Types of sauna rooms

  • Portable sauna room

Portable sauna rooms are blessing in disguise for congested places. They can be installed in townhouses,condominiums,apartments etc. They require less assembly time and are portable.

Portable sauna room comes in two categories:
a) Two pieces
It is available in two pieces and takes very less assembling time. It contains all the necessary equipments such as benches, bucket,lighting,thermometer etc.

B) Knock down sauna kit
Knocked down sauna kits come in knocked down condition and can be assembled easily and put to use. They are available easily in the market with all the necessary equipments and attachments.

  • Designer sauna room

These rooms are specially designed to make them look different from the market norm. They are distinct from the normally available saunas. They can be assembled easily and the architecture of these sauna is distinct from other readily available saunas in the market.

  • Customised sauna room

These saunas come with innumerable design options. These saunas are designed according to the customers requirement. Customized saunas can be found in health clubs, apartments, resorts etc.

  • Outdoor sauna room

Outdoor sauna rooms can be placed in your backyard or patio or where plenty of spaces are available. Outdoor sauna allows you to enjoy the benefits of sauna in the presence of the nature.

  • Pre-cut sauna kits

Pre-cut sauna kits are used in those areas that are insulated and framed. Pre-cut sauna kits are generally used in gymnasium,hotels,resorts etc. These kits contain all the necessary material required to build a sauna.

  • Pre-built sauna rooms

Pre-built sauna rooms are mobile and can be easily assembled. They can be easily assembled in areas that have an electricity connection, waterproof floor and hard surface.

Sauna room layout

  • Allows to place small circuit breakers and heaters. The size of a sauna room depend upon an individual requirement. Allows to place small circuit breakers and heaters.
  • Careful planning should be done regarding the location of the sauna door. A sauna door should open out of the room rather than open inside. Allows to place small circuit breakers and heaters.
  • The sauna heater should be placed near the door wall so that it can draw air from below the door and heat the air properly. Allows to place small circuit breakers and heaters.
  • The bench layout should be planned. Normally the depth of the sauna bench is 19″ and the height of the bench is either 38 ” for the upper bench and 19 ” for the lower bench allows to place small circuit breakers and heaters.
  • The size of the sauna room should be small. A smaller room provides efficient heating.

“Plan to enjoy it”

Planning to build your own sauna?? The benefits of a sauna are far greater than its downside. And building a sauna is quite easy.

Here are certain tips to build your own sauna:

Planning room size
The sauna room should be small. The main components of a sauna are it’s upper and lower benches. The depth of the bench should be at least 19″. Space should also be planned for the heater. The benefits of smaller room will be that it will require smaller heater and the room will be heated efficiently. The main bench wall should be six feet or longer as sauna users like to stretch out. The ceiling height can be from 6.5 to 7 feet so that the air remains warm and the heater functions properly.

Planning door location
The door should swing out of the room, not inside the room.

Planning heater layout
The heater should be placed near the door wall. The air would move from the door to the heater and after heating it will rise towards the ceiling.

Planning bench layout
The depth of the sauna bench should be 19″. Height of the upper sauna bench should be 38″ and for the lower bench should be 19″.

Material to be used

  • Western red cedar tree wood should be used for building saunas
  • It doesn’t result in skin burns.
  • It does not get discolored.
  • Cedar is quite stable and it does not swell and shrink like other wood material.

Things to be kept in mind while planning a sauna:

Ceiling height
The inside ceiling height should be between 6′-7′. The room would not properly get heated above this height.

Insulation
Fiberglass bats should be used as insulation material. Foam boards should not be used as they will emit gases under high temperatures.

Lighting
Special lights should be used which can function under high temperature and moisture contents. Conventional lights should not be used for saunas.

Door opening
Sauna doors are smaller in size than residential doors so that heat can be preserved inside the sauna. The doors usually measure 24″ * 76″.

Ventilation
Proper ventilation is necessary for flow of air so that the heater can function efficiently. A vent can be installed under the heater for supply of air or space of 1″ can be left between the threshold and the door. Exhaust vent can be placed on the wall opposite the source of fresh air so that it can circulate properly.

“Heart of a sauna”

Sauna heaters are the lifeline of any sauna. An intelligently designed heater is necessary so that it can produce and sustain such intense temperatures. A sauna room is generally heated to 100 degrees. The heater performs two functions in a sauna:

  • Heating the room
  • Creating loyly

Traditional sauna heaters consisted of heap of stones around a fire which heated very slowly and cooled down quickly.

The smoke saunas didn’t even have a chimney. Traditional saunas required a lot of stones tom maintain the temperature. Since the advent of electricity and chimney sauna heaters have evolved over the time. Sauna heaters today are placed in steel casings and they also have insulation layering to protect the external surface from heat.

Although gas and oil can be used to heat a sauna, the most commonly used are wood and electricity. Although many heaters are heated only once but some heaters are also heated throughout the bathing period.

Stones in a heater

The larger stones should be placed at the bottom and the smaller stones should be placed on the top. Constant heating and cooling of stones can crack the stones therefore stones should be selected keeping in mind their properties.

Properties of sauna stones should be:

  • Rough surface
  • Excellent heating capacity
  • Heat resistant
  • Odourless
  • No cracks

Suggested stone materials:

  • Olivine
  • Peridotite

Stones should be changed every two years if the sauna is frequently used but if used once a month they can be changed after five years or more.

Infrared sauna heaters
Innovation in technology has led to the development of infra-red sauna heaters. Infra-red saunas make use of infra-red radiation which directly transfers the heat to a person’s skin.

While deciding on the heater certain things need to be kept in mind:

Material of the heater
While deciding on the type of heater we can either choose ceramic, steel or aluminum heaters. We need to consider the emissivity of the various materials used. The more an emmisivity is reached by a material the better it is at emitting heat. Aluminum has an emissivity of 56% while ceramic has an emissivity of 92%.

Emissivity
Infrared heat depends upon the emissivity of the source and the surface temperature. Emissivity measures the ability of an object to emit the energy that it absorbs.

Wavelength
We need to consider the peak wave length of the infra-red energy.

Electric sauna heaters
Electric sauna heaters are convenient and clean to operate. Use an electric sauna heater with an outer shell made of stainless steel so that it does not rust. The sauna heater should be placed in the middle of the room for even distribution of heat.

Electric sauna heaters can either be floor mounted or wall mounted. Wall mounted heaters are used in residential saunas as they occupy less floor area while commercial heaters are mounted on the floor because of their size and weight. Electric sauna heaters cannot run for more than one hour in residential areas without being reset.

Wood fuelled heaters
Wood fuelled heaters can operate at any maximum temperatures. They cannot be used in residential areas because they do not have UL or CSA classification. Wood fuelled heaters are used in those areas where there is no power facility. Wood heaters are operated without electricity and a chimney needs to be installed.

“Think before closing the door”

One of the most important component of a sauna is the sauna door. The sauna door should always open outside and it should not have a lock. It should not be more than 24 inches wide to prevent loss of heat from the room. The sauna door must not open into the sauna room as the humidity inside would lead to rusted hinges.

Kinds of sauna doors

Solid glass door
These doors are made from a solid slab of tempered glass. Glass sauna doors are used in rooms with high humidity such as pool room. Solid glass doors are used in commercial saunas as it is not subject to high temperatures or humidity. The advantage of using a glass sauna door is that it is not subject to high temperatures or moisture content.

Wooden door
Traditional sauna doors are made from wood which acts as an insulator. It is preferable to use cedar wood for creating the sauna door as it does not loses it’s color easily. The biggest disadvantage of using a wooden sauna door is that it tends to lose it shape and size because of high temperature and moisture content in the sauna room.

Tips to be kept in mind while installing a sauna door

  • Sauna doors should be insulated and made according to prescribed standards to prevent air leakage between door and frame.
  • Sauna doors should be smaller than residential doors to prevent heat loss from the room.
  • Sauna doors should have a window and they should be dual pane if the windows are tempered on the sides.
  • Commercial sauna door sizes are determined according to the local state code.
  • Sauna doors should open out of the sauna and they should not have a lock.
  • There should be a gap of 10 mm between the floor and the lower end of the door frame as the water on the floor can affect the door.
  • The best sauna doors are glass doors which are made from tempered glass as they are not affected by moisture or high temperature whereas the shape of wooden doors tend to change because of these conditions.

“Elementary for creating a sauna”

Planning the design of your sauna is extremely important. The design of a sauna would depend upon your requirements. While designing a sauna keep the following things in mind:

  • The number of people who will use the sauna
  • Type of heater to be used
  • Limitations posed by the building

Designing of a sauna location
The sauna should be near an exterior wall so that there is proper ventilation in the sauna. The sauna should be placed near a changing room for ease. If possible place the sauna near a balcony so that people can use it for cooling after the sauna.

Sauna cabin
The sauna cabin should be designed for four people or more while the shower room can be made for two people as people can wait for shower after the sauna. The sauna should also have a dry room for changing.

Size and measurement

  • Everal factors need to be taken into account while determining the size of a sauna:
  • Space required by the heater
  • Heating method to be used
  • Number of people using the sauna
  • Bench placement

The height of the sauna should be 2000 to 2200 mm so that there would be space of 1000-1200 mm above the highest bench. There should be at least 24 inches of bench space per person using the sauna. The depth of the benches should be 450-900 mm for pleasant seating.

Placement of benches
There are various ways of placing the benches in a sauna. The most space efficient way is to place the bench on one side of the room. Other possible ways are l-shape or u-shape .

Placement of heater
The sauna heater should be safely placed away from the door and benches. The sauna door should be hinged towards the heater side so that the heater is visible when the door is opened and skin burn can be avoided. There should be a gap of two inches between the door and the floor for proper ventilation. A wooden door must be used as wood acts as insulation.

Tips to be kept in mind while designing a sauna

Lighting
The lighting inside the sauna should not be too bright.

Sauna building material
Wooden logs are used for building a sauna. The joints between the logs should not be airtight for the purpose of proper ventilation.

Ventilation
A sauna requires a lot of air for the purpose of creating a comfortable sauna. The air comes through the floor and it also reaches the stove. The air moves through the hot stones in the stove and they get heated up. 15 m3 of air must be available to make the sauna comfortable.

Designing
The designing of the sauna should be simple.

Heat
A bigger sauna stove can be used to control temperature and moisture content of the sauna. The stones used are made from ceramics which don’t break into pieces like natural stones and there is no release of dust in the air. Use of natural stones clogs the air ventilation.

“Live a healthy life”

For centuries heat has been used as an aid for healing and relaxation. It is believed that certain amounts of heat can cure breathing problems and relieve aching muscles. Regular use of saunas can relieve stress levels.

The benefits of a sauna are far greater than its hazards. For people in good health sauna is great but for people with heart ailments or blood pressure they need to check with their doctors first.

In ancient times sauna was used for curing various ailments and the priest used it for driving away evil spirits. The basic behind sauna is that it increases blood circulation which in turn results in sweating which promotes increased blood circulation and removes toxic material from the body.

Benefits of sauna

  • Heart conditioning

    • Sauna helps in improving the condition of the heart. With the increase in body temperature heart beat increases which results in the improvement of the blood circulation. It increases heart beat by 50 to 75% which is equivalent to taking a brisk walk.

  • Relaxation

    • It helps in relaxing and soothing the tired muscles. A good sauna de-stresses the mind and body. It also helps in relieving arthritis pain.

  • Cleansing the skin

    • Sauna helps in opening the pores of the skin and results in detoxification. It also result in beautification of the skin and gives it a wonderful glow.

  • Weight loss

    • A single sauna session can burn up to 300 calories which is equal to running two to three miles. Sauna coupled with a good massage aids in fighting cellulite.

  • Stronger immune system

    • A sauna results in artificial rise in body temperature which results in activating the body immune system which results in the increased production of white blood cells and antibodies which fights bacteria’s and viruses.

  • Cures respiratory problems

    • It helps in treating respiratory problems such as sinusitis, laryngitis, chest congestion etc. Pouring essence of Eucalyptus over the sauna rocks result in production of steam which helps in curing the cold.

  • Detoxification

    • Sauna helps in producing sweat which results in cleansing the body of toxic substances which can harm the body.

  • Injury recoveries

Sauna speeds the healing of sprain and strains by dilating blood vessels which brings more oxygen to the injured part and hence results in faster recovery of injuries.

The benefits associated with sauna are becoming increasingly popular in the modern world.

“Pleasures of sauna at home”

Portable sauna is beneficial for those spaces where permanent saunas cannot be placed. Portable saunas are flexible and it can be dis-assembled and be stored or can be carried along. Portable sauna does not require electrical fittings, plumbing or any kind of installation.

Benefits of portable sauna:

  • Purchasing a portable sauna is economical compared to other types of sauna available in the market.
  • No need to visit a gymnasium or health club. Now enjoy sauna from the comforts of your home.
  • Can be easily assembled and dis-assembled.
  • No requirement for electrical installation or plumbing.
  • Minimum storage space required. Can be easily stored under a bed or inside the cupboard.
  • Portable saunas are maintenance free.

Installing a portable steam sauna

  • First of all open up the sauna tent by pulling the front end of the sauna towards yourself.
  • The frames inside the sauna should be pulled firmly in the corners of the tent.
  • The seat should be pulled down and the leg bar should be pulled up and make sure that the seat is inside both left and right sections of the frame.
  • Make sure to put a towel on the floor of the sauna to absorb the water which may accumulate on the sauna floor.

“A step ahead of conventional sauna”

Infrared sauna is an improvement over conventional form of sauna. Let’s discuss what is Infrared? Far Infrared Ray is a safe form of naturally occurring energy that heats the objects through direct light conversion. It is a narrow band of energy within 5 to 15 micron levels. It travels two to three inches in the body to increase blood circulation and repair the damaged tissues. Infrared rays are not the harmful ultraviolet radiations.

Infrared sauna uses a ceramic heater to produce infrared heat which is invisible. This heat is similar to the heat emitted by the sun and our bodies. Infrared sauna uses 80% of the energy to heat the body and the rest to heat the air.

The temperature inside a infrared sauna is between 100 F and 150 F. A person can remain for a longer time inside an infrared sauna and can take advantages of its therapeutic benefits. An infrared sauna only heats the body and not the air.

As compared to conventional sauna infrared sauna provides a deeper tissue penetration, lower electricity bill and doe not produces extremely hot and harmful air of conventional sauna. Infra-red sauna can be used by all people of all age levels. Traditional saunas are more likely to promote the growth of bacteria in the humid air.

Benefits of infrared sauna

  • Weight Loss

    • Infra-red heat speeds up the metabolic mechanism of the vital organs and hence burns calories which results in substantial weight loss. It burns up to 600 calories in 30 minutes.

  • Detoxification

    • As the metabolic rate increases when you go to a sauna it results in perspiration which results in poisonous waste being removed from the body. As the skin is also referred to as the third kidney of the human body it is believed it leads to removal of 30% waste from the body.

  • Cardiovascular Health

    • The infra-red sauna improves the blood circulation and increases the heart beat rate which is necessary for improving one’s health. As more blood flows from the inner organ towards the skin it leads to an increase in the heart rate.

  • Reduction of stress and relaxation

    • Infra-red sauna helps in the relaxation of mind and body. It provides an overall soothening effect. It can be combined with a body massage to get overall good results.

  • Beautiful Skin

    • It leads to an increased blood flow which carries nutrients to the skin and hence leads to a glowing skin. It also results in cleaning of the skin.

  • Improves immune system

    • As infra-red sauna leads to an artificial increase in the body temperature, the immune system strengthens as it reacts to the increased temperature and slows any bacterial or virus growth.

  • Recovery from injuries

    • It leads to dilation of blood vessels which increases the oxygen supply to the joints and hence fastens the healing process.

  • Increased circulation and energy

The infrared rays are absorbed by the human cells which results in resonance and ultimately leads to improved metabolism and increased blood circulation.

“Bring sauna home”, “enjoy sauna in the comforts of your home”, “sauna at your doorsteps”.
Although saunas are mainly found at health clubs but today many manufacturers are offering sauna kits which can be installed at home and are within one’s pocket reach .A sauna is like a room whose size is comparable to a closet or a large size bedroom. The size of the sauna would depend upon the number of people who will use the sauna.

These saunas can be placed anywhere inside the house i.e. basement, bathroom, spare room. The amount of space recommended by manufacturers is two feet of bench space per person. Saunas require dedicated electrical fittings to operate the heaters either at 120 or 240 volts.

Kinds of home saunas

  • Modular sauna packages

These packages are easy to assemble and it does not require any specific level of knowledge for assembling. Modular sauna kits require minimum amount of assembling. Home saunas vary in sizes from 4′*5′ to 12′*12′ and customized kits are also available.

These kits can be placed anywhere inside the house and they can be easily disassembled also. A modular kit consists of wall and ceiling sections, sauna heater, temperature controls, dipper, back rest etc. All the sections need to be bolted together, heater and lights should be mounted, benches are to be assembled and it needs to be connected to the electrical connections to make it operational.

Advantages

  1. Does not require framing skills
  2. Can be easily assembled and disassembled

Disadvantages

  1. Costly
  2. Little flexibility offered in terms of sauna layout.
  • Pre-cut kits

These are economical sauna kits but investment of time is more. These kits can be used with the already existing rooms that have been framed, dry walled and have a waterproof floor. The kit includes everything needed to convert the room into an excellent sauna. These kits can be purchased according to the manufacturer’s specification or they can be customized. The pre-cut kit comes with all the accessories that are available with the modular kits.

Advantages

  1. Cheaper to purchase
  2. Flexibility of use

Disadvantages

  1. Requires elementary carpentry knowledge
  2. Sauna kit is permanent, changes cannot be made afterwards

“Sauna the Finland way”.

Saunas date back to thousand years or more in Finland. Earlier it was used for bathing as it was the only source for bathing with clean waters and it was also used for delivering babies and curing the sick. Finnish sauna has been an integral part of the Finnish culture. Sauna is treated as a place where people can relax with their friends and families, a place where they can relax.

There are two million saunas in Finland and with about five million population there is on an average one sauna per household. Saunas are regarded more as a necessity rather than luxury in Finland. Nearly every home has a sauna in Finland. Saunas can also be found in public places like gyms, swimming pools in Finland.

Most of the Finns have a summer cottage near one of the thousands lake with a sauna. A sauna bath in Finland is not complete without a swim in the lake. Finns also use a vasta or vihta which is a bundle of twigs mainly from Silver Birch or Betula pendula to beat themselves gently with it so that they can peel their skin with it, clean it and relax their muscles.

History of Finnish Sauna
Sauna is an essential part of Finnish people. It is in the sauna where the people learn to bathe. In Finland in the word “sauna”, “au” is pronounced as “ou” as used in the word loud which means differently in different countries.

In the early days the sauna used to be wooden hut near the lake and it represented a clean place which was also used for child births, operations besides cleaning themselves. Today it may be used only for bathing but the tradition of using a sauna has not faded even today. The traditional saunas consisted of benches for sitting and stoves for heating the stones.

As regards cleaning to be done it was done at the lake. Modern saunas have shower and dressing rooms. The average saunas can accommodate 3-6 people at a time. Finnish sauna is used for relaxing the body and mind.

Way to bathe in a finnish sauna
Although there is no set standards for bathing in a sauna but a good company is necessary to enjoy it. Although people go nude in a sauna but if you are not comfortable with it you can wear a bathing suit or wrap around a towel. The temperature in a Finnish sauna is usually between 60 degrees to 110 degrees although the ideal temperature is 85 degrees

  • First of all take a proper shower so as the sauna room remains clean.
  • Go to the sauna and make use of a towel to sit on the upper bench.
  • Sit for a few minutes so that your skin pores open because of the heat.
  • The moisture in the air can be adjusted by putting water on the stores of the heater so that the room becomes hotter.
  • After enjoying the sauna go to the changing room to cool down and then take a shower to remove the body of the sweat.
  • Dry yourself and let the body temperature come down before you dress yourself. After the sauna take some rest and follow it with a drink.

Tips to have a good sauna

  • You should have ample time preferably an hour so that you can relax and enjoy the sauna A bathrobe while cooling off.
  • A large towel for the purpose of drying your body.
  • A good moisturizing cream or lotion to be used after the sauna.
  • A small towel for sitting on the bench.