Correct selection of energy-efficient sandwich panels is an extremely important stage in construction of refrigerators and freezers, as well as buildings with regulated gas environment, such as fruits and vegetables stores.
To enable maximum duration of fruits and vegetables storage, optimal temperature and humidity conditions need to be created, ensured by usage of cold stores with regulated gas environment.
The building envelope of refrigerators and freezers have to possess the following properties:
In this case, it is not always necessary to purchase large thickness sandwich panels to achieve the required energy-saving characteristics. The calculations performed by Ukrmetrteststandart, enable choosing optimal thickness of Ruukki sandwich panels for achieving the necessary heat transmission indicators of structures. If the average annal temperature of the ambient air in the district of refrigerator construction comprises 7°С or higher, then the necessary thickness of sandwich panels is chosen depending on the required temperature within the building.
The minimum required thickness of SP2E PIR and SP2E PIR Energy cold store sandwich panels for operation in summer
| Air temperature in refrigerated premise, °С | |||||||
| -30 | -20 | -10 | -5 | 0 | 5 | 12 | |
| Sandwich panel thickness, mm | |||||||
| Thickness of external walls of refrigerated premises, mm | 125 | 120 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 80 | 60 |
| Thickness of external walls of refrigerated premises of meat factories, mm | 140 | 125 | 120 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 60 |
| Roofs above refrigerated premises, mm | 140 | 120 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 80 | 60 |
| Floor slabs above attics of refrigerated premises, mm | 125 | 120 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 80 | 60 |
* calculations performed according to DBN V.2.6-31 and DBN V.2.2-42
Minimum required thickness of SP2E PIR and SP2E PIR Energy cold store sandwich panels for internal walls, partitions, and floor slabs
| Air temperature in warmer premise, °С | Air temperature in refrigerated premise, °С | ||||||
| -30 | -20 | -10 | -5 | 0 | 5 | 12 | |
| Sandwich panel thickness for refrigerated premises, mm | |||||||
| -30 | 40 | ||||||
| -20 | 60 | 40 | |||||
| -10 | 80 | 60 | 40 | ||||
| -5 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 40 | |||
| 0 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 40 | ||
| 5 | 120 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 60 | 40 | |
| 10 | 120 | 120 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 60 | 40 |
| 20 | 120 | 120 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 60 |
| Sandwich panel thickness for refrigerated premises of meat factories, mm | |||||||
| -30 | 60 | ||||||
| -20 | 60 | 60 | |||||
| -10 | 100 | 80 | 60 | ||||
| -5 | 100 | 100 | 60 | 60 | |||
| 0 | 120 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 60 | ||
| 5 | 120 | 100 | 80 | 80 | 60 | 60 | |
| 10 | 125 | 120 | 100 | 80 | 80 | 60 | 60 |
| 20 | 140 | 130 | 120 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 60 |
| Sandwich panel thickness for partitions between refrigerated and non-refrigerated/non-heated premises, mm | |||||||
| 120 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 60 | 60 | |
| Sandwich panel thickness for floor slabs above aired basements, mm | |||||||
| Average annual temperature of ambient air in the district of construction from 3 to 9°С | 120 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Average annual temperature of ambient air in the district of construction above 9°С | 120 | 120 | 100 | 100 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
* calculations performed according to DBN V.2.6-31 and DBN V.2.2-42
It is important to remember that dark sandwich panels for cold stores are heated faster than light ones. Thus, under DSTU EN 14509, the external facing of very light color panels can heat up to +55°C, while those of dark colors – up to +80°C. Therefore, for refrigerated warehouses, it is recommended to use light colors (RAL 1015, RAL 7035, RAL 9002, and RAL 9010), and if dark panels are used, the recommendations on their application should be observed.
In construction of refrigerators and freezers, the material and type of coating of sandwich panel steel facing have to be selected correctly, depending on the aggressive nature of the environment. In premises with increased corrosion environment (area for separation, pickle preparation etc.), the Food Safe (PVC) coating or stainless steel are recommended. If premises are exposed to regular influence of detergents and cleaning agents, the polymer coating needs to be checked for durability prior to purchasing sandwich panels.
Understanding the special requirements to the building envelope of prefabricated buildings with refrigerated premises, Rauta offers special refrigeration sandwich panels – the best solution for construction of refrigerator warehouses or freezers. The energy-saving properties of such sandwich panels are determined by the selection of the PIR core with maximum thermal resistance (R0), excellent air-tightness of the lock, and availability of the prefabricated EPDM seal in it. The experience in construction of premises with regulated gas environment and usage of the latest technical solutions enable creation of the most state-of-the-art stores.
