Cold rooms are used in many industries for many reasons, making their designs and workings different. One question we see a lot is, “Does a cold room need ventilation?” The short answer to this is yes. But, just like every other part of a cold room, the ventilation system installed will vary depending on the size, function and location of the cold room.
Cold room ventilation is an incredibly important part of any cold room because it maintains efficiency, ensures safety, and extends the lifespan of both the room and the stored products.
At Cool-Tec, we are a specialist HVAC company providing expertise in cold storage rooms and ventilation solutions. This means we can provide a comprehensive service when designing and installing your cold room. With over 40 years of experience working in the HVAC industry, we know all we need to provide a stress-free service that will produce a compliant and efficient cold room with the appropriate ventilation.
In this blog, we explain why ventilation is so important for the operation of a cold storage room.
Prevents Moisture Build-Up
Condensation can lead to moisture in the space, and with ventilation, this can build up to create excess moisture.
This can have several impacts:
- Encourage mould to grow
- Damage stored goods
- Deteriorate the structure of the cold room
A proper ventilation for cold rooms will control the humidity and moisture levels within the storage room, preventing issues like the above.
This is particularly important in areas where warm, moist air can enter the cold room at times.
Regulates Air Quality
You will have likely experienced the smells that can form from a stagnant room, not necessarily in a cold storage room, but in a bedroom where the window hasn’t been opened or a larder cupboard.
The same thing can happen to a cold storage room if there is no ventilation, as the air can get stale if it isn’t circulated and fresh air is brought in.
This is particularly important in storage spaces where there are perishable goods, like meat, fish, or dairy products.
Additionally, the cold room ventilation can remove carbon dioxide or ethylene gases that can be released by certain products (fruits and vegetables), which will impact the freshness of the goods and the room itself.
Improves Energy Efficiency
If heat enters the space and raises the temperature of the storage room, the system will have to work to reduce the temperature down again, consuming more energy.
Ventilation for cold rooms will optimise the energy efficiency of the cold storage room because it will manage heat and moisture in the space. This will mean the cold storage room system won’t need to work as hard to keep the cool temperature.
This will reduce the energy used to run the space and, therefore, the associated costs, creating a cost-effective solution.
Ensures Safety
The chances are that you and your staff will access the cold storage room. So, ventilation ensures it is a safe place for you to be in.
Ventilation prevents the risk of oxygen depletion or accumulation of harmful gases, which can occur in tightly sealed spaces, making it a safe space for you to enter as and when you need to.
Considerations for Ventilation in a Cold Room
As mentioned above, the cold room ventilation system installed in a cold room will depend on several factors. These factors are what you need to consider when installing a system for your cold room.
- Type of Use: Industrial cold rooms for storage require less ventilation compared to walk-in cold rooms with frequent access.
- Sealing: Airtight sealing with proper airlocks minimises unnecessary air exchange, balancing cooling efficiency and ventilation needs.
Cold Room Ventilation With Cool-Tec
Cold rooms don’t need constant airflow in and out of the space. However, they do require some ventilation to ensure that the air quality is regulated and there are low moisture levels to improve energy efficiency and safety for human access.
The ventilation systems installed will differ depending on the purpose and size of the space. However, there will always need to be a system in place.
At Cool-Tec, we are specialists in cold room ventilation, meaning we can offer a comprehensive and expert service.
All of our services are bespoke to your needs, so we will design and install systems unique to your business and operations. Plus, we go beyond initial design and installation and offer maintenance and repair services too, so you can be confident that we will work with you to keep your ventilation and cold room systems working efficiently and at their optimal levels.
Need cold room ventilation assistance? Get in touch with our team today by calling us on 0800 0189941 or complete our online contact form to request a callback.
