Ceiling height should be 7' to allow enough heat at bench and head levels

It is important to reduce Sauna room height from a standard ceiling height of 8' to the Sauna norm of 7' from the finished floor. (Sauna ceiling can also be as low as 6'2"). An 8' ceiling wastes heat, energy and building materials; and it increases the heating time. The diagram below shows the variance of temperature at various levels in the Sauna room.

Sauna temperature comparisons

The importance of lowering the Sauna ceiling from 8' to 7' is shown in the following temperature comparison chart; Notice that the Sauna room temperature is 20 degrees cooler at the upper bench level and at the bather's head level in the Sauna with the improper ceiling height of 8'. As the heat rises from floor to ceiling, there is too much wasted heat at the upper ceiling level and not enough heat at the bench levels where the bathers sit or lie.

Exceptions to the rule

There are times when 8' ceiling or higher (not at all unusual in Finland for large Saunas) are called for; huge public Saunas, Saunas for military companies, ADA-saunas etc. The floor area must be large enough to accommodate at least 3 levels of benches (4,5, or even 6 levels can be found from huge Saunas in Finland) to raise the bather up to the hot air. After a certain size is reached two stoves become a necessity to assure heat; and at the highest end of the spectrum it may be necessary to have benches built-in rather than having them be supported from wall-to-wall and be open underneath - Closing the area off underneath will reduce cubic footage to be heated but would sacrifice in cleanliness; built-in benches are not as easy to clean underneath as standard benches are but if the budget allows, this part too, could be over come.