Outdoor Sauna

In contrast to the indoor sauna, the installation takes place outside, which also results in higher requirements for the construction and the materials used. In the garden, a foundation is important and in general, the sauna must be designed to be weather resistant to withstand snow, rain and wind in the long term. However, with a stronger wall structure and the necessary insulation, this is not a problem with the outdoor sauna.

For the construction of our Nido Outdoor model, you need a floor space of 2.23 x 2.27 metres and for the larger version of the Nido XL 3.0 x 2.27 metres. If you are also planning an anteroom for changing, a shower or cloakroom, an additional 1.09 x 2.27 metres of space is required. We recommend that you plan an additional 2 to 4 square metres of space for a comfortable lounging and sitting area, so that you can relax comfortably after your sauna session. If you would like a roof, a height of 2.4 metres must be included for the Nido outdoor sauna.

In principle, your own garden is ideal for an outdoor sauna, for example next to the garden pool. Under certain conditions, it is also possible to set up a sauna on a terrace, on the flat roof of your house or in unusual places, such as on the roof of a carport. It is important that the distance from the sauna to the control panel does not exceed 20 metres, unless the control panel is attached directly to the sauna.

The control panel is located in the outdoor sauna itself as standard. Optionally, the control panel can also be routed up to 20m away from the sauna into the living quarters. Optionally, the outdoor sauna can also be put into operation via W-Lan and conveniently controlled from a mobile phone. Note: commissioning out of sight requires additional fire protection safety elements to prevent unintentional commissioning.

The electrical installation for this model is provided by the customer. In principle, a stronger power connection is required for operation. This depends on the sauna heater used. When using electric heaters, the corresponding power supply line is required. For the smaller model of the Nido this is 1x400V/16A + 1x230V/13A and for the larger model of the Nido XL it is 2x 400V/16A + 1x230V/13A.

If you choose the option of a shower, an additional connection for the water supply is necessary. Since the supply lines for an outdoor sauna also have to withstand lower temperatures, they must be permanently installed in a frost-proof manner.

To ensure that the heat in the sauna remains stable even at low outside temperatures and that not too much energy is lost, good insulation with an insulation value of at least 0.5 W/m2K is recommended. The U-value of the windows should be 1.0 W/m2K or lower. In our outdoor sauna Nido Outdoor, the ceiling and walls as well as the sauna floor are well insulated to achieve these values, so that temperature differences between the sauna cabin and the surroundings do not lead to energy losses.Existing windows and glass fronts are thermally insulated with insulating glass.

The larger version of the Nido Outdoor XL weighs around 2350 kilograms including the vestibule, which means a line load of 280 kg/lfm wall. If you do not know the maximum permitted load for your house, you should ask a structural engineer for advice. They will be able to tell you exactly whether or not the conditions are right for you to place an outdoor sauna.

As a general rule, planning permission is required if the outdoor sauna exceeds a certain floor area. The maximum dimensions are generally 1.5 metres in height and more than 2 square metres in total surface area. It is also important to know whether the sauna is permanently connected to the ground. In Switzerland, planning permission is required in all cases. But you can easily apply for one at your local planning office.

Saunas are wooden constructions.

To speed up the process of obtaining planning permission, it is advisable to submit a site plan containing all the necessary information on surface area and height beforehand. Once you have applied for planning permission, you will receive guidelines from the planning office that you must follow during construction. For example, the distances from the property boundary, which generally have to be between 2 and 4 metres, depending on the case. From a legal point of view, an outdoor sauna is classed as a garden shed and is therefore assessed differently by the cantons and communes in terms of building law.

If you do not install the Nido Outdoor on a terrace or flat roof, but in a garden, you will need a stable foundation. For installation on the ground, we recommend a strip foundation or point foundation made of concrete, depending on the soil conditions. The foundation must be 100% straight and provide sufficient space for the stable construction of the garden sauna.

If, on the other hand, you would like to set up the sauna directly on a concrete roof terrace, the adjustable support feet supplied are usually sufficient. With these, the outdoor sauna can also be optimally aligned in the garden.

With regard to fire protection, there is little to consider when setting up the Nido Outdoor outdoor sauna. Unlike a wood-burning stove, the risk of fire is significantly reduced with an electric heater such as the Nido Outdoor. You also save yourself the inspection by a chimney sweep with an electric heater.

As stipulated in the fire protection regulations, an outdoor sauna with a wooden façade counts as a ventilated façade or a building with a low height and is therefore part of the "other use" class. The rear-ventilated rhomboid formwork made of untreated larch wood and the panels made of glass-fibre-reinforced plastic WSP used for the Nido Outdoor therefore belong to fire behaviour group RF3.

There are saunas that you can operate with a wood-burning stove. However, a sauna stove makes an outdoor sauna a fireplace that requires a permit. The sauna and the chimney therefore require a permit from the local building authority and the chimney sweep must also approve them and check them regularly. If you prefer a traditional wood-burning stove, we will be happy to plan an individual sauna for you. In this case, it is important that you ask your neighbours for their consent and also clarify with the building authority whether an outdoor sauna operated with a wood stove is permitted in your case.

Atmospheric lighting is simply part of relaxing in the sauna. The light should be pleasantly soft but not too dark. Indirect lighting in the corners is particularly inviting, but so is an integrated starry sky. All lighting should be realised with energy-saving and heat-resistant lamps and should not be installed near the heater.

To ensure maximum privacy in the sauna, glass doors and fixed glass panels are also available with frosted glass (frosted glass). Alternatively, they can also be supplied with grey or brown smoked glass. If privacy is less important to you, the sauna is also available with transparent glass panes, which allow an unobstructed view of the interior or the tranquillity of nature.

For the sauna to become a real highlight in the garden, it is important to embed it beautifully in the outdoor area and to design it appropriately. Do you have any questions about planning an individual outdoor sauna or about our modular Nido Outdoor model? Feel free to send us a message or ask for a non-binding consultation.

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