Welcome
Live a long & healthy life.
We're here to inspire a global movement of better health — experienced in the spaces we inhabit, and within ourselves. Found—Space is for anyone ready to embrace life by making the changes that help them grow and thrive.
Better health starts at home. When you take an infrared sauna regularly, we're confident you'll begin to feel better and perform better. You'll go to sleep relaxed and wake up refreshed. You'll feel clarity in your mind, see it in your skin, and feel better in your body.
We began in 2008 as a family business with a small selection of saunas. Over time we listened closely to our customers and saw an opportunity to redefine what a sauna could be. In 2020 we set out on a new journey — not to follow the industry, but to raise the bar.
This guide will tell you what you need to know. When you're done reading, our sauna specialists are ready to hear about your goals and help you find the right one.
Welcome to Found—Space. Welcome home.
Ash Bent
Found—Space CEO
How an infrared sauna works
First things first: what is infrared?
Infrared saunas don't use steam. Infrared is a safe wavelength of light that we feel as heat — and rather than heating the air around you, it warms your body directly.
That's why an infrared cabin works at a lower air temperature than a traditional sauna while still producing a deep, genuine sweat. The heat penetrates rather than scalds, so you can sit comfortably for longer and get more out of every session.
Full spectrum
All three infrared wavelengths — near, mid and far — plus red light. The complete range, and what every Nu-a and Marrkan is built around.
Far infrared
The longest wavelength, and the one used in infrared saunas longest. Gentle, proven, and the basis of the classic infrared session.
Up to 70°C
Our cabins reach 70°C — well above the infrared norm, and hot enough to satisfy people who thought they needed a traditional sauna.
Health benefits
What regular heat does for you.
Reduce pain & stiffness
Research has linked regular sauna use with relief from stiffness, aches and chronic pain. A large Finnish cohort found that men who used a sauna more often had lower levels of C-reactive protein — a biomarker for inflammation — and the effect tracked with how frequently they used it.
Cardiovascular output
Your heart rate rises and your blood vessels dilate — a gentle cardiovascular workout while you sit still. The same Finnish research associated frequent sauna bathing with better long-term heart health.
Sleep better
Infrared heat helps shift you into a parasympathetic state — out of fight-or-flight and into rest. A session in the evening leaves you calm and ready for a deeper night's sleep.
Support weight management
That cardiovascular load, plus better sleep, better hydration and lower stress, adds up. Not a shortcut — a set of conditions that make the rest of your efforts work.
Muscle recovery
Infrared light supports the body's own cellular repair processes and increases circulation to tired muscles, so you're less sore after training and back sooner.
Stress management
Your sauna sets you up for a day of calm focus and helps you wind down at the end of it. Taking a sauna daily lowers your stress load, so you enjoy your days more and live a long and healthy life.
Don't buy a sauna from a brochure. Come and sit in one.
Book a consult with a sauna specialist, or visit our Prahran Boutique and experience the heat for yourself. It's the fastest way to know what's right for you.
Or call now on 1800 945 239.
2/525 High St, Prahran VIC 3181
Is an infrared sauna right for you?
Use it well, and use it safely.
Infrared sauna is safe and well tolerated for the vast majority of people. But heat is a genuine physiological load, and there are situations where it's worth a conversation with your doctor before you start — not because a sauna is dangerous, but because getting the protocol right matters more for some people than others.
Check with your GP first if you
- Are pregnant, or trying to conceive
- Have a heart condition, unstable angina, or have had a recent cardiac event
- Have low or unstable blood pressure, or a history of fainting
- Take medication affecting blood pressure, heart rate, hydration or sweating
- Have a condition affecting your ability to sense heat or sweat normally
Every session, regardless
- Hydrate — before, during and after. You are losing real fluid and electrolytes.
- No alcohol. The combination of heat and alcohol is the single biggest risk factor in sauna use.
- Start short and cool. Build to longer sessions over weeks, not days.
- Listen to your body. Dizzy, nauseous or unwell — get out. There is no benefit in pushing through.
- Don't sauna alone if you're new to it or have any health concern.
- Supervise children at all times, and keep their sessions short and cooler.
The number nobody tells you about
Why heat density matters more than temperature.
If you're unfamiliar with the term, it's worth a moment — because it's the single most useful number for comparing two infrared saunas, and almost nobody selling one will raise it with you.
Heat density is the total wattage inside the cabin divided by the volume of the cabin, expressed as watts per cubic metre (W/m³). Think of it as a measure of heat quality rather than heat quantity. It tells you how quickly the cabin reaches temperature, how effectively that heat transfers into your body, and how intense the session actually feels.
Where we sit
Our heat density, on the record
Every model's heat density, published. Ask any supplier for the same number — if they won't put it in writing, that's your answer.
The Found—Space range. The benchmark to beat when comparing: over 700 W/m³.
| Model | Heat density |
|---|---|
| Nu-a II | 1131 W/m³ |
| Marrkan | 1093 W/m³ |
| Marrkan S | 978 W/m³ |
| Nu-a III | 922 W/m³ |
| Nu-a IV | 873 W/m³ |
| Industry benchmark | 700 W/m³ |
Under 700 W/m³ and you're comparing a different class of product, whatever the brochure temperature says.
What to ask any supplier
- What is the heat density in W/m³?
- How many heaters, and where are they placed?
- What's the total wattage, and the internal volume?
- Who makes the heaters?
If they can't answer, that tells you what you need to know. If they quote you a temperature instead, that tells you more.
Where we sit
We partnered with Sentiotec of Austria — a global leader in infrared — to develop heaters that emit three times more full-spectrum light than others on the market. Every Nu-a and Marrkan is engineered to a minimum heat density of 850 W/m³, and our range runs from 873 to 1131 W/m³.
Minimum across the range.
Your benchmark when comparing: over 700 W/m³.
Heater placement & coverage
Where the heaters sit, not just how many.
The number or wattage of a sauna's heaters doesn't tell the whole story. Infrared works by warming the body directly, and full-spectrum heat only does that well within close range of the body — so placement is everything.
If the heaters sit only at the front of the cabin, the heat never reaches your core where you need it most, and much of the energy ends up warming the room rather than the person inside it. Poor layouts also bring cold spots, uneven heat and longer warm-ups.
The Found—Space layout — Nu-a III
When comparing heater layouts
- Are heaters positioned at the front, rear and sides of the body?
- Do you get balanced coverage when seated?
- Are heaters kept below head height, so heat isn't driven at your head?
- Does the maker explain why the heaters sit where they do?
If a supplier can't tell you where the heaters are or why, that tells you what you need to know.
How we place ours
After nearly two decades of refining how we build, we've engineered the placement of every heater in a Found—Space sauna for balanced, full-body coverage: heaters at the front, sides and rear, placed around the back where your blood flow is greatest, and stopping below head height for comfort.
The result is a deeper, more even session that makes better use of the energy it draws — year after year.
FS-2 operating system
Your sauna, connected.
At Found—Space, we believe your sauna should adapt to you. FS-2 brings heat, light and sound into a single seamless system — designed for precision, built for simplicity. Use the built-in 10.1-inch panel or the app. Exclusively from Found—Space.
Start it from anywhere
Your phone is the remote. Set a temperature and FS-2 calculates the time to heat and tells you when it's ready. Heat-up runs 20 minutes to an hour depending on the cabin and the ambient temperature — so start it from the gym, or on the drive home, and walk into a sauna that's waiting for you.
Sound worth listening to
The built-in system is genuinely excellent — not the afterthought speaker most cabins ship with. Bluetooth your own music, podcasts or audiobooks, or use the ambient soundscapes: fireplace, chimes, rainfall.
Programs & colour therapy
Pre-loaded, research-based temperature and duration combinations for specific outcomes — or program your own. Full-spectrum colour panels set the mood of the session.
The Found—Space range
The Nu-a Collection.
Pronounced 'Nooh-uh' — from the indigenous word for sun. Our indoor cabin, and the pinnacle of what we build: architectural glass, hand-finished timber, full spectrum infrared and red light, the highest heat density in the range, and FS-2. No other infrared sauna looks or feels like it.
Clear glass or tinted
Your choice, and it changes the whole character. Clear puts the craftsmanship on display — a genuine statement piece in the room. Tinted turns it inward for a completely private session. Either way the door and panels are laminated glass, not the toughened glass most saunas use: better heat and sound insulation, more strength, safer.
Three sizes
Nu-a II — 1–2 people. The compact footprint, and the highest heat density we make at 1131 W/m³.
Nu-a III — 1–3 people. The most popular size, at 52cm per person.
Nu-a IV — 1–4 people. Full bench length, 14 heaters, for families and serious daily use.
Suitable indoors or outside undercover.
The Found—Space range
The Marrkan Collection.
Our outdoor barrel. Western red cedar, shingled roof, full spectrum infrared and red light — built to live outside in an Australian climate, on a deck, in a courtyard, at the back of the garden. Available as the Marrkan and the Marrkan S.
Why a barrel
The curve puts the timber under constant compression, so the cabin stays tight as it expands and contracts through the seasons.
Less air, more heat
No wasted volume above your head means faster heat-up and a higher heat density — the Marrkan hits 1093 W/m³.
Built for outside
Cedar is naturally resistant to rot and insects. The shingled roof sheds Australian rain and sun.
Specifications
The numbers.
| Model | People | Heat density | Heaters | Power | Circuits & plugs | Width per person | Weight | Max temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nu-a II | 1–2 | 1131 W/m³ | 9 | 2880 W · 15 A | 1 × 15A circuit 1 × 15A + 1 × 10A plug | 59 cm | 297 kg | 70°C |
| Nu-a III | 1–3 | 922 W/m³ | 11 | 3080 W · 15 A | 1 × 15A circuit 1 × 15A + 1 × 10A plug | 52 cm | 352 kg | 70°C |
| Nu-a IV | 1–4 | 873 W/m³ | 14 | 4280 W · 20 A | 2 × 10A circuits 3 × 10A plugs | 52 cm | 422 kg | 70°C |
| Marrkan | 1–4 | 1093 W/m³ | 9 | 3300 W · 15 A | 1 × 15A circuit 1 × 15A plug | 50 cm | 312 kg | 70°C |
| Marrkan S | 1–4 | 978 W/m³ | 9 | 3130 W · 15 A | 1 × 15A circuit 1 × 15A plug | 57 cm | 312 kg | 70°C |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
All models: full spectrum infrared & red light · FS-2 operating system · colour therapy · built-in sound system.
External dimensions
| Model | Width | Depth | Height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nu-a II | 1430 mm | 1150 mm | 2085 mm |
| Nu-a III | 1800 mm | 1150 mm | 2085 mm |
| Nu-a IV | 1860 mm | 1600 mm | 2085 mm |
| Marrkan | 2020 mm | 1530 mm | 2150 mm |
| Marrkan S | 2020 mm | 1530 mm | 2150 mm |
Allow 30cm clearance on each side and above for installation and future service access. Once installed, walls can sit right up against the sides.
Sizing & fit
Buy for how you'll actually use it.
The most common regret we hear isn't about heat or timber. It's size — and it goes both ways. People buy a two-seater and wish they could lie down; people buy a four-seater for a household of one and heat empty benches every day. Work through these before you commit.
How many, really?
Not how many people live in the house — how many will be in there at once, on a normal Tuesday. Be honest. If the answer is one or two most days, buy for that: you get faster heat-up, lower running cost, and in the Nu-a II's case the highest heat density we make.
Measure the space, not the sauna
You need the footprint plus clearance. For Nu-a that's 30cm on each side and 30cm above for installation and future service access. Once installed, walls can go right up against the sides. Mark it out on the floor in tape and live with it for a few days.
Width per person is the real number
A "four person" sauna from one company is a two person sauna from another. We publish width per person — 50 to 59cm across the range — so you can compare honestly. Ask any other supplier for the same figure.
The surface underneath
A hard, flat, level surface — tiles, decking, floorboards, a cement slab, or a garage floor with minimal slant. A Nu-a IV is 422kg before anyone sits in it.
Power & electrical
The question most buyers ask last.
It should be one of the first. Your sauna's power requirement determines whether it can go where you want it — and whether you need an electrician booked before delivery day. Getting this wrong is the most common reason a sauna sits in its packaging for three weeks.
| Model | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Nu-a II & III | 1 × 15 Amp circuit, with 1 × 15 Amp plug and 1 × 10 Amp plug. |
| Nu-a IV | 2 × 10 Amp circuits, with 3 × 10 Amp plugs. The biggest draw in the range at 4280 W. |
| Marrkan & Marrkan S | 1 × 15 Amp circuit, with 1 × 15 Amp plug. |
Ask your electrician
- Is there room on the switchboard for a new circuit?
- How far is the cable run, and what does that cost?
- Is the circuit dedicated, or shared with other loads that could trip it?
- For outdoor: weather-rated connection and RCD protection.
Why 15 amp matters
A 15 Amp plug has a larger earth pin and will not fit a standard 10 Amp household socket. This is not something to work around with an adaptor — it needs the right circuit, installed properly. The cable run back to the board is usually the real cost, not the connection itself: a sauna at the back fence costs more to connect than one in the garage.
Indoor or outdoor
Where it lives changes what you buy.
Indoor — the Nu-a
Warmer to walk to in July, which matters more than people expect: the sauna you use is the one that isn't a commitment to reach. Needs ceiling height and a surface that tolerates heat and moisture. Near a shower is ideal. And with clear glass it becomes a piece of the room rather than an appliance hidden in the garage.
Outdoor — the Marrkan
The better ritual — cold air on the way out is half the experience, and it frees up the house. Needs a level, load-rated base and a weather-rated power connection. Consider privacy from neighbours, where the door faces, and the walk in winter. Nu-a can also go outside, provided it's undercover.
A few things worth knowing
- Council and planning. Requirements vary depending on whether the structure is fixed, its size, and where it sits relative to boundaries. For most of our outdoor installations it simply isn't an issue — but it's worth being aware of.
- Strata and owners corporations. If you're in an apartment or townhouse, approval is usually straightforward, but get it in writing before you order.
- Insurance. Worth letting your insurer know once it's installed.
General guidance only — regulations differ across states and councils. Your Found—Space specialist can talk you through what's typical for your situation.
Assessing product quality
What separates twenty years from two.
The best saunas are built from Canadian hemlock, cedar, basswood or aspen. Cedar for outdoors. But species is only the headline. The question worth asking is what the panels are actually made of.
Plenty of saunas on this market use cheap composite material behind a thin timber face, held together with nasty glues — then heat the whole thing to 70°C, day after day, with you sitting inside breathing it. That's the part nobody puts in the brochure.
The timber — and what's hiding in it
- Is it solid first-grade timber, or a composite with a veneer?
- What adhesives are used, and what do they off-gas when hot?
- 12–14% moisture content, via a proper kiln-dried process
Moisture content is the one nobody asks about and the one that causes the failures. Timber dried too fast, or not enough, will move, cup and split once it's cycling to 70°C and back every day.
Ask about the glass
Most saunas use toughened glass. Laminated is better — more heat and sound insulation, more strength, safer if it ever fails. It costs more, which is why it's rare.
Would you show it off?
Genuinely ask yourself. A sauna is a significant object in your home for the next decade or two. If it's something you'd rather tuck out of sight, you'll use it less. The ones people use every day are the ones they're quietly proud of.
Delivery, access & installation
Most companies drop it at your front door.
That's where the industry standard ends: a stack of crates and cardboard on your front step, and the expectation that you'll install it yourself and get rid of the rubbish yourself. We don't think that's a sauna purchase — that's a delivery.
Lead times
2 to 10 weeks, depending on availability and the model you choose. Your specialist will confirm where yours sits when you order.
Flat-packed helps
Our saunas arrive in panels rather than as one solid cabin, which is what makes tight access possible at all. But panels still have a largest dimension — that's the number that has to fit, and we'll give it to you before you order.
Measure the whole route
A sauna that fits the room but not the hallway is an expensive mistake. Walk the path from the street to the final position and measure the narrowest point:
- Gate and side-passage width
- Door frames and hallway corners — corners are tighter than doorways
- Stairs, and whether there's a turn in them
- Lifts and lift-booking rules, if you're in an apartment
- Overhead clearance — pergolas, eaves, branches
Have ready on the day
- The electrical connection, installed and tested by your electrician
- A level, load-rated surface
- 30cm clearance each side and above, for the install
- Clear access along the route you measured
The relationship after you buy
The sale is the start of it, not the end.
Here's a question worth putting to every company you talk to: what happens in year six? Most sauna businesses are built to sell you a box. Ask them who services it, who moves it when you move house, and whether they'll still exist. A sauna is a twenty-year object. It needs a company that plans to be there for the whole twenty.
Relocations
Moving house shouldn't mean leaving it behind or wrecking it. Our technicians dismantle, transport and reinstall it properly in the new place.
Servicing & repairs
A nationwide network of trained technicians covering metro and rural, so there's little-to-no downtime. Your first-year service callout is free.
Refurbishments
Timber, components and technology can all be brought back to life. A well-kept sauna shouldn't be replaced — it should be refreshed.
Residential warranty
| Component | Cover |
|---|---|
| Sentiotec full spectrum heaters | 10 years |
| CF3 carbon heaters & other full spectrum heaters | 5 years |
| Cabinet — incl. bench, floor & hardware, excl. glass | 5 years |
| Cabling, connectors, speakers, lighting | 5 years |
| FS-2 control system | 3 years |
| Screen | 3 years |
| Labour | 1 year |
Residential component warranties. Commercial terms differ — see foundspace.com.au/warranty-terms for full terms.
How to use your sauna
Getting the most out of it.
Time to heat: 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the cabin and how cold it is outside. Typical session: 30–45 minutes. Our cabins run up to 70°C — start cooler and shorter than you think you need, and build.
| Your goal | Temperature | Session length |
|---|---|---|
| Relaxation & sleep | 45–50°C | 40–50 min |
| Muscle recovery | 45–55°C | 20–30 min |
| Pain relief | 50–60°C | 30–45 min |
| Cardiovascular | 55–65°C | 30–40 min |
| Heat conditioning | 65–70°C | Build gradually |
A guide only. Times and temperatures vary with your health and conditioning. FS-2 ships with research-based programs for each of these. You are responsible for your own health — see using it safely.
Where to put it
- Against a wall, with the clearance we specify
- Near the right power point
- Somewhere easy to reach — the real predictor of whether you use it
- Near a shower if you can
Looking after it
- Wipe the benches down after each session
- Sit on a towel — it's the timber's best friend
- Leave the door ajar to dry between sessions
- Outdoors: oil the cedar if you want to hold the colour
Cold plunge & contrast therapy
The other half of the ritual.
Most people who buy a sauna end up wanting cold within the year. Heat and cold together — contrast therapy — is where the research and the practice have both landed, and it's a better experience than either alone. Hot, then cold, then repeat: the sauna opens everything up, the plunge slams it shut, and the swing between them is the point.
Yirri Steel & Yirri Cedar
A 316 marine-grade stainless steel tub — Yirri Steel bare, Yirri Cedar wrapped in western red cedar — powered by our own Cooling Engine, which chills to 3°C and gets there from 20°C in about 3.5 hours. Runs from a standard 240V power point, uses up to 75% less energy than our previous generation, and holds temperature for cents a day.
Plan for it now, even if it's later
Retrofitting cold into a finished courtyard is harder than allowing for it up front. Drainage, power and a level base are far cheaper to sort while the sauna install is already happening. Ask us to design the whole space — the plunge can come later.
Sauna and cold plunge aren't just product lines for us. They're daily rituals for our team.
See it in action
Don't take our word for it.
Two Found—Space owners on what it's actually like to live with — one commercial, one at home.
SOMA Wellness Club, Sydney
8 minSimon Anderson, co-founder of SOMA in Chifley Towers, on building a boutique wellness club around infrared and ice — the design challenges, the member response, and why so many of them go on to install one at home.
Todd, Sydney
5 minA Marrkan barrel and a cold plunge at home. Todd on recovery, sleep, mental health — and the time and money saved by not driving somewhere else to do it.
What to look for in a company
Identifying a trustworthy company.
With the rise of wellness there's been an influx of sauna companies — a new one seems to appear every week. It takes years of engineering to get a sauna to the point where it's safe, efficient, well designed and still standing in a decade. Use this checklist. It applies to us as much as anyone — hold us to it.
Heat density over 700 W/m³
The most useful number there is, and the one they're least likely to volunteer. If they answer with a temperature instead, ask again. Our range: 873–1131 W/m³.
They're there in year six
Servicing, relocations, refurbishments, parts. Ask what happens when you move house. This is the difference between a supplier and a partner.
Years in the game
Engineering a sauna properly takes time, and servicing one takes a network. A company that's been here a while will still be here when you need them. We started in 2008.
Great reviews
An immediate read on product quality and service. Read the negative ones too — how a company handles a problem is what you're really buying. We have over 1,000 five-star reviews.
No VOC
Ask what the panels are made of and what glues are in them. Cheap composites and nasty adhesives off-gas when heated — and you're sitting inside breathing it at 70°C.
Health information
You're buying this to improve your health, so work with a company that pairs the product with genuine health support — and tells you the risks as well as the benefits.
Electrical certification
Ask to see the Australian electrical safety accreditation and approval certificates. A supplier who hesitates has told you something.
Low EMF
Ask for a measured figure with the test distance and conditions stated — not a marketing claim. Full spectrum reads higher than far infrared by nature, so make sure you're comparing like with like.
They install it properly
Most companies drop it at your door. Ask who sets it up, who removes the rubbish, and who shows you how to use it.
They ask before they quote
If a supplier gives you a price before asking how you'll use it, they're selling a box.
Driven by purpose
Look for a company focussed on helping its clients, not selling saunas. Our mission is to give customers more than a sauna — we want to support them as they find better health.
Allocating a budget
Questions to ask yourself about budget.
Indicative range across the Nu-a and Marrkan collections, for the sauna itself.
Delivery and professional installation are quoted separately, based on where you are. Your specialist will confirm both when they price your build.
Q1 — What do you want to get out of it?
Consider size, comfort, glass finish and accessories. A sauna you'll sit in for forty minutes a day deserves a different budget to one you'll use on weekends.
Q2 — What health outcomes are you after?
Work back from the outcome, not the price list. Heat density, size and how easily you can get to it will matter more to your results than any other spec.
Q3 — How long do you want it to last?
This is the honest one. A cheap sauna is not a cheap sauna if you replace it in three years — and the ones that fail early tend to fail in the timber and the controller, which are the two things you can't retrofit.
Budget for the whole thing, not just the cabin
| Cost | Notes |
|---|---|
| The sauna | $11,000–$21,000, for the cabin itself. |
| Electrical | Your own licensed electrician. The cable run is usually the real cost. Quote it early. |
| Base or slab | Outdoor installs need a level, load-rated surface. |
| Delivery & install | Quoted with your build, wherever you are in Australia. Compare it like for like — most companies quote a drop-off, not an installation. |
| Running cost | About $1 an hour on average, depending on your electricity price. |
| Accessories | German interior and exterior linseed-based oils (Alis), towel racks, foot steps, infill seats. |
| Payment plans | Available — ask us about our payment plan options. |
Make it happen
Start your sauna journey today.
The best way to choose a sauna is to sit in one. Book a consult with a specialist, or come into the Prahran Boutique and feel the difference heat density makes.
Or book a showroom visit at our Melbourne Boutique, or call now on 1800 945 239.
Speak to us
Zac Povolny
Co-Owner & Head of Growth
Book a discovery call
Found—Space Infrared Sauna Buyer's Guide · 2026 Edition
