5 Golden Rules for Choosing Cold Room Panels in the Food and Pharmaceutical Industries
Sensitive products such as food and pharmaceuticals must be preserved within specific temperature ranges throughout the entire process, from production to the final consumer. Cold storage rooms protect businesses from major financial losses by ensuring these products are stored without spoiling or losing their chemical structures.
The heart of these warehouses consists of cold room panels, typically filled with PUR (Polyurethane) or PIR (Polyisocyanurate), which provide high insulation. The primary function of the panels is to create a flawless thermal barrier on the ceiling, walls, and floor, preventing heat loss, minimizing energy costs, and keeping the ambient temperature stable under all conditions.
So, what should be considered when choosing a cold room panel to maximize warehouse performance and energy efficiency? Here are 5 critical criteria:
1. Superior Thermal Insulation Performance and Production Technology The first way to achieve energy savings in warehouses is through low thermal conductivity. However, how the internal filling is integrated into the panel is just as important as the filling itself. Instead of traditional sheet heating systems, technological production methods where PUR filling is pressed with millimeter precision using a rail driver after the sheet roll turns ensure that no empty spaces are left inside the panel. This translates to homogeneous and flawless insulation performance.
2. Correct Panel Thickness According to Need The storage temperature of each product group is different. As the target temperature for the product to be stored decreases, the thickness of the panel used to cut off interaction with the external environment must increase. According to general industrial standards, the ideal thickness ratios are as follows:
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Cool storage rooms between +5°C and +15°C: 80–100 mm
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Standard frozen warehouses between 0°C and –18°C: 100–120 mm
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Blast freezing rooms at –18°C and below: 120–150 mm (Can go up to 200 mm depending on need).
3. Total Sealing and Fast Assembly To prevent the formation of thermal bridges, the joints of the panels must be designed with flawless engineering. Sandwich panels with eccentric locking systems and special sealing gaskets reduce energy leaks to zero and speed up the installation process. To holistically complete panel sealing, cold room doors with high insulation technology, such as LIVADOOR, should be preferred at the entrances of the insulation room.
4. Maximum Hygiene and Easy-to-Clean Surface Preventing the formation of bacteria and mold is a legal requirement, especially in pharmaceutical and food warehouses. When PVC, polyester, or stainless steel surface coatings are used on the panels, it becomes difficult for microorganisms to cling. These coatings also increase the surface's resistance to chemical cleaners, supporting the preservation of a hygienic cold storage room for many years.
5. Fire Resistance and High-Level Security In industrial facilities, safety comes first. Especially in pharmaceutical warehouses and large food logistics centers where fire risk cannot be tolerated, insulation materials with the highest class of fire resistance should be selected. PIR-filled panels, which have high flame resistance, fully meet international fire safety standards.
Professional Solution Partnership Ensuring high levels of efficiency and reliability in cold room panel selection prevents the cold chain from breaking. Having started its operations in Seydişehir/Konya in 2000, our company brings the most suitable projects to life for your needs with 26 years of sectoral experience. To get detailed information about our panel and door systems equipped with quality materials and innovative production processes, and to develop custom solutions for your project, you can visit www.karseyindustry.com and contact our expert team.