Is it true that electric heating elements for direct radiant heat warm a large surface such as a wall?

Electric heating elements for direct radiant heat work by emitting infrared radiation that can directly warm objects and surfaces in their path, rather than heating the surrounding air first. While it is true that these heating elements can affect the temperature of a wall, their primary function is to provide heat through direct radiation. This process effectively transfers warmth to objects rather than just heating the air or large backgrounds, making the surfaces themselves warm to the touch.

Heating elements designed for direct radiant heat are intended to create warmth by radiating energy in a manner that can efficiently heat individuals or objects within the environment, as opposed to primarily warming up the air itself. This capability makes them particularly effective in spaces where rapid and direct heating is desirable.

Furthermore, while it may be possible for a wall to warm up due to the radiant nature of these elements, that does not negate the fundamental property of how they operate primarily by directly radiating heat, rather than functioning exclusively as a means to warm large surfaces. Thus, the idea conveyed in the question that electric heating elements do not warm surfaces directly does not align with the operating principle of radiant heaters.