Thermowood Barrel Sauna

Bloomcabin HCF 300: spacious barrel sauna for six to eight people

The Bloomcabin HCF 300 is designed for households that regularly enjoy sauna sessions in larger groups or want especially generous space with fewer occupants. At approximately 301 cm long, 229 cm wide and 238 cm high, it is one of the more spacious barrel saunas in the range. The interior is around 210 cm high, allowing taller users to stand comfortably. Its approximately 269 cm-long benches accommodate six to eight adults; with two or four people, there is correspondingly more room to stretch out. The full cabin length is used as the sauna room. There is no integrated changing area, so the interior is entirely dedicated to sauna use. Plan a suitable place outside the cabin for changing and storing personal belongings. Also consider the route between the house, garden and sauna. The stated capacity is not the only deciding factor. Before buying, consider how many people will actually use the sauna at once, whether you mainly sit or also want to stretch out, and how much room is available at the intended location.

The following guidance helps you assess the available space, equipment and site requirements realistically. Find further sizes and designs in the Bloomcabin sauna range.

How the HCF 300 uses its generous interior

For a barrel sauna, external dimensions, internal height and bench length describe different aspects of use. The outer footprint determines the required installation area, while total height matters for branches, roof overhangs and other obstacles. Internal height indicates how easily you can stand up and move around, whereas usable bench length is especially important for sitting and stretching out. Because of the curved walls, the sense of space cannot be compared directly with a rectangular cabin. With six to eight adults, seating is shared more closely and a separate lying place for every person should not be expected. With fewer occupants, more freedom of movement is available. Choose the size around your usual group: occasional larger sessions do not automatically call for a large cabin, while regular use with family or friends may do so.

Keeping thermowood and the barrel structure in good condition

The HCF 300 is made from FSC®-certified thermowood. Thermal treatment reduces sensitivity to changing moisture and improves dimensional stability. This benefits an outdoor sauna, but does not make the natural material maintenance-free. Sun, rain and temperature changes affect the exterior in particular; inside, humid heat, sweat, water and skin contact act on the wood. The appearance of exterior surfaces may change over time. Use only care products suitable for thermowood and the relevant application. A product for exterior surfaces is not automatically suitable for benches or other areas in direct contact with skin. Follow product and care instructions before use, and first test the product in an inconspicuous place. This helps avoid unsuitable coatings, unpleasant odours and unwanted changes to the wood surface.

The barrel shape is formed by coordinated wooden elements held together with barrel bands and other connections. As wood absorbs and releases moisture, joints and tension can change slightly throughout the year. After assembly and at regular intervals, check that the barrel bands sit correctly, screw connections remain secure and the door closes without rubbing. Make adjustments only in accordance with the assembly and care instructions. Over-tightened barrel bands can cause problems just as loose connections can. Also look for standing water, noticeable distortion and damaged areas. Minor changes in wood are not automatically a defect, but should be monitored. Causes such as persistent water ingress, an unsuitable base or loose connections can usually be remedied more easily when identified early.

For regular cleaning, a soft cloth, a suitable brush and sparingly used material-compatible cleaning products are generally sufficient. Let the sauna cool down first and remove loose debris before wiping with a damp cloth. Do not soak the benches with water. Place sufficiently large towels underneath you when using the sauna so that as little sweat as possible reaches the seating surfaces directly. After cleaning, the interior must be able to dry completely. Also inspect the floor, undersides of benches and hard-to-see corners where residual moisture can easily be missed. Fragrances, oils and other additives must not reach the wood, heater or sauna stones uncontrolled. Follow the guidance for the components being used.

Electric or wood-fired heater: your choice determines the preparation

An electric sauna heater offers convenient control but requires a professionally planned electrical supply. The heater must suit the interior and the specific HCF 300 version; external dimensions alone are not enough for selection. Consider the manufacturer's connection requirements, intended controls and installation situation. Connection, circuit protection and electrical safety measures should be handled by a REWS-authorised electrical professional with the appropriate scope. Clarify cable routing before the base and outdoor area are completed wherever possible. Later cabling can obstruct paths or require extensive alterations, while temporary extension leads are not a permanent solution. Before first use, check assembly, connection and settings against the supplied component documentation. Any later changes to the heater, controls or wiring should also be made only by an appropriately authorised professional.

Depending on the configuration, the HCF 300 can also be equipped with a wood-fired heater. Lighting and refuelling the fire are part of the sauna experience with this option, but the flue and fire precautions need more planning. Use suitable, dry-stored firewood and the protective and chimney components specified for the particular heater installation. Determine clearances from the heater and sauna documentation, and obtain project-specific advice on the flue, combustion air, fire safety and planning. Consider the chimney route when choosing the site. Overhanging branches, nearby structures and access for inspection and cleaning can influence positioning. Before ordering, clarify which qualified trades and relevant authorities need to be involved. Do not use the wood-fired heater until the complete installation has been professionally fitted and checked.

The more suitable heating type depends not only on how you want to operate it, but also on site conditions. An electric heater needs the correct electrical supply installed professionally. A wood-fired heater requires a suitable place for dry firewood, ash handling and accessible flue components. Decide before building the base and routing cables, because chimney routing and protected areas also depend on the choice. Whichever option you select, operate the heater only as stated in its instructions. This also applies to arranging suitable sauna stones and to the specified way of pouring water over them.

A level, load-bearing base is essential for this large barrel sauna

The HCF 300 requires a level, load-bearing and permanently suitable base. The best construction for the site depends on ground conditions and the planned surroundings, and should be professionally assessed before assembly. The load must be reliably supported, and all load-bearing sauna sections need the specified support points. Garden ground that looks level does not automatically meet these requirements: it may settle or change with moisture. Splash water or rainwater must not collect permanently beneath the wooden structure. Plan falls and drainage so that water is directed away from the structure without affecting adjoining areas. Do not improvise changes to load-bearing parts or support points. The assembly documentation and conditions at the individual property are decisive.

The approximately 301 × 229 cm footprint is not the full space requirement. In front of the door, you need a comfortably walkable area where several people can enter and leave in turn. As there is no changing area, also plan a practical place there for bathrobes, towels, shoes and personal belongings. A sheltered area can make the route between sauna and resting place more pleasant, but must not obstruct the door, ventilation, necessary clearances or service access. Provide a well-lit, preferably slip-resistant path from the house to the sauna. Loose slabs, unlit edges and muddy sections are particularly inconvenient when users are barefoot or moving around after dark.

If you wish to add a shower, plunge pool, swimming pool or relaxation area, coordinate the routes sensibly. Additional installations must neither direct water towards the sauna nor block access to technical components. Check where services can run, how water drains and which areas remain safe to walk on when wet or during winter. The relaxation area must not block the door. Dry storage is useful for towels and bathrobes; with a wood-fired heater configuration, firewood also needs a dry, suitable storage place outside required protected areas. Keep enough clear space around the sauna for cleaning and checks. Adjacent elements placed too close together make it harder to inspect wood surfaces, barrel bands and connections. The sauna area should therefore not only look attractive, but also simplify future maintenance.

HCF 300 and HCF 225: more bench length or a smaller footprint?

The HCF 225 also has an internal height of approximately 210 cm, but with an external length of around 227 cm, it is shorter and intended for up to four adults. It suits households that want to stand comfortably in a tall barrel sauna but usually use it in smaller groups. Similar internal height does not mean the two models offer the same amount of space. At the proposed location, check whether you can genuinely use the HCF 300's extra length. Consider assembly access, the door area and maintenance routes as well as the footprint. If garden space is limited or two to four people usually use the sauna, the more compact HCF 225 may fit better without a significant reduction in internal height.

The additional bench length is the key benefit of the HCF 300 over the shorter model: larger groups can sit on one continuous bench, while fewer users have more space to stretch out. In return, the HCF 300 needs more permanent floor area and a heating solution matched to the larger cabin. Therefore, check not only whether the model fits in the garden, but also whether the extra interior will be used regularly. For frequent sauna sessions with several people, the larger version can be worthwhile; if occupancy is usually small, it may use more space than necessary.

For comparison, mark out the external outline of the models under consideration at the intended site. This makes it easier to see how much room remains after assembly for the door, paths and maintenance. Then compare your usual group size with the desired bench length. With the HCF 300, also remember that no changing area is integrated and that changing or relaxation areas must be planned separately. Always compare both models using the configuration actually offered. Similar images or model names do not automatically mean that the heater and accessories are included in the same combination.

Before ordering: coordinate configuration, delivery route and site

Before ordering, check the selected configuration and stated delivery contents in full. Especially with different heating options, it must be clear which components are included. Clarify whether the heater, controls, sauna stones and, where relevant, chimney and protective parts have been ordered or are needed separately. Also check which components must be provided on site and which work must be done by specialist trades. Keep order documents, assembly instructions and documentation for technical components together. They will also be needed for later inspections or when choosing suitable replacement parts. Clarify unclear or conflicting details on the product page, in the basket or in the order confirmation before assembly. Missing or unsuitable parts are much easier to correct before work begins.

Check the entire transport route from the intended unloading point to the final site. Gate widths are not the only consideration: also account for bends, steps, slopes, low branches, roof overhangs and sensitive ground surfaces. Check whether components can be moved safely and stored temporarily in a dry place without blocking public paths or neighbouring properties. The assembly area needs sufficient working room; a space between walls or dense hedges that only matches the sauna's external dimensions may be too tight. Remove obstacles in good time and decide who will provide access on delivery day. If lifting or transport equipment is needed, sufficient room must also be available for its use. Do not assume that long or bulky parts can be manoeuvred freely on site. Photos and access measurements can help with planning, but do not replace professional assessment where conditions are tight, sloping or otherwise difficult.

Site preparation should reflect the applicable planning classification, site restrictions and intended use. What needs checking depends on the location and chosen version and, with a wood-fired heater, also on the appliance and flue arrangement. For a project in Malta, ask a perit to establish the Planning Authority classification and whether permission or notification is required before constructing the base, service routes or adjoining installations. Have electrical work carried out by a REWS-authorised professional with the appropriate scope, and involve suitably qualified specialists for load-bearing surfaces, fire safety and chimney matters. Doors, technical components and inspection areas must remain accessible after assembly. Find further advice on preparing your order under planning and ordering guidance.

Frequently asked questions about installation, care and operation