Why Freezer and Coolroom Door Latches Should Be Maintained and Checked Regularly
02 November 2016Sound maintenance methodologies keep freezers and coolrooms in perfect working order, but there’s a hierarchy to the housekeeping work that takes care of this special enclosure. Primarily, a reliable containment area is required, so the chilled space requires insulation and a seal. Door latches enforce this environment, but they rely on mechanical principles, on a mechanism that could fail. Not to worry, maintenance engineers check doors for fastener issues.
Assessing Causes
A well-maintained latching mechanism exhibits a mechanically-assured reliability factor. It snaps home and locks the door against a pliable seal that lines the door frame. A properly operated door snugly compresses this seal when it closes so that it becomes airtight. Unfortunately, mistreatment issues are common. A staff member maybe smacks the clasping handle, or perhaps age gets the better of the door due to constant foot traffic. As a result, the fastener loosens and becomes fatigued. Whatever the reason, seal compression is lost, and energy soon follows.
Spring-Loaded Door Clasps
Again, this is a cause-and-effect scenario. Constant use or abuse is rendering spring force impotent. The coil of metal no longer possesses enough kinetic energy to drive home the door, or the spring has moved slightly so that it’s creating misalignment problems. Gapping occurs around the edges of the door, which leaves the cubicle unable to function at peak efficiency. The result here is a cooling unit that runs all day long as it attempts to compensate for lost energy. Misalignment errors quickly submit to knowledgeable engineers and a few turns of an adjustment screw.
Check Latches Regularly
A fully sealed internal atmosphere is a critical part of freezer technology. Certainly, the refrigeration gear will operate when hairline gaps crop up due to a poorly operating door latch, but air is escaping the enclosure. Energy losses are about to soar. And, beyond financial concerns, matters are about to escalate as the active equipment wears out while it tries its best to keep the temperature low enough to preserve the contained perishable stock. In short, there’s a bottomless hole in the system, one that is shortening the life of the equipment and endangering the safe containment of a formally hygienic containment area.
Maintenance plans check springs and moving parts in door latches. Lubrication is applied, if necessary, and proper tension is established so that the door mates tightly against its matching door seal. In conclusion, the internal atmosphere is reliably governed by a mechanical door handle, a latching fastener that seals as efficiently as it permits admittance.
Mark Connelly
C&M Coolroom Services
E-mail: markconnelly@cmcoolrooms.com.au
Mobile: 0412 536 315
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