A comfortably equipped terrace brings guests in on autumn and winter days too, as long as you offer them warmth along with a seat. The only question is what kind.
On an open terrace there is no point heating the air, because the wind carries it away immediately. What works outdoors is infrared heating: short-wave infrared radiation passes through the air with no significant loss and only warms what it lands on, which means the tables, the floor and the people. The sensation is the same as under autumn sun, when the air is cold but your face is warm. And because the heat is not carried by the air, it is felt immediately rather than ten minutes later.
With infrared heaters, how the unit is mounted is a more important decision than its wattage. The terrace is what determines which options are feasible at all.
A dedicated wall bracket is available for the VEBO heater.
A gas heater works differently: it warms the air and radiates heat downwards under its reflector. It makes sense where the area is at least partly sheltered from wind and where there is no mains supply or not enough of one, and also where the heater is only out for a few days a year.
The range includes the gas patio heater Enders Commercial, intended for professional outdoor use. Output is infinitely adjustable from 4 to 14 kW, the cylinder sits in the base on a pull-out shelf, and the door locks and has a chain eye, which on a public terrace is not a trivial detail. The heater is certified to EN 14543 and carries an EU type-examination certificate under Regulation (EU) 2016/426.
There is one limitation worth knowing in advance: a gas heater may only be used outdoors or in a well-ventilated space where at least 25 % of the surrounding surfaces are open. If you close the terrace for winter with side panels or a marquee, a gas heater is no longer permitted in it and becomes dangerous. A closed or nearly closed terrace is therefore a case for an electric infrared heater, not a gas one.
If you need heaters for a handful of events, a wedding or a Christmas programme, buying often does not add up. In that case renting IR heaters with a stand or other items from the rental range is the more sensible route.
Heaters are only one part of the autumn terrace. On matching colours, materials and layout, see the article 5 ideas for a modern café or bar terrace.
AG VEBO specialises in chairs, tables and other professional equipment for the HoReCa & Events sector. Tell us how the terrace is laid out, where you have a wall or a canopy and what electrical supply is available, and we will suggest the type of heater that is actually workable on that terrace.
See the terrace heating range · Contact · Projects · Browse the catalogue
AG VEBO d.o.o.
Author: Boštjan Vesel, AG VEBO d.o.o.
