Restaurants and other food service businesses typically need cold storage to prevent food and beverages from spoiling. Walk-in freezers and cold storage rooms allow businesses to store large amounts of food that need low temperatures. Cold storage rooms are also referred to as refrigerated rooms.

Cold storage can be installed either inside the business or outside on the premises. Outdoor storage units are constructed of weather-proof materials. Business owners might need to purchase additional components, such as doors, insulation and storage racks, to make their cold storage units functional. Cold storage features include exterior instruments to control the temperature and humidity. When purchasing cold storage, consider the following:

1. Order custom, standard or pre-fabricated modular walk-in freezers and cold storage rooms.

2. Add insulation to your walk-in freezer and cold storage rooms to prevent thermal leaks.

3. Organize your cold storage with racks.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Install walk-in freezers and cold storage rooms

Walk-in freezers and cold storage rooms can be installed either by a custom manufacturer or by purchasing a pre-fabricated modular units. Using a custom manufacturer allows you to choose the size and features that best suit your business. Walk-in freezers and cold storage rooms can be installed either inside or outside. Some freezers and cold storage rooms require specialty doors.

I recommend: Purchase walk-in freezers and cold storage rooms from Pacific Environmental Technologies. The company offers custom designs as well as pre-fabricated modular cold and freezer rooms. Advance Energy Technologies offers walk-in freezers and coolers that are designed for easy installation and expansion. Order specialty freezer and cooler doors from Chase Doors. The manufacturer fabricates doors based on environmental factors, such as frequent wash-downs.

Protect food and beverages with thermal insulation

Thermal leaks can cause food and beverages to spoil. The corners of a cold storage room or walk-in freezer can be vulnerable to leaks, as well as the creases where the wall meets the ceiling and floor. Some manufactured cold storage rooms and walk-in freezers require separate installation of insulating panels.

I recommend: RHH Foam Systems offers an insulating foam that's applied in the corners and junctures between ceilings, walls and floors where leaks might occur. The foam can also be used for the repair, replacement and maintenance of insulation. Order insulating panels from Advanced Insulation Concepts. These panels are used in cold storage applications, including holding freezers, holding coolers, blast freezers, blast chill rooms and food processing.

Purchase racks for your cold storage application

Cold storage racks provide organization and keep food off the ground. Although some racks are designed to store specific items, such as kegs, racks are typically versatile enough to be used in any cold storage application. Racks can often be stacked to provide more height.

I recommend: Purchase aluminum beer keg racks from Eagle Group. These racks resist corrosion and rust while storing heavy loads. Use the top shelf of the racks for storing light objects. Boston Rack offers chrome wire racks that are ideal for the food service industry. These aesthetically pleasing racks provide simple organization to cold storage applications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Cold storage shelving must be constructed from rust and corrosion resistant materials, such as plastic, chrome or aluminum, because of the high humidity in walk-in freezers and cold storage rooms.