Nowadays, it is critical to preserve products in appropriate conditions in many areas from the food industry to the pharmaceutical industry, from the chemical industry to the logistics sector. At this point, cold rooms have become indispensable elements for protecting and maintaining the quality of products. One of the most fundamental factors determining the performance of cold room systems is the right panel selection. In this blog post, we will examine in detail the critical importance of cold room panel selection in industrial facilities and the advantages that the right choice will provide to businesses.

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Basic Function and Components of Cold Room Panels

Cold room panels are basically sandwich-structured components that provide insulation between the external environment and the controlled environment inside the cold room. These panels usually consist of the following layers:

1. External and Internal Coating: Surfaces usually consisting of galvanized, painted or stainless steel sheets
2. Insulation Core: Insulation materials such as PUR (Polyurethane), PIR (Polyisocyanurate), EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) or rock wool
3. Joining Systems: Boltless, locking or concealed mounting systems

The cold room panels produced by Anadolu Panel are designed to meet different industrial needs with the optimum combination of these components.

Comparison of Different Types of Cold Room Panels

PUR/PIR Insulated Cold Room Panels

PUR/PIR filled panels are the most widely used panel type in cold room applications. These panels offered by Anadolu Panel have the following features:

Advantages:

• Superior Thermal Insulation: Low thermal conductivity coefficient (λ=0.022-0.025 W/mK)
• High Pressure Resistance: Strong resistance to mechanical stress
• Water and Moisture Resistance: Thanks to its closed cell structure, the water absorption rate is very low
• Light weight: Reduces load on the load-bearing system

Suitable Temperature Ranges:

• Cold Storage (0°C to +4°C): Short-term storage of fresh food
• Frozen Storage (-18°C to -25°C): Long-term storage of frozen foods
• Blast Freezing (-35°C to -40°C): Applications where products need to be frozen quickly

Ideal Usage Areas:

• Food storage facilities
• Meat and dairy processing facilities
• Frozen food production facilities
• Flower and plant storage areas
• Pharmaceutical storage facilities

Rock Wool Insulated Cold Room Panels

Rock wool-filled panels are ideal for facilities where fire safety is a priority:

Advantages:

• Superior Fire Resistance: Class A1 incombustibility
• Good Sound Insulation: Advantage in environments with noisy refrigeration equipment
• High Temperature Stability: Dimensional stability at high temperature differences

Suitable Temperature Ranges:

• Can be used in any temperature range where there is a risk of fire

Ideal Usage Areas:

• Chemical storage areas
• Cold storages with flammable materials
• Cold room applications in high-rise buildings
• Food processing facilities

EPS Insulated Cold Room Panels

EPS filled panels that can be preferred in cost-oriented projects:

Advantages:

• Economic Solution: Low initial investment cost
• Light weight: Easy assembly and transportation
• Good Thermal Insulation: Acceptable thermal conductivity value (λ=0.035-0.040 W/mK)

Suitable Temperature Ranges:

• Cold Storage (0°C to +15°C): Applications with low cooling requirements

Ideal Usage Areas:

• Vegetable and fruit storage areas
• Short-term storage needs
• Small-scale enterprises
• Back warehouse areas of department stores

Cold Room Panel Selection by Industries

Food Industry

In the food industry, where food safety standards are critical, the following factors should be considered in panel selection:

• Hygiene Requirements: Panels with antibacterial coating
• Temperature Fluctuation Tolerance: High insulation value panels that minimize heat loss due to door opening and closing
• Chemical Resistance: Surface coatings resistant to cleaning and disinfection agents

Anadolu Panel’s solutions for the food industry:

• PUR/PIR filled panels with stainless steel surface
• Special coating options with antibacterial properties
• Round corner detail solutions in accordance with HACCP criteria

Pharmaceutical and Medical Product Industry

Storing critical products in the pharmaceutical industry requires high reliability:

• Temperature Control Accuracy: High performance insulation for applications requiring ±0.5°C tolerance
• Clean Room Standards: Panel selection with low particulate emissions
• Validation Requirements: Certified panel systems that meet drug storage standards

Anadolu Panel’s solutions for the pharmaceutical industry:

• Special production panels in accordance with GMP standards
• Validable design and installation details
• Joint details that minimize the risk of contamination

Logistics and Distribution Centers

In logistics facilities with rapid product entry and exit:

• Impact Resistance: Panels resistant to forklift impacts and loading activities
• Installation Speed: Panel systems that can be assembled quickly in time-limited projects
• Modularity Flexible: panel solutions with expansion and revision possibilities

Solutions developed by Anadolu Panel for the logistics sector:

• High density PUR/PIR filled impact resistant panels
• Locking joint systems for fast assembly
• Modular designed, demountable and transportable system solutions

Impact of Panels on Energy Efficiency

Energy costs account for approximately 60-70% of the operating costs of cold room systems. Therefore, panel selection directly affects the operating economy:

Thermal Transmittance Coefficient (U-value) and Energy Consumption

U-values of panels of different thicknesses and their effect on annual energy consumption:

*According to the reference value, under similar cold room conditions

Amortization Period Calculation

Impact of increasing panel insulation thickness on initial investment cost and payback period achieved through energy savings:

• Preferring 120 mm PUR/PIR panel instead of 80 mm: Approximately 15-20% cost increase in the initial investment, but payback in 2-3 years through energy savings.
• Preferring 150 mm PUR/PIR panel instead of 100 mm: Approximately 12-15% cost increase in initial investment, payback in 3-4 years

Anadolu Panel’s energy efficiency-oriented solutions provide significant savings to businesses in the long term.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Cold Room Sandwich Panel. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Technical Details to Consider in Cold Room Panel Selection

Jointing Systems and Sealing

One of the most critical points affecting cold room performance is panel joint details:

• Seamless Joint Technology: Anadolu Panel’s patented seamless joint system minimizes thermal bridges
• Double Stage Gasket System: EPDM based gasket systems that prevent water and vapor passage
• Lock System: Integrated locking mechanisms that ensure a snug fit of the panels during installation

Surface Coating Options

Surface coating alternatives offered according to different industrial requirements:

• Standard Polyester Painted: For general purpose use
• Food Compliant PVC Coating: Hygienic solution for food facilities
• Stainless Steel: For critical areas requiring intensive cleaning
• GRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polyester): For applications with high chemical resistance
• Antibacterial Coatings: Special solutions for hospital and pharmaceutical industry

Accessories and Complementary Products

Products that complete the complete cold room solution:

• Cold Room Doors: Hinged, sliding or automatic door options
• Protection Elements: Impact protectors, corner protection profiles
• Lighting Solutions: IP65 and above protection class lighting suitable for cold room conditions
• Ramp Systems: Customized solutions for loading areas

Application Steps for Choosing the Right Panel

1. Needs Analysis

Questions to answer before starting cold room panel selection:

• What are the characteristics of the product to be stored?
• What are the targeted temperature and moisture values?
• What are the energy efficiency targets of the business?
• What are the fire safety requirements of the facility?
• Which hygiene standards must be met?

2. Technical Calculations

Calculations required for optimum panel selection:

• Heat gain/loss calculations
• Condensation analysis
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Energy consumption simulation

Anadolu Panel technical team performs these calculations using professional software and offers the most suitable project-specific solution..

3. Quality Standards and Certificates

Standards that cold room panels must meet:

• TS EN : Sandwich panel standards
• ISO : Standard for refrigerated display cabinets and cold rooms
• EN : Fire classification
• Food safety certificates: (FDA, REACH vb.)

Anadolu Panel products are offered with certificates of conformity to all these standards.

Common Problems and Solution Suggestions

Condensation Problems

The risk of condensation increases, especially when the temperature difference between the outdoor environment and the cold room is high:

Solution Suggestions:

• Choosing the right thickness panel
• Vapor barrier application
• Correct detailing of panel joints
• Integration of dehumidification systems

Energy Loss

Energy losses in poorly designed cold rooms increase operating costs:

Solution Suggestions:

• Automation systems that minimize door openings and closings
• Air curtain applications
• Motion sensor systems in lighting
• Thermal recovery systems

Hygiene Issues

Ensuring critical hygiene conditions in the food and pharmaceutical industry:

Solution Suggestions:

• Easy-to-clean surface coatings
• Hygienic solutions in corner and joint details
• Antibacterial coatings
• Regular maintenance and cleaning program

Result

Cold room panel selection in industrial facilities is a critical decision in terms of maintaining product quality and optimizing operating costs. Choosing the right panel provides energy efficiency, product safety, operational sustainability and long-term economic benefits.

As Anadolu Panel, we offer customized solutions for all kinds of industrial cold room needs with our more than 10 years of industry experience and wide product range. Our expert technical team will be with you in all processes from the analysis phase of your project to post- installation support.

You can contact us for the most suitable panel selection for your cold room project.

Note: The values and calculations mentioned in this article are for general information purposes. For detailed analysis specific to your project, we recommend that you contact our technical department.

How to Get the Most of Insulation Advantages | FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT INSULATED METAL PANELS

In this article, we’ll shed light on how to get the most out of the insulation advantages. Therefore, here you can find a guideline to the frequently asked questing regarding insulated metal panels.

1. INSULATED METAL PANELS APPLICATIONS

EXTERNAL CLADDINGS

Insulated sandwich panels are used for single and occasionally multi-story buildings. Certainly, polyurethane is the most common core insulation for this application. Furthermore, sandwich panels that you use externally have to withstand wind-loads and also be weather-tight.

INSULATED INTERNAL ENVELOPES AND PARTITIONS

Insulated sandwich panels are used typically in food factories, cold stores, pharmaceutical industries, other temperature-controlled envelopes, and high-tech clean rooms. Certainly, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) is the most common core insulation for these applications.

FIRE RESISTING COMPARTMENT WALLS

You can use very successfully some sandwich panel systems in this application. Certainly, high-density Rock Wool mineral fiber we commonly use for this application as it can easily provide panels with 30 minutes and up to 240 minutes of fire resistance. Hence it is important to ensure that the panel system provides adequate insulation to ensure that combustible materials in direct contact with the unexposed panel side will not ignite. (In addition, that is the purpose of the insulation required in the fire resistance test).

Our roof and wall insulated panels are suitable for almost any type of construction, such as:

1. Industrial and commercial warehouses;
2. Agricultural buildings;
3. Office buildings;
4. Aviation hangars;
5. Food factories;
6. Modular housing;
7. Temporary hospital units;
8. Cold storages.

2. WHICH INSULANTS ARE USED IN INSULATED SANDWICH PANELS?

• Polyurethane (PUR)
• Polyisocyanurate (PIR)
• LPCB approved Polyisocyanurate (PIR+) (certainly better quality and fire performance than the standard PIR)
• Rock Wool (RW)
• Glass Wool (GW)

3. WORKING TEMPERATURES OF PUR, PIR, AND ROCKWOOL INSULATED METAL PANELS

The temperature resistance properties of an insulated sandwich panel under elevated temperatures are very important in practice. Furthermore, permanent temperature hikes can lead to dimensional changes, loss of shape and strength, thermal decomposition, etc.

Therefore, in certain applications, we suggest paying attention to these working temperature limits of the insulated metal panel.

Information about this property reports the lower and upper-temperature application limits in ° C and °F. It states to what temperature a material – under continuous load – can usually be loaded without destruction or change occurring. The duration of the action of heat plays an important role in insulating materials that permanently heat up, for example, on the roof under sunlight. The temperature application limit makes no statement about the behavior of the material in case of fire.

TEMPERATURE APPLICATION LIMITS:

• PUR and PIR sandwich panels from -40°C to 80 °C (from -40°F to 176°F);
• Rock Wool sandwich panels from -20°C to 100 °C (from -4°F to 212°F).

Although these temperature limits may appear conservative, we prefer to use this approach as a general guideline. We encourage you to ask us for further info on your specific case.

4. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THERMAL INSULATION?

Thermal insulation reduces or prevents temperature changes from one ambient to another. In general, materials are considered “insulants” when their thermal conductivity value is less than 0,065 W/mK.

5. WHAT IS R-VALUE?

R-Value is the rating system used to grade insulation products or a material’s insulating properties. The “R” stands for “resistance” and refers to the resistance a material has to heat flow or temperature conduction. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulating effectiveness. The R-value depends on the type of insulation, its thickness, and its density.

Want more information on Rigid Roof Insulation? Feel free to contact us.

FREE CONSULTATION

Chat with one of our experts, they’ll learn about your projects and tailor the best possible solution to suit your business.

Alberto Adriano

✓ Entrepreneur in the field of International Commerce of Industrial Thermal Insulation ✓ Sales Director at Globe Panels Ltd ✓ 12 years of experience in Sandwich Panels ✓ Exporting to Latin America since .