These heaters are the most commonly applied infrared heaters in industry today. Panel heaters consist of a heating element mounted in or on an insulating board. Sometimes, a face material is incorporated and sometimes not. Sometimes, the insulating board is backed by more insulation and sometimes not. The whole kit-n-caboodle is often encased in a metal housing. Quartz tubes make use of a heating element, some type of end terminations, and quartz.

Each type of heater has its positives and negatives, much like everything in life. Panel heaters are extremely durable, flexible in design, long in life, high in efficiency, but slow in response. Faster response can be achieved by mounting the heating element on the insulating board, but life is then sacrificed. There is almost always a trade-off in heater design. The quartz tube heater is fast in response, high in efficiency, somewhat flexible in design, but shorter on life. Again, quartz tubes can be designed for a longer life, but speed is sacrificed.

Keep in mind that the time for an average quartz tube to achieve 90% of the final temperature is 20-30 seconds. The last 10% always takes a bit longer to achieve. A fast response quartz tube can be at temperature in 5 seconds. A panel heater, by comparison, can take up to 5 minutes to achieve 90% of the final temperature. The most common type of fast response panel heater will still take 30-45 seconds to get up to temperature. Foil type panel heaters do get up to temperature in 5 seconds, but have a very short life. The comparison of the various heaters discussed is noted in the following chart: