What is Far Infrared Ray (FIR)?
‘What is Infra Red energy you may ask?’ It is the warm glow you feel on a sunny day, which comes directly from the sun’s rays. That is why you can feel a sharp drop when a cloud blocks these rays – even though the temperature in the air has not changed.
Far-infrared radiant heat is a completely safe from of naturally occurring energy that heats objects by a process called direct light called infrared heat or infrared energy.
The sun is the primary source of radiant energy, but not all of this energy is beneficial. Although life needs energy from the sun, too much sunlight damages the skin. FIR heat provides many of the health benefits of natural sunlight without any of the dangerous effects of solar radiation.
Is Infrared really safe?
Absolutely! Infrared light energy is really beneficial and not at all damaging to the body. To illustrate the safety of the heater, Far Infrared heating is used in hospitals to warm newborn infants. Infrared has been researched and used in medical practices for many years. Sports medicine has long accepted and used infrared to promote healing of sprains and strains. NASA has also concluded after lengthy trails in the 1980`s that infrared therapy is the best way for astronauts to maintain cardiovascular fitness on long cramped space flights.
What is the difference between a SaunaMed Far Infrared sauna and a traditional sauna?
Traditional Sauna Vs SaunaMed Far Infrared
What are DuraWave™ Infrared Heaters
DuraWave™ Infrared Heaters use technology which encompasses 100% pure ceramic elements filled with lava sand to give the best heat distribution and include no chemicals or toxins.
All humans send and receive Far infrared waves. The range of waves generated by the human body is 6 to 20 microns. The optimal micron output range is between 7.5 and 15 microns which is very close to the resonant frequency of a water molecule. This similarity makes sense since our bodies are almost 70% water.
It is a fact, that the hotter an object is, the more infrared radiation it emits. The primary source of infrared is heat or thermal radiation. This is the radiation produced by the motion of atoms and molecules in an object such as the DuraWave heater. The higher the temperature of the object, the more the atoms and molecules move, and therefore the more infrared radiation they produce. Any object on earth that has a temperature above absolute zero (-459.67 degrees Fahrenheit or -273.15 degrees Celsius) will radiate infrared. When it comes to infrared heaters the amount of energy (electricity) put into the heater affects how much infrared is output.
As ceramic heaters such as DuraWave operate at a much higher temperature than carbon heaters they have much higher emissivity and produce more infrared heat. Ceramic infrared heaters operate with surface temperatures between 300°C to 700°C whereas carbon fibre panels operate in the region of 50°C to 75°C.
This makes the DuraWave ceramic heater one of the best on the market; the high watt density panels’ product huge amounts of infrared.
DuraWave™ infrared heaters have been designed and calibrated to target the correct vital wave range of 7.5 to 15 microns with a good portion of wavelengths at 9.4, which is the frequency at which a water molecule resonates or vibrates. This vibration causes a release of cellular toxins such as mercury, aluminium, cholesterol and other toxic gases such as sulphur and formaldehyde. This optimal micron output also allows for deeper penetration of Far infrared heat, which improves pain relief, detoxification, circulation, and increased peripheral blood flow. They are also designed to be safe to touch and comfortable to sit against.
Regular clinical tests demonstrate that DuraWave™ infrared heaters produce far-infrared rays close to perfection to work with the natural harmony of the human body resulting in increased health benefits. Often, many products have not been tested making it very difficult to verify their safety and peak infrared output wavelength.
DuraWave™ heating elements were also developed to solve the fundamental issue with the chemicals used in the production of carbon heating elements. Carbon heating elements, start as two pieces of flexible fibreglass (plastic resins and glass cloth). A thin conductive layer of carbon is printed onto the fibreglass, then fibreglass pressure laminated to complete the assembly. Through this process compounds of styrene, lead, iron, aluminium, zinc, boron and barium are introduced into the sauna. We found it absolutely unacceptable to introduce lead, and especially styrene in a therapeutic environment designed for detoxification.
Constant Concentrated Infrared
Because Far- Infrared Rays travel in a straight line, conventional Infrared heating elements cannot reach every part of your body. This is the main problem with carbon elements meaning the whole of the sauna interior has to be covered with this material. DuraWave™ pure ceramic Far-Infrared Heaters are coiled in a concave shape and use surgical-grade stainless steel wide-projection deflectors designed to concentrate and maximize infrared output towards the body. So no matter how you are positioned in a SaunaMed Sauna, whether you are directly in front of a heater or not, your whole body is effectively receiving the beneficial Far-Infrared Rays.
Medical Research & Benefits
Far Infrared saunas which use pure ceramic concave shape emitters are backed by a long history, extensive medical research and results.
Far Infrared saunas using pure ceramic emitters have a long history (decades) of use, results, and confidence, not only by the manufacturers, but also by doctors and people who use them. Many of the books published, and research of naturopathic doctors have been based on the far infrared saunas using pure ceramic heating emitters.
Why DuraWave™ elements are preferred over carbon
DuraWave™ heating elements were also developed to solve the fundamental issue with the chemicals used in the production of carbon heating elements. Carbon heating elements, start as two pieces of flexible fibreglass (plastic resins and glass cloth). A thin conductive layer of carbon is printed onto the fibreglass, then fibreglass pressure laminated to complete the assembly. Through this process compounds of styrene, lead, iron, aluminium, zinc, boron and barium are introduced into the sauna. We found it absolutely unacceptable to introduce lead, and especially styrene in a therapeutic environment designed for detoxification.
Ceramic infrared sauna heaters are more advantageous as they heat up much faster, have a high emissivity and they are known for high levels of durability. Ceramic heaters are the most common and popular choice. Our DuraWave™ ceramic heaters are also very easy to ship and replace should a problem arise, unlike carbon heaters that can be awkward to ship and difficult to replace.
Far Infrared Saunas which use pure ceramic concave shape emitters are backed by a long history, extensive medical research and results. If you take a look around it is why the most experienced and health orientated companies use ceramic elements.
SaunaMed did consider developing carbon elements, however after extensive research we chose to stick with our very popular DuraWave™ elements due to the following findings;
- Carbon Infrared heating elements cannot reach every part of your body as the rays travel in a straight line. This is a problem meaning the whole of the sauna interior has to be covered with this material. DuraWave™ pure ceramic Far-Infrared Heaters are coiled in a concave shape and use surgical-grade stainless steel wide-projection deflectors designed to concentrate and maximize infrared output towards the body. So no matter how you are positioned in a SaunaMed Infrared Sauna, there are no cold spots.
- Infrared efficiency dropped dramatically when sitting more than 20cm away from the elements. Meaning much of the infrared heat sources are not warming the body efficiently but simply warming the air.
- The elements have to be thermostat controlled which meant that cabin temperatures would have to be much higher to produce any level of sweat production.
- To create the internal temperatures and Infrared flow required for the elements to be effective, the majority of the cabin interior needed to be lined with the black carbon elements, which was very dark and unsightly.
- Toxic chemicals are used in the production of carbon heating elements. Compounds of styrene, lead, iron, aluminium, zinc, boron and barium are introduced into the sauna. We found it absolutely unacceptable to introduce lead, and especially styrene in a therapeutic environment designed for detoxification.
- Carbon panels in general give of very high levels of EMR (Electromagnetic Radiation) and there is no way to shield this.
- Wooden brackets holding the carbon heater panels in place created a trap for dust and bacteria and absorbed the infrared heat rather than your body.
- Sweat stains on the carbon elements were difficult to clean.
EMR Testing- (Electro Magnetic Radiation)
Many doctors and medical experts are advising the avoidance of exposure levels of 3mG (Milli-Gauss) or higher. EMR is short for electromagnetic radiation or sometimes known as electromagnetic fields (EMF) or electromagnetic energy (EME). Electromagnetic fields are created when electric current flows, such as using a hair dryer, microwave or cell phone.
Industries lowest EMR
EMR Neutral™ infrared heaters by SaunaMed give off ultra low EMR, our patent pending technology ensures that you are never exposed to high levels of EMR in the sauna. Our testing only picked up any sign of EMR when the sensor was nearly touching the actual heater. From a range of 10cm from the heater there is no detectable EMR.
SaunaMed is one of the most widely accepted sauna brands used by doctors and other health care professionals. Residential users receive exactly the same product that healthcare professionals use in professional environments.
What is safe?
Many experts and public officials, as well as the few governments that have made an effort to offer public protection, have adopted the 3mG cut-off point. The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) has proposed a safety standard of 3mG. Sweden has also set a recommended safety limit of 3mG.
We found that standard infrared emitters can emit high levels of EMR and carbon heaters give off much higher levels of EMR.
Using a state-of-the-art TriField EMR Meter, all of our heaters are tested to ensure that they are EMR Neutral.
Traditional Saunas Vs SaunaMed
SAUNAMED FAR INFRARED SAUNAS |
TRADITIONAL & STEAM SAUNAS |
|
WOOD TYPE |
Finest Grade Non-allergenic / Non-toxic Canadian Hemlock or hand selected finest grade A Canadian red cedar | Usually pine or spruce |
HEAT SOURCE |
DuraWave™ 100% pure FAR infrared ceramic heaters | Electric stove or wood-burning element |
HEAT TRAMSMISSION |
Long wave ‘safe’ FIR wave | Hot air, harder to breathe |
TEMPERATURE |
18 –65 °C | More than 38 °C |
SWEAT ANALYSIS |
80% water & 20% toxins | 97% water & 3% toxins |
PRE-HEAT TIME |
5 min | 30-60 min |
FRESH AIR CIRCULATION |
YES - Adjustable air vent and oxygen ioniser system fitted as standard | Availiable however this must be closed during use to create humid environment |
ENERGY COST AT 30 MIN PER DAY |
Energy efficient - £4 per month average | £30 plus per month |
COMFORT LEVEL AND SAFETY |
Very high, heat safe and can be controlled to a single degree, timer function and Auto shut off also included | Hot coals, unsuitable for children, the elderly and injured, possible fire hazard |
INSTALLATION TIME |
Under 30 minutes anywhere you like – No special venting required – Simple step by step guide | Usually requires your own trades person and technical assistance needed - Can take days to install. |
PORTABILITY |
Easily moved and packed flat again (Stands on supports offering floor protection and air circulation) | More of a permanent fixed feature |
CONTROLS |
State of the art digital soft touch, internal and external controls | Usually external controls, also uses water over coals to control internal temperature |
MEDICAL USE |
Used by physicians | Not used by physicians |
USER SUITABILITY |
Most people can use – Great benefits for the young, injured and elderly | Only for certain individuals |
WATER SUPPLY AND WIRING REQUIRED |
None at all | Yes |
MUSIC EQUIPMENT AVAILIABLE |
Top spec radio, CD, MP3 system and Ipod connection Fitted as standard | Unavailable due the environment |
COST |
Everything Included in the price – No hidden costs | Professional fitting and wiring required. Traditional saunas generally cost more. |
Why do you sweat up to three times more in a SaunaMed infrared sauna when it is less than half the temperature of a traditional sauna or steam room?
Infrared is a radiant source of heat. This means it warms our body directly, rather than having to warm the air first - similar to the sun warming our body on a colds winter`s day. This is a major difference between a SaunaMed Infrared sauna and a traditional sauna. There is no need for very hot air that can cause respiratory problems and dizziness. Infrared only expends 20% of its energy on heating the air - 80% directly warms the body to a depth of 4.5cms.
This deep penetration of warming radiant heat produces up to three times more perspiration and therefore stimulates the deeper tissues and muscles to release stored fat and toxins leaving the user feeling refreshed, cleansed and energised.
What about the pre-heating times?
As mentioned SaunaMed saunas heat up in a few minutes so you can enjoy your sauna whenever you feel like it, traditional saunas can take upto 90 mins to heat up properly, not only do you have to plan far ahead every time you wish to relax, this can prove to be very expensive.
Are there any other differences I should know about?
Traditional saunas rely on a stove to heat the air to as hot as 95°C. The energy they require can as much as double your electricity bills, and to be effective, this superheated air must remain tightly enclosed, resulting in a stifling, suffocating environment. In contrast, our Infrared saunas give you the option of letting in fresh air to circulate for ventilation and maximum comfort
