Man working in the cold storage room.
Apr 2024

Nepcool

Cold Room

What is a Cold Storage Room: Overview

In modern life, refrigeration has become an integral part of our life. Therefore, it should not be a surprise that we can now have entire rooms dedicated to refrigeration. These forms of refrigerated rooms are known as Cold storage rooms. However, some of you may not be familiar with cold store rooms. What is a Cold Storage Room?

A cold storage facility is designed as an insulated facility to store perishable goods. The goods are stored at a controlled temperature to preserve the quality of the goods and extend their shelf life. Cold storage rooms are highly essential for a wide range of industries. Some of these industries include the following:

  1. Meat and Poultry Industry
  2. Dairy and Ice Cream Industry
  3. Agriculture Sector
  4. Pharmaceutical and Medical Industry

The cold storage rooms are custom-built rooms designed to store perishable goods at low temperatures. 

In this blog, we provide a general overview of cold storage rooms. With this in mind, let's get started!

What Are The Uses of The Cold Storage Room?

cold storage room

As mentioned, the cold storage rooms are designed to store perishable goods at low temperatures to extend their shelf life and maintain quality. Besides this, some other uses of cold rooms are as follows:

Storage of Food and Beverage

Cold storage rooms are designed to store various forms of food and beverages. This includes all dairy products, meat and poultry, and agriculture products. These rooms extend the shelf life of these products by keeping them at low temperatures and preventing the growth of moss and mould.

Storage of Pharmaceuticals

Another key usage of cold storage warehouses and rooms is in the pharmaceutical industry. Many medicines and vaccines are temperature-sensitive. Therefore, they should be stored at specific temperatures. Cold storage rooms typically allow you to control the temperature of the rooms. Therefore, they are highly used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Floral Industry

Cold storage room is also used in floral industries, along with food and pharmaceuticals. In this industry, they are used to store cut flowers. Storing cut flowers in a cold storage facility slows down the ageing process of the cut flowers, extending their shelf life.

Chemical Industries

Cold storage rooms are widely used in many forms of chemical industries. This is because various types of chemicals require specific low temperatures to remain stable. Storing chemicals in temperature-controlled temperatures maintains their stability and prevents degradation.

Research and Biotechnology

Along with chemical industries, cold storage warehouses and rooms are also widely used in many research and biotechnology industries. Laboratories and research facilities use these rooms to preserve biological samples, tissues, and other specimens. 

These are some of the key uses of cold rooms. This is not an exhaustive list regarding the uses of cold storage rooms. However, we hope it provided some insights into how these rooms are used.

What Are The Types of Cold Storage Rooms?

man working in the cold storage room

Cold storage rooms come in a wide range of categories and types, and many factors determine the types of cold rooms. Some of these factors include: 

  1. Types of products stored
  2. Required temperature
  3. Material of construction
    1. Stainless Steel
    2. Pre-Painted Galvanized Iron
  4. Process of usage
    1. Ripening
    2. Storage
    3. Blast freezing
    4. Blast chilling

Besides the ones we mentioned here, there can be many other factors that determine the types of cold storage rooms. However, despite these many factors, all of these types can be categorized based on one primary factor, which is the temperature required to be maintained inside the cold storage room. Therefore, the primary categorization of cold storage rooms based on temperature includes:

High-Temperature Cold Storage Room

In a high-temperature cold storage room, the temperature is kept at +10°C and above. This type of cold storage room is used for products that require cool conditions but not freezing. It’s ideal for storing items like fresh fruits, vegetables, beverages, and certain dairy products. The temperature range helps maintain product quality and freshness without the risk of freezing.

Medium-Temperature Cold Storage Room

Unlike high-temperature cold storage rooms, the temperature of medium-temperature cold storage rooms ranges between -10°C and +10°C. This type of cold storage room is used for materials and products that require a colder environment but do not require deep freezing. It is ideal for storing dairy products, processed meats, and specific types of pharmaceuticals. Medium-temperature cold storage room keeps a balance between preserving and extending shelf life. 

Low-Temperature Cold Storage Room

Low-temperature cold storage rooms have temperatures that go below freezing. The temperature range of this type of cold room ranges between -10°C to -30°C. Therefore, they are designed for items that need to be kept frozen for longer periods. This category of cold rooms is commonly used for storing items such as meat, fish, and ice cream. The low temperatures help in maintaining the texture, flavor, and nutritional value of frozen goods.

Ultra Low-Temperature Cold Storage Room

As its name suggests, ultra-low-temperature cold storage rooms have a very low-temperature range. The storage temperature ranges between -30°C to -40°C. Ultra-low-temperature cold storage is used for products that require extreme cold to preserve their integrity. This includes certain medical and pharmaceutical products, biological samples, and specialty frozen foods. The ultra-low temperatures prevent degradation and maintain the viability of sensitive items over extended periods.

What Are The Benefits of Cold Storage Rooms?

The specific Benefits of a cold storage room vary depending on several factors. Furthermore, they also vary depending on the specifications of the cold storage room. Regardless, some of the core benefits of a cold storage room are as follows:

  • Allows for a high degree of temperature control
  • Extends the lifespan of perishable goods
  • Saves cost in the long run by enhancing the shelf life of products
  • Allows the storage of chemicals

These are simply the key benefits of cold rooms. If you want further details, check out our blogs on the benefits of cold storage rooms.

How Does a Cold Storage Room Work?

woman working in the cold storage room

Cold storage rooms employ a combination of insulation, refrigeration systems, and control mechanisms. These components combine to create a controlled environment to store perishable goods. The exact process varies depending on the specific requirement of the cold storage room. However, we can provide a general overview of How the cold storage warehouses and rooms work.

  • Cold storage rooms are constructed with highly insulated walls, floors, and ceilings using materials like foam panels, fiberglass, or polyurethane. This insulation minimizes the heat transfer between the interior and exterior.
  • Refrigeration units then remove the heat from the storage space, lowering the temperature.
  • Depending on the stored products' requirements, cold storage rooms may be equipped with humidity control systems, such as dehumidifiers or humidifiers.
  • Proper airflow ensures the even distribution of cold air throughout the storage space, preventing temperature variations.
  • Cold storage room doors are designed with insulation and may include airlock systems to minimize temperature fluctuations when the doors are opened.

This is the general gist of how the cold room storage works.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cold storage rooms are temperature-controlled insulated facilities. These rooms are designed to store perishable goods and reactive chemicals. These industrial units have several benefits and uses. Some of these benefits include cost saving, temperature control, and storage of chemicals. They are highly customizable and cater to various industries, including food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotechnology. 

In this blog, we provide you with an overall list of how the cold storage room storages work. We hope you found this helpful. If you want further insights into cold storage and transportation refrigeration, check out some of our other blogs. And if you want the Best cold storage manufacturer in Nepal, remember us at Nepcool. Thank you for reading till the end.

FAQs on Cold Storage Rooms

What is a cold storage room?

A cold storage room is a temperature-controlled space designed to store perishable goods such as food, pharmaceuticals, and other temperature-sensitive products. These rooms retain a specific low temperature to preserve the quality, freshness, and safety of stored items. 

How much does a cold room cost in Nepal?

The specific cost of a cold storage room depends on the specific type of cold room. However, in general, the cost of constructing a basic cold room in Nepal can range between Npr 1,500 to Npr 3,000 per square foot. Furthermore, the cost of a 500-square-foot cold room with moderate insulation and refrigeration costs an average of Npr 7,50,000 and Npr 15,00,000. 

What are the benefits of cold storage?

There are many benefits of cold storage, and the specific difficulties depend on the type of cold room. However, some common benefits include:

  • Extends shelf life of products and chemicals
  • Preserves quality of products and chemicals
  • Reduces spoilage and waste of products
  • Keeps pharmaceuticals safe
  • Allows businesses to store seasonal products for longer periods
  • Saves cost in the long run by preventing spoilage and extending shelf life
  • Helps meet regulatory requirements for pharmaceuticals and food organizations.  

What is the main purpose of cold storage?

The main purpose of cold storage is to provide temperature-controlled environments for preserving perishable goods and extending their shelf life.

What are the components of cold storage?

The main components of cold storage rooms include:

  • Insulated panels for the walls, floor, and ceiling to prevent heat transfer
  • Refrigeration systems including cooling coils and compressors to remove heat
  • Temperature and humidity control systems
  • Doors with seals, airlocks, and strip curtains to minimize outside air from entering
  • Monitoring and control systems like thermostats and thermometers
  • Lighting, shelving, and other storage infrastructure