Insulated Panels — PIR vs PUR vs Mineral Wool Buying Guide
Sandwich panels are the thermal envelope of every cold-storage facility. Core material, thickness and joint sealing decide long-term energy cost, fire compliance and insurance premiums.
What it is & where it's used
Prefabricated panels with metal skins (0.5–0.7 mm pre-painted steel or stainless) bonded to a rigid foam or mineral-wool core. Cam-lock and tongue-and-groove joints create a vapour-sealed envelope.
- • Cold rooms and frozen warehouses
- • Food processing walls and ceilings
- • Pharmaceutical clean rooms
- • Retail back-of-store
- • Industrial partitions
- • Chilled 0–5 °C (100–120 mm)
- • Frozen –18 to –25 °C (150–200 mm)
- • Blast –35 to –40 °C (200–250 mm)
- • Fire-rated separation walls
- • Fast install — 1,000 m² per week per crew
- • Predictable thermal performance
- • Modular expansion and dismantling
- • Hygienic food-grade skin coatings
- • Cheap panels lose 20–40% of U-value in 5 years
- • Joint sealing is 60% of installed performance
- • PUR/PIR fire behaviour requires certification for insurance
Typical project sizes: 40–250 mm thickness, 1,000–1,200 mm width, up to 20 m length.
PIR / PUR Foam Core vs Mineral-Wool Core
| Criterion | PIR / PUR Foam Core | Mineral-Wool Core |
|---|---|---|
| U-value @ 100 mm | 0.22 W/m²K | 0.42 W/m²K |
| Thickness for –25 °C | 150–200 mm | 200–250 mm |
| Fire class (EN 13501) | B-s2,d0 (PIR) | A2-s1,d0 non-combustible |
| Density | 38–48 kg/m³ | 100–120 kg/m³ |
| Weight @ 100 mm | 10–14 kg/m² | 22–30 kg/m² |
| CAPEX | Baseline | +15–35% |
| Best for | Standard cold and frozen rooms | Insurer-mandated, high fire-risk zones |
How to evaluate
- 01Specify U-value target (0.14–0.18 W/m²K for frozen; 0.22–0.27 for chilled).
- 02Insist on EN 13501-1 fire certification — insurers now demand it.
- 03Verify skin thickness ≥0.6 mm and coating (PVDF for coastal, food-grade for processing).
- 04Reject panels with core density <38 kg/m³ — they age poorly.
- 05Vapour barrier and joint sealing dominate lifetime performance — inspect installer references.
- 06For food contact: specify HACCP-approved skin finish and antibacterial coating.
- 07Confirm 10-year structural warranty and 5-year skin warranty.
Spec checklist
- Panel core material and density
- Panel thickness and U-value
- Skin material, thickness and coating
- Fire class (A2 / B / F) and certification body
- Cam-lock or tongue-and-groove joint
- Vapour barrier method
- Suspension load rating (ceiling panels)
- Wind load rating (external walls)
- Colour, RAL code and interior finish
- Sealant type (silicone / PU / neutral cure)
Investment & operating cost
- PIR 100 mm chilled panelUSD 45 – 75/m²
- PIR 150–200 mm frozen panelUSD 75 – 120/m²
- Mineral-wool 150 mm fire-ratedUSD 90 – 140/m²
- Installed cold room (materials + labour)USD 250 – 650/m² floor area
Indicative ranges. Actual quotations vary by country, scope, spec, freight and site conditions.
- • Core material and thickness
- • Skin quality and coating
- • Fire class
- • Panel length (custom > standard)
- • Freight and installation labour
- • Anti-microbial food-grade coating
- • Stainless AISI 304/316 skins
- • Cove profiles (hygienic)
- • Underfloor heating cables
- • Level slab within ±3 mm/3 m
- • Vapour barrier under slab (frozen)
- • Panel-to-floor cove profile
- • Sealant application per joint
- • Standing losses 15–90 kWh/m²/year by temperature class
- • No consumables
- • Annual joint sealant inspection
- • Skin repair after impact
- • Vapour barrier check every 5 years
Before you request quotations
- Define production goals and daily throughput (kg/day)
- Confirm utilities: power (kVA), water, drainage, compressed air
- Define project scope (turnkey vs supply-only vs hybrid)
- Prepare site layout, floor plan and clear height
- Confirm local regulations (F-Gas, ATEX, HACCP, seismic code)
- Determine financing route (own cash, lease, bank loan, ECA)
- Create technical specification with U-values and setpoints
- Prepare RFQ and shortlist qualified international suppliers
Interactive evaluation matrix
Score each shortlisted supplier on the criteria below. All calculations run locally — nothing is sent to our servers.
| Criterion | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Price / Investment Turnkey CAPEX including installation, controls and commissioning. | |||
Warranty (years) Comprehensive, on major components (compressors, PLC, panels). | |||
Lead time (weeks) Ex-works or delivered to site including customs. | |||
Energy efficiency (SEC / COP) Lower SEC or higher COP is better. | |||
Local service & spare parts Response time, service partner in country, stocked spares. | |||
References / installed base Comparable capacity, region and application. | |||
Maintenance program Preventive maintenance plan, remote monitoring. | |||
Operator training On-site training days, documentation, language. | |||
Expandability Add capacity, modules or additional rooms later. | |||
Lifecycle cost (10y) CAPEX + energy + maintenance + refrigerant cost of ownership. | |||
| Total score | 0 / 50 | 0 / 50 | 0 / 50 |
Common questions
PIR or mineral wool?
PIR gives best U-value per mm and lowest CAPEX. Mineral wool is chosen where insurance or local fire code demands A2 non-combustible construction — typical in bakeries, oil kitchens and insurer-critical warehouses.
How thick should a chilled panel be?
100–120 mm PIR for 0–5 °C rooms delivers U ≈ 0.22–0.27 W/m²K and pays back thermally in most climates.
Why do cheap panels fail?
Under-density foam (<38 kg/m³) creeps and separates from skins within 3–5 years, degrading U-value by 20–40% and creating condensation risk.
Receive structured, comparable quotations from qualified international suppliers — vendor-neutral. Add financing pre-qualification if the project requires equipment leasing, project loan or ECA-backed facility.