Coolroom panels should be designed properly so they can minimise the energy use of coolrooms, improve hygiene, enhance durability, and remain flexible at all times.
Coolrooms or cold rooms are temperature-controlled environments utilised for the storage of perishable products like food, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature-sensitive items. They often feature components that can maintain a constant temperature range of 0°C to 8°C. These cold storage solutions are used in food manufacturing, hospitality, and healthcare industries.
One part of coolrooms that makes them effective for the storage of temperature-sensitive items are the panels. Coorloom panels are made of high-quality insulating materials that are sandwiched between metal sheets to effectively provide a barrier against heat transfer.
Coolroom Panels Key Benefits
The addition of well-designed coolroom panels can provide tons of benefits to coolrooms. Some of their benefits are the following.
• Ensured Energy Efficiency: Coolroom panels offer excellent insulation to coolrooms, keeping their internal temperature stable, and reducing the need for energy-intensive cooling systems. These qualities allow businesses to save on energy bills.
• Improved Hygiene: Another benefit of coolroom panels is they can improve the hygiene of the coolrooms. They are easy to clean and maintain, which makes them ideal for environments where hygiene can make or break their operations.
• Enhanced Durability: Coolrooms can only last for a long time if they are equipped with coolroom panels. Since these panels are often made from high-quality materials, businesses can expect their coolrooms to withstand harsh conditions like extreme temperatures and humidity. These components can ensure that coolrooms can last for a long time without compromising service.
• Retained Flexibility: Coolroom panels, ultimately, can be made with various thicknesses, sizes, and configurations. This versatility makes them highly adaptable to different environments and requirements. They are even easy to dismantle and reassemble, making them a cost-effective and flexible solution for businesses that alter their facilities regularly.
Designing the Coolroom Panels
Careful consideration of several factors is needed to make sure coolroom panels can match the operating requirements of coolrooms. If you will be getting one, you must consider the following steps to avoid any issues along the way.
• Determine your space size and configuration: The first step that you must do is to determine the size and configuration of your space. Doing this helps you determine the number and size of panels your coolroom requires.
• Choose the insulation material: The performance of your coolroom panels relies on your insulation material. Some factors you need to consider when picking the insulation material are thermal conductivity, compressive strength, and water vapour resistance.
• Pick the right metal sheeting: The metal sheeting for your coolroom panels can be made from steel. However, you can also use aluminium for the panels. Your choice of metal sheeting may depend on your preferred panel strength, durability, and corrosion resistance.
• Establish the required temperatures: The temperature range needed for your coolroom may depend on the products you will be storing. Frozen foods, for instance, need a lower temperature range than fresh produce. Your temperature range may also affect the thickness and insulation properties of the coolroom panels.
• Consider your coolroom’s location: If your coolroom is in a busy area, you must opt for panels with high sound insulation to minimise noise pollution. You must also consider the accessibility of your coolroom as the installation of the panels can be difficult if it cannot be accessed without disassembling the whole thing.
Coolroom panels are an excellent solution for creating temperature-controlled environments in a range of industries. By following these key steps, you can ensure that your coolroom panels are designed and installed to provide maximum energy efficiency, durability, and performance.
Since many foods and drinks should be stored at low or freezing temperatures, food service businesses have to opt for coolrooms. These coolrooms must then be filled with shelving and racking to make product storage easier. Both shelving and racking can also simplify access to the products needed by the kitchen. But before installing shelving and racking inside these cold storage solutions, business owners like you must opt for those with the right materials.
To date, you can choose between plastic-coated and zinc-coated shelving and racking. Here are some things you must know about these two options.
Plastic-Coated Coolroom Shelving and Racking
Plastic-coated coolroom shelving and racking are often made of steel wire. They are then coated with a plastic layer. These storage accessories are durable, resistant to rust, and easy to clean. The plastic coating protects the steel wire from moisture, making it an ideal choice for coolrooms and other humid environments.
One benefit of plastic-coated coolroom shelving and racking is they are hygienic. The plastic coating prevents the growth of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms, which makes them a safe and sanitary option for storing food items. Plastic-coated coolroom shelving and racking are also easy to wipe down and clean, which helps prevent the build-up of dirt and grime.
Another advantage of these storage accessories is they are lightweight and easy to install. The steel wire construction makes them sturdy and durable, while the plastic coating makes them resistant to scratches and dents. Their lightweight property subsequently makes them easy to move around, making it easy to reconfigure a coolroom whenever necessary.
The coating of plastic-coated coolroom shelving and racking, however, may peel or crack over time, exposing the material underneath. This property can compromise the structural integrity of these coolroom accessories and increase their risk of rust and corrosion.
Zinc-Coated Coolroom Shelving and Racking
Zinc-coated coolroom shelving and racking, alternatively, can be made of steel wire that is then coated with a layer of zinc. They can also be durable and resistant to elements, allowing them to last for a long time. The zinc coating can be applied to the steel surfaces through hot dip galvanising, electroplating, mechanical plating, and zinc spraying.
One of the main benefits of zinc-coated coolroom shelving and racking is they are extremely durable and long-lasting. The zinc coating provides superior protection against rust and corrosion, making them an ideal choice for high-humidity environments. These coolroom accessories can also resist scratches and dents, ensuring that they remain in good condition even after using them for multiple years.
Another advantage of zinc-coated coolroom shelving and racking is that they are easy to clean and maintain. The smooth surface of the zinc coating prevents dirt and grime from building up, making them easy to wipe down and clean. The durability of the zinc coating also equates to less maintenance over time, which minimises the need for repairs or replacements.
One con of zinc-coated coolroom shelving and racking is they are heavier and more difficult to install than their plastic-coated counterpart. The steel wire construction makes them sturdy and durable, but also heavier and more difficult to move around. This quality makes them more challenging to move around whenever coolroom reconfiguration is needed.
Both plastic-coated and zinc-coated coolroom shelving and racking offer unique advantages and disadvantages. By acquiring our help at C&M Coolroom Services, we can suggest the best option that can meet the needs and demands of your business.
C&M Coolrooms can create a custom solution for your specific needs. Talk to one of team members today.