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It is important to understand the difference between a steam room and a sauna room.
Traditionally, saunas are used to provide dry heat,
with the addition of some steam from pouring water over hot rocks, in a wooden room.
This results in a temperature of 160 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity of 5 to 20%.
Steam rooms are quite different. They are not as hot, with temperatures of 110 to
114 degrees Fahrenheit, and humidity at or near 100%, with water dripping down the walls.
Because of the high humidity, they have to be constructed of tile, marble or
acrylic, and all the fixtures must be made of stainless steel, brass, plastic or
other rustproof material. The ceiling and benches should be sloped,
so the water will run off, and
there must be a drain in the room,
which must not leak steam or water into the outside area.
The steam generator is located outside the steam room, nearby,
and requires plumbing from the water supply (preferably hot water) and from the generator
to the steam room,
as well as electrical wiring to the generator.
Tylo makes a special residential sauna heater called the "Combi"
which combines some of the features of
both the sauna and steam room. Since it is used in a wooden room,
the humidity is still not very high,
but it does provide more steam than one can get by pouring water over rocks.
It requires a 240V elelctrical circuit with 30-40 amps, but its water is supplied by
hand, a pitcher for each use.
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