How to Choose the Right Cold Room Panels

What are cold room panels?

Cold room panels are insulated sandwich panels used to construct the walls and ceilings of temperature-controlled rooms. They combine a rigid insulation core with protective metal surfaces to create an insulated enclosure around the refrigerated space.

The panels are an important part of the complete cold room system. Their job is not simply to form the walls: they help limit heat transfer, maintain the required internal temperature and reduce the load placed on the refrigeration equipment.

Why does panel selection matter?

Two cold rooms of the same size can have very different requirements.

A chilled food store operating above freezing, for example, will not necessarily require the same insulation specification as a freezer room operating at a much lower temperature.

Panel selection should therefore consider:

• Required internal temperature
• Ambient temperature
• Chiller or freezer application
• Room dimensions
• Panel thickness
• Joint and sealing system
• Internal and external surface finish
• Hygiene requirements
• Fire performance requirements
• Installation environment

The cold room should be considered as a complete system rather than choosing panels purely according to price.

What is PIR insulation?

PIR, or polyisocyanurate, is a rigid thermal insulation material widely used as the core of insulated sandwich panels.

Its purpose is to reduce the transfer of heat between the external environment and the temperature-controlled space.

When comparing panels, insulation thickness is important, but it is not the only consideration. Thermal performance, panel joints, installation quality and the way the complete room is sealed also affect performance.

Why are panel joints and airtightness important?

The connection between individual panels is an important part of cold room construction.

A well-designed joint helps maintain continuity of the insulated envelope and reduces unwanted air and moisture movement through the structure. Poorly installed or inadequately sealed joints can compromise the performance of otherwise good insulation.

This becomes particularly important in freezer rooms, where there may be a large temperature difference between the inside of the room and the surrounding environment.

Manufacturers therefore design cold-store panels with interlocking joint systems intended to improve airtightness, vapour control and thermal continuity.

What thickness of cold room panel do I need?

There is no single thickness suitable for every cold room.

MES Cooling offers PIR insulated panels in:

80 mm | 100 mm | 150 mm | 200 mm

As a general principle, increasing insulation thickness reduces heat transfer through the cold room envelope. This is why lower-temperature applications will often require a greater level of insulation than standard chilled storage.

However, simply saying that a particular thickness is always suitable for a chiller or freezer can be misleading.

The appropriate specification depends on the required internal temperature, external conditions, room construction and project requirements.

Understanding thermal performance

You may see terms such as thermal conductivity (λ or lambda value) and U-value when comparing insulated panels.

Thermal conductivity describes how readily heat passes through an insulation material. A lower value generally indicates better insulating performance for the material.

U-value considers heat transfer through the complete building element. As insulation thickness increases, the U-value of an otherwise comparable panel generally decreases.

For example, manufacturers such as Assan Panel publish different U-values for different panel thicknesses, demonstrating why thickness has a direct effect on the thermal performance of the finished panel.

When specifying a project, however, use the technical data for the actual panel being supplied, rather than assuming that one manufacturer's published values apply to another product.

Can cold room panels be used for walls and ceilings?

Yes. Insulated cold room panels can be used to construct both walls and ceilings, subject to the structural requirements and installation method of the particular project.

Ceiling spans, panel lengths and support requirements need to be considered during design. These requirements become particularly important on larger rooms.

Cold-store panel manufacturers publish allowable wall lengths and ceiling spans according to panel construction and thickness, illustrating why structural considerations should not be separated from thermal performance.

Which panel surface should I choose?

Surface selection depends on how and where the cold room will be used.

MES Cooling can supply panel options including galvanised, stainless steel and PVC-coated surfaces, depending on specification.

For food preparation, food storage and other hygiene-sensitive environments, consider how frequently surfaces will be cleaned, exposure to moisture, chemicals used for cleaning and the level of hygiene required.

Stainless steel, coated steel and other finishes each have different practical and cost considerations.

What about fire performance and certification?

Fire performance should be considered when specifying insulated panels, particularly for commercial and industrial projects.

Different panel systems and insulation formulations can have different fire classifications. A fire rating published for one manufacturer's panel should never automatically be assumed to apply to another product.

Where a project requires a particular fire classification, FM Approval or another certification, request the relevant documentation for the exact panel specification being supplied before ordering.

Chiller room vs freezer room panels

The main difference is the severity of the operating conditions.

A chiller room maintains products at refrigerated temperatures without freezing them. A freezer room operates below freezing and normally has a significantly greater temperature difference between the inside and outside environments.

For freezer applications, insulation, panel joints, vapour control, doors and refrigeration equipment all become particularly important.

This is why a cold room should be designed as a system:

Panels + Door + Refrigeration Equipment + Controls + Installation

Selecting each component independently without considering how they work together can result in poor performance or unnecessary operating costs.

What information should I provide when requesting a quotation?

Providing the right information from the beginning makes it much easier to specify and price a cold room project.

Ideally, send:

• Internal room dimensions — length × width × height
• Required operating temperature
• Chiller or freezer application
• Door size and quantity
• Preferred panel thickness, if already specified
• Internal and external finish requirements
• Site or installation location
• Any particular hygiene or fire-performance requirements
• Drawings or plans, where available

If you are unsure about the panel specification, send the project information instead of guessing the required thickness.

Cold room panels from MES Cooling

MES Cooling supplies insulated panels and associated cold room components for commercial refrigeration projects across the UK.

Panels can be supplied alongside hinged and sliding cold room doors, refrigeration equipment, temperature controllers and accessories, allowing installers and contractors to source the principal components of a project from one supplier.

For a quotation, send us your room dimensions, required operating temperature and project details.