{"id":22559,"date":"2016-11-07T15:16:07","date_gmt":"2016-11-07T23:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/?page_id=22559"},"modified":"2025-11-12T10:41:12","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T18:41:12","slug":"sppm-8-50","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/safety-policies-procedures-manual\/sppm-8-50\/","title":{"rendered":"8.50 Space Heaters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading wsu-font-size--xxmedium\">Safety Policies and Procedures Manual<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Space Heaters<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--single\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<p><strong>SPPM 8.50<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>For more information contact:<\/strong><br>\n&nbsp; &nbsp;WSU Fire Marshal<br>\n&nbsp; &nbsp;509-335-1766<br>\n&nbsp; &nbsp;Facilities Services, Operations<br>\n&nbsp; &nbsp;509-335-9000<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h3>Policy<\/h3>\n<p>The WSU Fire Marshal and Facilities Services, Operations discourage the use of portable space heaters in University interior locations for the following reasons:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>As sources of ignition, space heaters can create fire hazards.<\/li>\n<li>Space heaters are not as energy efficient as central heating. (See also <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/index\/manuals\/business-policies-and-procedures-manual\/bppm-80-85\/\">UPPM 80.85<\/a>.)<\/li>\n<li>The electric cord creates a tripping hazard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Exceptions<\/h3>\n<p>University personnel may use portable space heaters if central heating is inadequate, nonexistent, or temporarily out-of-order. The WSU Fire Marshal has approved the following four types of space heaters for emergency use by University departments.<\/p>\n<p>In order to conserve energy, the Facilities Services, Operations Energy Group recommends that University personnel select portable space heaters that&nbsp;use 200 watts or less of electricity. For safety purposes, the space heaters must have on\/off switches and be UL (Underwriters Laboratory) listed.<\/p>\n<h4>Oil-Filled<\/h4>\n<p>A noncombusting electric oil-filled heater that distributes heat primarily by natural convection currents and low temperature radiation. Its appearance is similar to an old steam radiator. It is usually 2 to 2 1\/2 feet tall and uses 1500 watts of electricity.<\/p>\n<h4>Water\/Antifreeze-Filled<\/h4>\n<p>An electric water or antifreeze-filled heater that distributes heat by natural convection currents and low temperature radiation. This heater is long and low, looking like a baseboard heater. It uses 1500 watts of electricity.<\/p>\n<h4>Panel<\/h4>\n<p>An electric low-wattage heater that distributes heat by low-temperature radiation to a localized area. It is usually a thin panel mounted to a vertical surface, e.g., a desk. It uses 200 watts of electricity.<\/p>\n<h4>Ceramic Element<\/h4>\n<p>An electric heater with a fan having a <b>ceramic heating element<\/b><i> <\/i>that distributes heat by forced air convection. This heater is usually shaped like a small cube, about seven or eight inches on each side. It uses 1500 watts of electricity.<\/p>\n<h4>Purchasing Information<\/h4>\n<p>Contact the Facilities Services, Operations Energy Group for information regarding purchasing approved space heaters.<\/p>\n<h3>Prohibited Heaters<\/h3>\n<p>Do not use the following types of space heaters in University buildings.<\/p>\n<h4>Electric Radiant<\/h4>\n<p>An electric heater with electric elements that glow bright red or orange. This heater distributes energy as high radiant heat and uses 1500 watts or more of electricity.<\/p>\n<h4>Fuel-Burning<\/h4>\n<p>A heater that burns fossil fuels or alcohol.<\/p>\n<h3>Heater Use<\/h3>\n<p>Avoid placing space heaters close to building thermostats.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-size: .8rem\">_______________________<br><strong>Revisions:<\/strong>&nbsp; Apr. 2006 (Rev. 65); Nov. 1994 &#8211; new policy (Rev. 12).<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Safety Policies and Procedures Manual Space Heaters<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1061,"featured_media":0,"parent":21864,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22559"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1061"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22559"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69095,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22559\/revisions\/69095"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/21864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=22559"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/policies.wsu.edu\/prf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=22559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}