The majority of coldrooms are assembled from pre-formed insulated panels and therefore are supplied in modular sizes. If you have a particular size of void that you wish to fill, then it is possible to purchase a built in version where panels are cut on site in order to make the most of the available space.

The finish is normally white ‘foodsafe’ plastisol bonded onto galvanised steel but stainless steel is available if required.

The panel insulation is normally C.F.C. free polyurethane foam although some insurance companies are now requesting either Rockwool or P.I.R. panels due to their superior fire resistance qualities. Very few rooms are now supplied with polystyrene insulation due to the (relatively) insufficient insulating qualities and also poor fire rating.

There are several options that should be considered when purchasing a coldroom :-

Doors - Various sizes are available and they can be either hinged or sliding. Please also consider the door position in relation to the shelving arrangement required. Most doors can be locked from the outside but there should always be an internal safety release in order to prevent staff being trapped inside.

Floor - An insulated floor is not normally required if the coldroom is located on a solid ground floor and the internal temperature is above 0C. This can be a great help to caterers that wish to roll trolleys in and out of the room as a step is avoided. If the room is to operate below 0C or is to be situated above ground then an insulated floor is usually required. We normally advise that a non slip finish to the floor is supplied as some finishes (for example smooth galvanised steel) can become slippery.

Lighting - We normally supply low energy bulkhead fittings but various options are available.

Shelving - We strongly suggest that you give the shelving a lot of thought before ordering. Most suppliers will specify the volume of the room but we have seen good coldrooms ruined by poor shelving layouts. Our view is that shelving should be adjustable, consist of at least 4 tiers, be at least 450mm deep and cover 3 of the 4 internal walls. Stainless steel is not normally necessary but be aware that some finishes can break down and will rust in humid conditions.

Refrigeration System - Some basic theory is needed here. Most refrigeration systems consist of 2 main parts - the inside component (evaporator) and the outside component (condensing unit). The evaporator inside the coldroom removes heat from the air and , in very general terms, passes this heat to the condensing unit (via gas filled copper pipe) where it is given off to the surrounding air. As the heat is removed from the air inside the coldroom the temperature falls until the required temperature is reached. At this stage it is normal for a thermostat to switch off the refrigeration system. It is important to realise that heat cannot be ‘got rid of’ - it can only be moved and, in doing so, additional heat is normally added due to the mechanical parts of the refrigeration system.

You will therefore see that the best system for a coldroom is to have an outdoor condensing unit - you have probably got enough heat in your premises already. Disadvantages of this are noise from the condensing unit (do not site one under a bedroom window) and the additional cost of installing pipework etc. Another (cheaper) way of cooling the room is to have an integral system where both the evaporator and condensing unit are within one big housing that straddles the wall or ceiling. An integral system works by dissipating the heat to the immediate area surrounding the coldroom providing that this area is not particularly warm already. Most integral systems will work in ambient temperatures of up to 32C although there are some available for 43C ambient.