Answer:  No. The sun releases the majority of its heat energy to the surface of the earth in the infrared wavelength range. Exposures to sunlight for long periods of time (many hours!) are routine for aircraft parked outdoors.  During the summer months, when ambient air temperatures are high, surfaces of aircraft can routinely reach 150F and higher during these long exposure times. Aircraft manufacturers recognize ambient temperatures of approximately 130F as allowable, as evidenced by individual aircraft environmental envelope charts.

During the radiant deicing process, aircraft surface exposure times are carefully controlled and the surfaces are cold (or deice would not be required!), further preventing any significant surface temperature rise. Maximum temperatures will be far below that experienced in natural sunlight as described above.

Question:  Is infrared energy safe for employees?

Answer:  Yes.  Radiant infrared energy is safer than sunlight, UV rays, microwaves and X-rays. It occupies a different part of the heat/light (electromagnetic) spectrum, and has been well studied and used without incident in commercial and industrial buildings as a primary space conditioning heat source for almost 40 years. Also, employees will significantly reduce risks associated with glycol, as identified by OSHA standards.

Question:  Are the EPUs safe?

Answer:  Yes. The technology of gas appliances is well known through out the gas industry. Automatic controls, safety interlocks and proven construction methods are well defined in conventional appliance construction and installation standards published  by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).  Construction to these standards (and their counter parts in other countries) defines reliable and inherently safe equipment. Additionally, no flame is exposed to the space containing the aircraft.

Answer:  Yes. FAA, aircraft manufacturer and airline procedures provide guidelines for the deicing and anti-icing process.  Anti-icing requirements are unaffected by the infrared deicing process.  Also, it is anticipated that a small amount (perhaps as little as 10%) of current deicing fluid quantities may still be required in some special circumstances. This reduction in the amount of deicing fluid is occurs since the surface will be essentially free of contamination after the infrared deicing process, removing the current need to use the glycol application means as a "hydraulic spray" removal device.