There are two types available - the industrial enclosed element type, and the open element type. There are advantages and limitations to both.
Firstly, the enclosed element is safer, electricity passes through a wire inside the element, and is electrically insulated from the outer layer - so a splash of water won't cause a short-circuit.
This sounds great, but while it's safer it means the heater will take longer to warm up.
When using electric fan heaters in a situation where you only have a UK domestic 13A socket available, the most power you can get is a 3kW heater, otherwise the 13A fuse in the plug will blow every time the machine is turned on. This also means you can't run two of these off one 13A extension lead - as the fuse in the lead will blow.
A 3kW Electric Fan heater produces some 10,000 BTU, however they do not put a great deal of temperature rise onto the air passing through them on each pass. It might only be 20 - 50 degrees of temperature rise, depending on the air flow. They really rely on being able to pull the air back in and add a little more heat to it each time.
In a large warehouse, a 3kW Electric Fan Heater sitting alone in the centre of the room pointing at a workers feet will not be effective - an infra-red heater would be a better choice. In a small office or insulated porta-cabin, a 3kW heater is a better choice and will work effectively.
If we're talking about 110v 3kW Heaters then a 32A plug is the required size for safe operation. If you only have a 16A 110v socket then your only option is a 1.5kW 110v Heater.
if you need more than 10,000 BTU you either have to go up to 3 phase heaters, burn a fuel, or add multiple 3kW Electric Fan Heaters. The problem is each 3kW Electric Fan Heater will require 13A of electricity, if the heaters are all on a single 30A ring main, this means powering up 3 heaters at the same time will knock the MCB breaker out.
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