Sauna Specifications
General: Sauna room(s) shall be manufactured by helo® Sauna, INC., 575 East Cokato St. Cokato, MN 55321. The following specifications include design parameters for Helo® prefab/modular saunas, as well as for Helo® Custom-Cut material packages.
Work to be done by others: All work set forth below will be included under other sections for the specifications:
For all Helo® Sauna types:
Finish painting and/or staining of exterior surfaces.
Subfloor and/or foundation work.
All electrical work from supply, including connections to control, heater and light.
For Helo® Custom-Cut saunas:
Installation of stud walls (or furring strips) and ceiling joists.
Installation of insulation between wall studs and ceiling joists.
Code requirements: All materials, components and work shall conform to all applicable local, state and federal building and safety codes, ordinances and regulations.
Type construction: Helo® Custom-Cut material packages (for installation on previously framed walls).
Wall framing shall be on 16” centers: Standard framed wall shall have 2” x 4” studs, bottom base plate treated, and ceiling lowered to 84 ” I.D. from floor to framing. Existing masonry walls shall have furring strips on 16” centers; metal studs shall have furring strips—for nailing of T&G wallboards.
Walls and Ceiling: Shall be insulated with Open Faced (no paper or plastic backing) R11 rated fiberglass insulation, with foil vapor barrier (foil provided by Helo®).
When Ordering: Sauna material package, shall be Helo® model CC________. Provide interior dimensions of the framed space, indicate direction of ceiling joists, and swing of door.
Walls and ceiling interior materials shall be 1” x 4” (nominal) V-joint, kiln dried to 12% or less, clear Western Red Cedar or Clear European Alder. Boards to be blind nailed using minimum 5P galvanized nails, or comparable galvanized staples. Stainless Steel is preferred.
Type Construction: Helo® Panel-Built Sauna Packages (free-standing modular units).
No framed walls are required for Helo® Panel-Built packages. Install on any level, waterproof floor.
Wall and ceiling panels shall be framed of 2” x @” framing, insulated with Open Faced fiberglass batts, vapor barrier of Type C Reynolds Building Foil. Panel interior and exterior shall be lined with 1” x 4” (nominal), V-joint, kiln dried, clear Western Red Cedar or clear European Alder.
Type Construction: All types—Custom-Cut and Panel-Built.
Benches: Shall be pre-assembled by Helo®. Standard width equals 24”. Face and Tops of clear, kiln-dried Western Red Cedar or European Alder S4S, 1” x 4” Cedar (nominal) or 1 1/4″ x 4″ (nominal) Alder tops with 1/2” spacing. Internal frames of Western Red Cedar or Alder 2” x 4” (2” x 6” framing available for commercial benches longer than 6’); internal cross framing of clear 1” x 4” Cedar or Alder. Tops fastened from bottom with stainless steel screws. Bench supports kiln-dried Western Red Cedar or Alder 2’ x 4”.
Backrests: S4S clear Western Red Cedar or European Alder
Interior and Exterior Trim: Corner and cove molding of clear, kiln-dried Western Red Cedar or European Alder. Panel-Built saunas also include fascia of same material.
Heater Guard rail: Shall be constructed of clear Cedar, Alder or Hemlock, to surround heater. Dimensions shall match UL requirements for proper spacing between heater and guard rail.
Door: Shall be one of four standard Helo® types. helo® Model AG 24/80: 2’0” x 6’8” All-Glass tempered, bronze tinted with appropriate hinges, latch and door handles, pre-hung on clear Cedar (or Mahogany) jamb; or, Helo® Model DF 24/80: 2’0” x 6’8” of vertical grain Douglas Fir rails with sealed, double pane, tempered glass window (15’ x 64”), pre-hung on clear Cedar (or Mahogany) jamb; or 36/80 version of doors above for commercial installations. All doors include handles, casing, jamb, and threshold (installer must provide threshold on larger doors).
Handicap accessible commercial sauna doors available: Model AG36/80, All-Glass 36″ x 80″; or DF 36/80, Douglas Fir 3’0” x 6’8”
Sauna Heater: Shall be Helo® Model________, sized according to the size room as shown in heater installation guides (see resources). Heater shall be UL listed. Shall include Vulcanite igneous rocks. Optional floor stand available with SO-S/SC models.
Controls: Shall be Helo® Model________, UL listed, and matched with heater according to model.
Floor: Floor shall be of ceramic tile, or similar waterproof type (no carpeting). Removable Duckboard of Cedar or Alder is provided for walk area in front of benches (full Duckboard is extra).
Light: Shall be wall-mounted, UL listed, vapor-proof Progress P5511 or Hubbell B2S-VAR. Frosted white globe with satin finish, neoprene gasket, brushed aluminum base. Ceiling mounted and low voltage lighting available.
Accessories: All sauna packages include standard accessories of thermometer, copper, wood or stainless steel bucket, matching ladle, headrests, backrests, and duckboards. A wide range of additional accessories are available.
Warranty: All Helo® sauna room components are warranted for 5 years (residential). Helo® heaters have a 5 –year warranty (1 year for commercial saunas) against defects in material and workmanship. Controls have a 5 year limited warranty against defects in material and workmanship. Authorized Dealer sales provide In-Field Warranty! For further information regarding the Helo® warranty, please contact SoCal Sauna your local authorized Helo® dealer.
Design Assistance: SoCal Sauna will gladly offer any assistance you may require when designing or specifying sauna rooms and heaters, steambaths and steam boilers/generators. CAD design service available.
ADA Compliance for Handicap Accessibility: Most of Helo®’s Panel-Built and Custom-Cut saunas can be made ADA Compliant for handicap accessible. Contact SoCal Sauna for assistance.
Sauna Care
STEP 1:
Refrain from paint, varnishing or staining the interior parts of the sauna with any normal paint or varnish. The sauna wood needs to be able breathe adequately. Artificial finishes on the sauna wood can create a much hotter surface – resulting in the possibility of fumes or off-gassing from the wood treatment, which will take away some of the “softness” of the heat and steam penetrating the wood and or be unsafe.
STEP 2:
The simplest method of sauna maintenance is to keep a hand brush near the sauna door. Polite etiquette is if the last person out dips the brush in the bucket of water, and does a quick scrubbing on the benches, walls, backrests, etc. Adding about 20-30 drops of essential oils of your choice such as eucalyptus oil to the bucket of water for brushing isn’t necessary, but keeps the sauna smelling nice and fresh. This 30-second ritual will keep your sauna looking great indefinitely and will prevent the need to use anything stronger than clean water on the wood portions in the future.
NOTE! : If you do not follow STEP 2 closely, consider using our sauna wood cleaning kits, Bacterinol, or paraffin oil treatment kits. Also, ONLY use fresh water in a sauna either on the rocks or to clean. NEVER use pool water in a sauna!
STEP 3:
Once your sauna is clean, prop the duckboards off the floor. Ensure that you leave the sauna door open so that it can be aired out completely. The heat that is left in the rocks and in the wood will dry the sauna completely after some time.
STEP 4:
If dirt or sweat stains develop (if STEP 2 is not performed often enough), use a hand brush with warm water and with a mild soap without any detergents. When the wood is completely dry you can lightly sand your benches approximately once a year with a fine sandpaper to make your benches look new again. Doing so will whiten them back to their “like new” condition. If mold develops anywhere (i.e. on the duckboards), you can clean with bleach or our Bacterinol sauna cleaner. NEVER hose out a sauna!
STEP 5:
Depending on how often you use your sauna, it may be beneficial to occasionally wet mop the floor using a liquid deodorizing cleaner.
These easy-to-perform maintenance routines will keep your sauna inviting, fresh-smelling and enjoyable to be in!