In The Construction Heating Handbook: Selecting the Right Heaters and Fuel for your Project, we explain how you can maximize heating and fueling efficiency on your winter projects.

Inevitable icy temperatures, bitter winds and piles of snow can create less than ideal job site conditions. To keep on schedule and on budget, you should make a plan to implement a heating solution by early fall.

When considering what temporary heating solution is right for your construction site, ask yourself:

• What types of fuels and heaters are available in my geographic area and job site conditions?
• How do I calculate how much heat I'll need for my job?
• What are the best practices to safely install and use different fuel and heater types?

Fuel Types and Selection

The four main types of fuel choices are propane, diesel, natural gas, and electricity. Some important things to note when deciding on the right fuel for your construction site are:

• Although propane is more economical than diesel, diesel requires less space on the job site and presents fewer safety issues.
• If natural gas is available on a job site, you can bill the cost of fuel to the client, and therefore are not paying for it.
• Many construction sites do not get full electricity until the end of a project, so this option is the least utilized.
• Using propane may be impossible due to local regulations and safety considerations.