Cold Storage Panels

Cold storage panels are essentially made from two main components: an insulation core such as Polyurethane foam (PU), Polyisocyanurate (PIR) or Rockwool (RW), and two metal sheets of Pre-painted galvanized steel (PPGI) or Stainless steel. These thermally efficient insulated sandwich panels are used to provide an airtight envelope which ensures thermal resistance, structural integrity, and energy efficiency while keeping the internal temperature of the cold storage room constant and preventing temperature leakage, this makes cold storage panels popular for cold storage facilities walls, partitions, ceilings, roofs, and even floors.

Cold storage panels have become essential for a wide range of cold storage facilities and temperature-controlled environments such as: 

Cold storage plant 

Cold storage depot

Warehouse storage enclosures

Cold and frozen stores 

Cold chain applications

Freezer rooms 

Walk-in chiller

Refrigerating chambers

Refrigerated warehouses

Food processing plants

Food Safe Areas

Industrial processing facilities

Hypermarkets & food stores

Medical laboratory cold rooms

Temperature-controlled trucks

Temperature controlled enclosures

Ambient temperature-controlled areas

Precision-engineered cold storage doors

Cold storage panels are highly preferred for their for different industries such as food manufacturing, dairy, poultry and meat processing, confectionary, agricultural fresh produce, horticulture, floriculture, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals, given their thermal conductivity, mechanical performance, and air tightness, cold storage panels allow temperature-sensitive products and perishable goods to be stored at a consistent temperature, and at the meantime, they keep products protected from bacteria, deterioration, and spoilage, these benefits make them perfect for the cold storage and refrigeration of fresh produce, meat, chicken, seafood, fruits, vegetables, beverages, drinks, etc.

Cold storage panels consist of three layers: a low-density core of insulation sandwiched between two thin skin layers bonded to each side, cold storage panels are versatile and come in different materials as follows: 

Insulation core 

Cold storage insulating core is often made from either rigid Polyurethane foam (PUR), Polyisocyanurate (PIR), Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), Mineral wool, or Extruded Polystyrene insulation (XPS), the insulation core varies in properties, thickness, R-value, and thermal efficiency. 

Skin-layers

The main materials used for metal sheathing are Pre-painted galvanized steel (PPGI), Aluminum sheets, Stainless Steel, Zinc-Coated Sandwich Panel, FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) sheets, and Graphite Polystyrene (GPS).

The R-value of cold storage panels ranges from 3 to 7.0 per inch, and the R-value of the most commonly used insulation material is as follows:  

Polyisocyanurate (PIR) 7.0 – 7.2 per inch

Polyurethane (PUR) 5.0 – 7.1 per inch 

Mineral Wool core 3.6 – 4.3 per inch

Rockwool core 3.0 to 3.3 per inch

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) R-3 to R-4 per inch

The R-value of cold storage panels varies depending on the type of insulation, properties, density and thickness, however, a higher insulation R rating means better thermal efficiency and energy-saving.

Cold storage panels are mainly designed to deliver the most aesthetically appealing building envelopes, customers can choose from limitless design features that meet the thermal performance of cold storage applications including walls, partitions, roofs, ceilings, floors, and cold storage doors, cold storage panels come in limitless features including the following: 

Width: 1110 mm

Lengths: 2000 mm to 18000 mm

Thickness: 20, 50, 80, 100, 120, 140, 150, 170, 200 & 300 mm

Insulated foam core: PUR (Polyurethane), PIR (Polyisocyanurate), and Mineral Wool.

Profiles: Flat, Low Rib, Micro-Rib, Micro-Rib, Mini-Wave, Micro Wave, Groove, etc.

Colours: metallic colours, RAL colours and dynamic finishes.

Coating: Food-grade coating, Anti-bacterial-paint finishes, Polyester, PVDF, PVC film, Plastisol, and easy-to-clean features.

Coating thickness: 0.4 mm – 0.8 mm

Orientation: vertical and horizontal installation.

Cold storage panels offer excellent anti-corrosive properties that protect the surface from external environmental factors such as corrosion, rust, airborne salt, water, vapour, humidity, and moisture ingress, thanks to the galvanized steel sheet, color coated surface and weather-resistant properties which form a barrier against external environmental conditions, prevent deterioration of the surface, ensure hygiene and comply with food regulations.

Cold storage panels are fire-safe structural panels that offer superior fire resistance, thanks to the fire retardant properties and tensile strength which maintain cold storage panel’s integrity from fire events, while it doesn’t contribute to the propagation of fire, or release any toxic gases, these fire resilient cold storage panels are rated B1 and B2. Also, these fire-resilient cold storage panels are designed to withstand fire for 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, or up to 4 hours, in addition to that, cold storage panels are compliant with the international building code and tested according to the industry standards:

BS EN 1364-1: 2015 Fire resistance tests for non-load bearing elements walls

EN 13501-1 Fire classification of construction products and building elements – Part 1: Classification using data from reaction to fire tests.

ISO 11925-2:2020 Reaction to fire tests – Ignitability of products subjected to direct impingement of flame — Part 2: Single-flame source test.

ASTM E84 Standard Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials Self-ignition and induced ignition temperatures.

ASTM D1929-96 Standard Test Method for Determining Ignition Temperature of Plastics.