officers likely to purchase portable heaters on behalf of their colleagues.

The only forms of personal heating approved at UNSW are floor heating pads and radiant panel heaters; either 160W radiant panel heaters or, in extreme cases,1000W micathermic radiant panel heaters. Staff may not bring personal heaters into UNSW work spaces from home or other sources. Instead they should request an approved heater from their school or department.

If members of staff already have high wattage personal heaters, such as a bar radiator, oil or fan heater then they can take part in the free heater swap scheme and obtain a safe and efficient heater.

Everybody has a different response to heat and cold. Some people in air conditioned or tempered spaces may feel the need for supplemental heating in winter. A single 160W radiant heater can be provided to such people if they have taken common sense measures, such as dressing appropriately, and are still cold. The heater must be turned off at night. Alternatively a radiant heating mat can be supplied. Radiant mats must also be turned off at night. Excessive supplemental/personal heating can interfere with efficient A/C. Oil heaters and other high wattage heaters are strictly prohibited in centrally heated spaces.

Where a person's health indicates special needs, their case should be referred to the Energy Manager for a custom solution (the same applies with regard to A/C).

Non heated spaces are actually heated; by body heat, office equipment, lighting, etc. Problems arise when there are high ventilation rates or other heat losses (radiant heat loss through windows). Radiant panel heaters and heating pads have been successfully trialled at UNSW. They augment sensible winter clothing and provide efficient/effective heating.

People in non heated spaces can use one or two 160W radiant heaters, depending on their personal needs, or a single 160W radiant heater and/or a heater mat. Two small heaters are actually cheaper than a single large (320W) radiant panel heater. Having two small heaters, rather than a single large heater, also facilitates optimal positioning of the heat source under the workstation. A heater mat is very helpful to people prone to cold feet or who are working on a cold floor. In very cold spaces, moderate wattage micathermic radiant panel heaters may be permitted.

Various combinations of radiant panel heaters and a heating mat provide flexibility and enable heating to be tailored to individual needs.

Where a person's health indicates special needs, their case should be referred to the Energy Manager for a custom solution (the same applies with regard to A/C).

BACK TO TOP

Administrators can email orders for these heaters to energy@unsw.edu.au We need to know the name and position of the person placing the order and the persons/room numbers that will receive the heaters. Please send us a charge code or chartfield for the order. We will recover the cost of the heaters from your school or department via internal transfer of funds.

The Energy Unit will aggregate orders, send them to the supplier, receive the heaters and have them delivered to each school/department. The Energy Unit will install the heaters and provide any necessary extension leads etc.

The turn around time from placing an order to delivery will be approximately 5 days (. We do not have to wait until a critical number of orders are received.

The Energy Unit of FM will recover the cost of heaters from schools and departments via internal transfer of funds. For cost details email energy@unsw.edu.au.

The costs applicable are actual supply costs and well below RRP. The role of the Energy Unit in this exercise is to secure a low price through bulk purchase and to facilitate the process on behalf of participants. There is no mark-up or administration charge.

We are working to simplify the process so that schools and departments can directly order from the suppliers and still get the quantity discount. It may take a month or so of relationship development for this to happen.

Please note that purchase cards should not/cannot be used to pay for any heaters. When the UNSW Purchasing Guide is finalised it will list radiant panel heaters/mats as the only personal heaters approved for use at UNSW.

If you wish to clarify any aspect of the personal heater purchasing scheme, suggest improvements to the scheme, seek a custom solution for a staff member etc, please email the Energy Manager – energy@unsw.edu.au

BACK TO TOP