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Dive Brief:

• Modine is adding two low-intensity tube heaters to its catalog of infrared heating units, the company announced Wednesday.

• The MRS and MRL low-intensity patio heaters units are available in either natural gas or propane configurations and come equipped with aluminum housing and stainless steel flexible gas connectors that ensure durability, the company said in a news release.

• These heaters “will enhance the outdoor spaces for homes, restaurants, entertainment venues and other businesses hoping to extend the use of their entertaining spaces regardless of the weather conditions,” Jon Schlemmer, vice president and general manager of Modine’s heating business, said in a statement.

Dive Insight:

Restrictions on indoor dining and entertainment during the COVID-19 pandemic boosted the popularity of outdoor spaces, leading businesses to increase the use of outdoor heating units, according to a market report by Fortune Business Insights. The demand for open air dining continued to rise post-pandemic as operators have invested in outdoor setups, with more than half of U.S. full-service restaurants planning to adopt outdoor dining with proper installation of tents and outdoor heaters, per the Sept. 30 report. 

Modine’s move to expand its infrared heating product lineup, which now includes the MRS and MRL units, reflects a robust market demand for outdoor heating solutions, according to Schlemmer. 

The nine-foot long MRS can heat spaces of up to 180 square feet with fire rates ranging from 35,000 british thermal units per hour to 50,000 Btu per hour, the company said. 

The larger MRL, at a length of 16 feet and four inches, can heat spaces up to 312 square feet and provides multiple fire rate options, per the release. Low-fire rates for these units range from 50,000 to 65,000 Btu per hour, while high fire rates span 65,000 to 100,000 Btu per hour, Modine said. 

Given that each outdoor space that requires heat is unique, the intent of adding the MRS and MRL heaters is to provide “even more options for discerning customers using either natural gas or propane as a source,” Schlemmer said. 

Gas-fired outdoor heaters that rely on sources like propane and natural gas, however, release large amounts of carbon dioxide and pollutants, Fortune Business Insights’ report notes. A typical 3,000-watt capacity propane patio heater can generate around 42 kilograms of carbon dioxide after heating a 9-square-meter patio for eight hours each night, it says, citing research from the Propane Education and Research Council.

In February, the company launched two infrared heaters — the MEQ and MES — amid a push to expand and diversify its heating portfolio. At the time, Modine had pointed to a “relatively flat” heating market, with its CEO Neil Brinker noting challenges in the market for heat transfer and heating products.