The TPI Fostoria FSP-9548-3 is a portable electric infrared spot heater built for the toughest indoor heating jobs - construction site warm-up, industrial rigging cure, equipment thaw, paint and finish curing, and unheated warehouse work cells. Rated at 13.5 kW on 480V three-phase power, it delivers fast, directed radiant heat without combustion, fumes, or oxygen draw, which is what facility managers and project supers want when crews are working in confined or sensitive spaces.
Who uses this heater
The FSP-9548-3 lives on jobsites where propane and kerosene heaters are off the table. Auto-body and refinish shops use them for paint and clearcoat cure cycles. General contractors stage them along masonry and concrete pours for cold-weather curing. Industrial maintenance crews bring them out for shutdown work in food plants, chemical handling areas, and clean rooms where flame and exhaust are not allowed. The factory-installed power cord makes it set-and-go where a 480V drop is already on the wall or panel.
Top use cases
- Construction site warm-up - radiant heat warms workers and tools directly without raising the whole envelope, which gets crews productive faster on cold mornings.
- Concrete and masonry curing - directed infrared keeps slab edges, footings, and block walls within ACI cold-weather protection windows.
- Paint, coatings, and finish curing - clean radiant output speeds up clearcoat and powder cure without contaminating the surface with combustion byproducts.
- Equipment and pipe thaw - direct radiant penetration thaws gearboxes, valves, and hydraulic packs faster than convective heat.
- Spot warming in unheated warehouses - point-and-shoot zone heating for pick lines, packing stations, and shipping docks where central heat is impractical.
Specifications
- Power: 13,500 watts (13.5 kW)
- Voltage: 480V three-phase
- Heating elements: medium-wave quartz infrared lamps
- Mounting: portable wheeled cart with adjustable tilt
- Cord: factory-installed power cord (the "w/Cord" suffix vs. hardwired models)
- Frame: powder-coated steel with handle and casters
- Reflectors: polished aluminum for directed beam pattern
Frequently asked questions
Is this heater safe for occupied spaces?
Yes - electric infrared has no combustion, no exhaust, and no oxygen draw, so it is the standard choice for warm-up in occupied work cells, paint booths, food plants, and indoor jobsites. There is no carbon monoxide hazard. Standard practice is to keep combustibles out of the direct beam path and follow OEM clearance distances.
What is the difference between the "w/Cord" and hardwired versions?
The FSP-9548-3 with cord ships with a factory-installed power cord and plug for plug-and-play setup at an existing 480V outlet. The hardwired variant requires a licensed electrician to terminate to a panel or junction box. Choose the cord version for portable jobsite use; choose hardwired for a permanent installation.
How fast does it heat a space?
Infrared is best understood as warming objects and people, not the air. Workers in the beam path feel heat within seconds; surface temperatures of concrete or steel rise within minutes. For ambient air heating of a fully sealed space, sizing is roughly 10 watts per cubic foot for moderate cold conditions, but most operators use the FSP-9548-3 for spot heating, not whole-room HVAC replacement.
What is the power draw and breaker requirement?
13.5 kW at 480V three-phase draws roughly 16 amps per leg. Confirm the panel and circuit are rated for the load with appropriate breaker and conductor sizing per NEC. A licensed electrician should verify circuit availability before plug-in.
How is element replacement handled?
The medium-wave quartz lamps are field-replaceable. Rated lamp life is several thousand hours of operation; replacement lamps are stocked through TPI's distributor network. Keep the reflectors clean - dust on the polished aluminum reduces directed output.
Discount Cleaning Products is an authorized TPI Corporation dealer. We carry the Fostoria portable infrared heater family and ship direct from TPI distribution with full factory warranty and access to OEM replacement lamps and parts.