Question 1

What temperature classes do cold storage facilities use?

Accepted Answer

Most projects fall into four planning classes: chilled storage (roughly 0°C to +8°C) for fresh food and dairy; frozen storage (−18°C to −25°C) as the standard for long-term frozen goods; blast freezing or shock freezing (−30°C to −40°C air temperature) for pulling product heat out fast; and specialised pharma ranges such as +2°C to +8°C for vaccines and biologics. The temperature class is the single most important early decision, because it drives insulation thickness, refrigeration system choice, defrost strategy and energy consumption. A common mistake is specifying a colder class than the product actually needs — every extra degree of lift costs capital and running energy for the life of the facility. Fix the class from the product's requirements and regulations, not from what a supplier happens to stock, before any equipment is sourced. Method: Take the product's required storage range from its specification or regulation, then set the room setpoint inside that range with a control band of about ±1 K so normal cycling never leaves it. Worked example: Vaccines labelled +2°C to +8°C → setpoint +5°C, alarms at +3°C and +7°C, giving 2 K of margin on each side before an excursion. Limitations: Planning classes only. Some products (bananas, some pharma) need narrower or unusual ranges; always follow the product owner's specification. Imperial units: +2°C to +8°C = 36–46°F · 0°C = 32°F · −18°C = 0°F · −25°C = −13°F · −30°C to −40°C = −22°F to −40°F.

Question 2

What temperature and humidity should fruit and vegetables be stored at?

Accepted Answer

There is no single setting for fresh produce. Leafy greens, broccoli, berries and most roots hold best at 0 to +1°C with 90–100% relative humidity; stone and pome fruit sit close to 0°C; chilling-sensitive items such as bananas (about 13°C), mangoes, tomatoes and cucumbers (about 10°C) need 7–14°C; and cured onions and garlic prefer 0°C but only 60–70% humidity. Running warmer than the range speeds wilting, mould and sprouting; running colder causes freezing injury or chilling injury that often appears days later. Group products with the same range into one room and size each room for its strictest resident. The storage temperature chart lists 26 fruits and vegetables with their range, humidity and the fault each causes when out of range. Method: Look up each product's indicative range and humidity, group products sharing a range into one room, then size every room for its most demanding product. Worked example: A packhouse with lettuce, strawberries and bananas needs two rooms: lettuce and strawberries at 0 to +1°C / 90–95% RH, bananas separately at about 13°C — storing bananas at 0°C causes chilling injury. Limitations: Ranges are planning values; customer specifications, variety, maturity and food-safety rules take precedence. Imperial units: 0 to +1°C = 32–34°F; 13°C ≈ 55°F; 7–14°C ≈ 45–57°F.

Question 3

What is the difference between a cold room and a cold storage warehouse?

Accepted Answer

A cold room is typically an insulated chamber built inside or beside an existing building, serving one process line or one tenant. A cold storage warehouse is a larger, purpose-built or converted facility with dock areas, racking, multiple temperature zones and higher throughput. The distinction matters for procurement because warehouses need fire strategy, dock equipment, floor specifications and zoning approvals that small cold rooms do not. It also changes who you buy from: cold rooms are often supplied as packaged panel-and-refrigeration systems, while warehouses are usually engineered projects with separate envelope, refrigeration and materials-handling contracts. When you describe your project to suppliers, state which of the two you mean — the quotations you receive will differ substantially. Method: Classify the project first: one insulated chamber serving one process = cold room; a facility with docks, racking, multiple zones and high throughput = warehouse. The classification decides the procurement route and which trades are tendered separately. Worked example: A 150 m³ chamber behind a dairy plant → packaged cold room contract. A 6,000 m³ distribution facility with 4 dock doors and two temperature zones → engineered warehouse project with separate envelope, refrigeration and materials-handling packages. Limitations: Borderline cases exist (large modular rooms, small warehouses). When in doubt, describe throughput and dock requirements — suppliers classify by operation, not by name.

Question 4

How much storage capacity do I need?

Accepted Answer

Capacity is usually planned in pallet positions or cubic metres, not square metres. Useful planning inputs are daily throughput, required holding days, stacking height and the air circulation space around product (commonly 25–35% of gross volume). Gross volume always overstates what you can store, so plan from the product flow backwards: how much arrives per day, how long it stays, and how it leaves. Remember to include buffer for seasonal peaks and for slow-moving stock that ties up positions. Our warehouse capacity planner walks through the inputs step by step, and the result is a far better starting point for supplier discussions than a square-metre figure. Method: Pallet positions = daily inbound pallets × holding days × peak factor. Usable volume = gross volume × (1 − air-circulation allowance of 25–35%). Worked example: 40 pallets/day × 10 days × 1.2 peak = 480 positions. A 30 × 20 × 10 m chamber = 6,000 m³ gross → about 3,900–4,500 m³ usable. Limitations: Ignores racking type, aisle width, picking method and lot separation, which can each change positions by 20% or more. Use the capacity planner for a layout-level figure. Imperial units: 1 m³ = 35.3 ft³ · 6,000 m³ ≈ 211,900 ft³ · 30 × 20 × 10 m ≈ 98 × 66 × 33 ft.

Question 5

What happens to a cold store during a power cut?

Accepted Answer

A well-insulated store buys time — often hours for a loaded frozen store, far less for chilled product — but it does not replace power continuity. Projects typically plan for a standby generator sized for the refrigeration plant, an automatic transfer switch and alarms on temperature and power state. In regions with unstable grids, hybrid or solar-assisted systems are increasingly part of the brief. The key questions to settle in the RFQ are how long the facility must hold temperature without grid power, whether the generator covers the full plant or only critical loads, and who is alerted when an excursion starts. Raise backup expectations with suppliers in the RFQ, not after installation — retrofitting power resilience is far more expensive than specifying it upfront. Method: Generator kVA ≈ refrigeration electrical load (kW) ÷ power factor (≈0.8) × motor-starting margin (≈1.25), plus lighting, controls and dock loads. Worked example: 120 kW refrigeration plant ÷ 0.8 = 150 kVA × 1.25 ≈ 190 kVA before other loads. Limitations: Direct-on-line compressor starts can need far more than 1.25×; soft starters or VFDs reduce it. Final sizing belongs to the electrical engineer. Imperial units: 120 kW ≈ 161 hp · 190 kVA at 0.8 PF ≈ 152 kW ≈ 204 hp.

Question 6

What drives the cost of a cold storage project?

Accepted Answer

Five factors dominate: the temperature class (frozen and blast facilities cost more per cubic metre than chilled), the size and build standard of the envelope, the refrigeration system selected, local labour and import duties, and site conditions such as power availability. Accessories — racking, doors, monitoring, backup power — are usually a secondary share, but they add up quickly on small projects. Because these drivers interact, two projects with the same floor area can differ widely in budget. That is why ColdMatch publishes indicative ranges rather than fixed prices: the cost calculator and country cost pages apply these drivers to your inputs, while firm pricing always requires supplier quotations against a defined scope. Method: Build the budget driver by driver: temperature class sets insulation and plant size; envelope size and standard set the shell; refrigeration system sets equipment; country factors set labour and duties; site conditions set electrical and civil works. Worked example: Two 1,000 m³ stores can diverge widely: a chilled (+2°C) store in a mild climate with standard panels versus a frozen (−25°C) store in a hot climate with floor heating and backup power — same volume, very different scope. Limitations: Driver lists rank causes, not amounts. Indicative ranges come from the cost calculator and country cost pages; firm pricing requires supplier quotations against a defined scope.

Question 7

How can I get an indicative budget for my project?

Accepted Answer

Start with a planning-grade estimate, not a quote: define the temperature class, internal volume or pallet count, product and daily throughput, and country. Our cost calculator turns those inputs into an indicative range, and the country cost pages show how regional factors such as labour, duties and climate shift the numbers. Treat the result as a budgeting band for internal approval and feasibility work, not as a price you can hold a supplier to. The most common budgeting mistake is comparing a bare equipment price from one source against a turnkey figure from another — make sure you know what each number includes. Indicative ranges are for planning only; firm pricing requires supplier quotations against a defined scope. Method: Define four planning inputs — temperature class, internal volume or pallet count, product and daily throughput, and country — then run them through the cost calculator and cross-check with the country cost page for local adjustments. Worked example: A frozen store of 2,000 pallet positions in a Gulf country: the calculator gives a regional baseline range, and the country page applies the hot-climate and import-duty adjustments on top. Limitations: The result is a budgeting band for internal approval, not a price. Never compare a bare equipment figure against a turnkey figure — check what each includes first.

Question 8

How much does it cost to run a cold store?

Accepted Answer

Electricity is the dominant operating cost, followed by maintenance and, where relevant, refrigerant management and staff. Consumption depends on temperature class, insulation quality, door discipline, ambient conditions and the efficiency of the plant. A design that looks cheaper at purchase can cost more every year it runs, so compare suppliers on lifetime energy use, not only capital price. Practical levers that suppliers should quantify in their offers include compressor efficiency at part load, defrost method, door protection and controls strategy. Ask each bidder to state expected annual energy consumption for your duty — it turns an abstract efficiency claim into a number you can compare. Method: Annual energy (kWh) = average electrical input (kW) × 8,760 h × duty factor. Multiply by your own tariff — this page does not quote prices. Worked example: 50 kW plant × 8,760 h × 0.6 duty = 262,800 kWh per year. Limitations: Duty factor varies with ambient climate, door traffic, defrost and part-load efficiency; hot-climate or high-throughput stores can run well above 0.6. Imperial units: 50 kW ≈ 67 hp ≈ 14.2 TR of electrical input · 1 TR (ton of refrigeration) = 3.517 kW = 12,000 BTU/h.

Question 9

Can cold chain projects be financed?

Accepted Answer

Many banks, development finance institutions and equipment financiers have programmes for cold chain assets, and grants exist in some markets. ColdMatch does not lend and does not give financial advice: for qualified projects we can introduce you to independent financing partners, and any financing decision is made between you and those partners. Lenders typically want to see a defined project scope, credible cost estimates, evidence of product flow or contracted throughput, and a realistic operating budget before they engage. Preparing those documents early — the same documents a good RFQ needs — shortens the financing conversation considerably. Our financing guides explain what lenders typically ask for before approving a cold storage asset. Method: Prepare the same pack a lender and a good RFQ both need: defined project scope, credible cost estimate, evidence of product flow or contracted throughput, and a realistic operating budget. Then approach banks, development finance institutions or equipment financiers. Worked example: A packhouse operator with a signed offtake agreement, a costed 800 m³ cold room design and a 3-year operating budget reaches a term sheet far faster than one with only a land plot and an idea. Limitations: ColdMatch does not lend and does not give financial advice; for qualified projects we can introduce independent financing partners, and any decision is between you and them.

Question 10

Should I choose ammonia (NH₃), CO₂ or a synthetic refrigerant?

Accepted Answer

Ammonia is the workhorse of large industrial plants: highly efficient, cheap refrigerant, zero global warming potential — but toxic, so machine rooms and safety systems are engineered accordingly. CO₂ (transcritical or cascade) suits mid-size facilities and has strong food-industry acceptance. Synthetic refrigerants simplify compliance in smaller plants but face phase-down pressure on cost and availability. Beyond the refrigerant itself, weigh local service capability: the best system on paper is a liability if nobody within a day's travel can maintain it. The right answer depends on size, charge limits, local regulations and operator competence — all things worth fixing before supplier quotes, because changing refrigerant mid-project redesigns the whole plant. Method: Score each option on four axes: plant size, charge and safety limits, local regulation, and — decisively — local service capability. The refrigerant decision locks in machine-room design, so fix it before requesting quotes. Worked example: A 2 MW distribution-centre plant with trained on-site engineers → ammonia is usually the efficient choice. A 200 kW urban food facility without specialist staff → CO₂ or a low-GWP synthetic system is easier to insure and maintain. Limitations: Efficiency rankings shift with climate (CO₂ transcritical loses ground in hot ambients) and with announced refrigerant phase-down schedules. Confirm local rules during quotation.

Question 11

What is the difference between a blast freezer and an IQF freezer?

Accepted Answer

A blast freezer pulls heat out of packaged or bulk product quickly on trolleys or racks — flexible, lower capital cost, but freezing is uneven between the first and last case in. An IQF (individual quick freeze) tunnel freezes loose, small product items individually, which preserves texture and appearance but is product-specific and more expensive. Choose by product form and throughput, not by price alone: if your product is boxed or palletised, IQF brings no benefit; if it is loose berries, seafood or vegetables, a blast room will damage quality and yield. When requesting quotes, state the product, its entry temperature, the target core temperature and the kilograms per hour — those four numbers determine the machine far more than the freezer's nameplate. Method: Product load (kW) = kg/h × [cp above freezing × ΔT + latent heat + cp below freezing × ΔT] ÷ 3,600. Add fan, conveyor and infiltration margins on top. Worked example: 1,000 kg/h fish from +10°C to −18°C (freezing point −2°C): 3.6 × 12 + 250 + 1.8 × 16 = 322 kJ/kg → ≈ 89 kW product load. Limitations: Property values are typical for lean fish; fatty, sugary or packaged products differ. Freezing time depends on product thickness and air velocity, which this formula does not cover. Imperial units: 1,000 kg/h ≈ 2,205 lb/h · +10°C = 50°F, −18°C = 0°F · 89 kW ≈ 305,000 BTU/h ≈ 25.4 TR.

Question 12

Do refrigerant regulations affect my project?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most markets now phase down high-GWP HFCs through quotas, levies or outright bans on new equipment using certain refrigerants, and safety codes restrict where ammonia plant can be located. The practical effect at planning stage is that the refrigerant choice affects the equipment you can buy, the inspection regime and future service costs. A refrigerant that is cheap and legal today may be restricted or prohibitively expensive within the plant's lifetime, so ask suppliers how their offer complies with both current rules and announced phase-down schedules. Confirm current rules for your country with suppliers during quotation rather than assuming yesterday's standards still apply. Method: Check three layers for your country: the HFC phase-down schedule (quota, levy or ban), safety codes for ammonia siting and charge limits, and any efficiency standards attached to permits. Ask each supplier to state compliance with both current rules and announced schedules. Worked example: An HFC that is legal and cheap today may face a steep quota cut within the plant's 15–20 year life, turning a routine top-up into a major unplanned expense. Limitations: Regulations change and vary by country; this answer is a planning checklist, not legal advice. Verify the current schedule with suppliers and local authorities before committing.

Question 13

What does a compliant +2°C to +8°C pharma storage facility require?

Accepted Answer

Beyond the temperature band itself, GDP-aligned projects plan for qualified and mapped storage chambers, redundant refrigeration and power, continuous monitoring with validated sensors, alarmed excursions, and documented procedures for loading, door discipline and product quarantine. Buying the equipment is the smaller half — qualification documentation and operating discipline decide whether the room is audit-ready. When briefing suppliers, ask explicitly what qualification documentation they deliver (DQ, IQ, OQ, PQ and temperature mapping reports) and whether their system has been validated in comparable facilities. A room that holds temperature but cannot prove it to an inspector fails the audit just as surely as one that drifts. Method: Specify beyond temperature: qualified and mapped chambers, redundant refrigeration and power, continuous validated monitoring, alarmed excursions, and documented loading, door-discipline and quarantine procedures. Ask suppliers which qualification documents (DQ, IQ, OQ, PQ, mapping reports) they deliver. Worked example: Setpoint +5°C with alarms at +3°C and +7°C, two independent refrigeration circuits, N+1 monitoring sensors placed from the mapping study, and a documented excursion SOP — that is what an auditor expects to see. Limitations: GDP expectations differ by market and product. The product owner's quality team defines the acceptance criteria; this answer is the procurement-side checklist. Imperial units: +2°C to +8°C = 36–46°F · +5°C = 41°F · alarm band ±2 K = ±3.6°F.

Question 14

What monitoring does a pharma cold room need?

Accepted Answer

Continuous, independent temperature monitoring with mapped sensor positions, time-stamped records that survive a power outage, alarm escalation that reaches a responsible person day and night, and periodic calibration. The monitoring system should be independent of the control system, so a controller failure cannot also blind the alarms. Buyer-side, the questions to put to suppliers are which monitoring system is proposed, where sensors are placed, how records are retained and how the system behaves during power loss. Also ask how calibration is handled locally — a validated sensor that cannot be recalibrated in your country becomes a compliance gap within a year. Method: Require four properties: continuous recording with time stamps, sensor positions from a mapping study, alarm escalation that reaches a responsible person 24/7, and independence from the control system so a controller failure cannot blind the alarms. Add a local calibration plan. Worked example: A mapped +2–8°C room with sensors at the identified hot and cold spots, records retained on battery-backed storage, SMS escalation to two on-call staff, and annual calibration by an in-country lab. Limitations: Monitoring proves compliance; it does not create it. A validated sensor that cannot be recalibrated locally becomes a compliance gap within a year.

Question 15

How does ColdMatch sourcing work?

Accepted Answer

ColdMatch is not an automatic marketplace. You submit your project requirements, the ColdMatch team reviews and structures the project brief — temperatures, product, country, capacity, budget and operational needs — and only after the brief is understood is supplier research carried out. Suitable suppliers are then researched against the requirement and human-reviewed introductions are made where relevant. This sequence matters: approaching suppliers before the brief is clear produces quotes that cannot be compared and wastes both sides' time. The more complete your first submission, the fewer clarification rounds are needed before supplier research can begin. Method: Sequence: you submit project requirements → the ColdMatch team reviews and structures the brief (temperatures, product, country, capacity, budget, operational needs) → supplier research starts only after the brief is understood → human-reviewed introductions are made where relevant. Worked example: A submission stating '−25°C frozen store, 2,000 pallets, fish, West Africa, budget band attached' can move to supplier research after one clarification round; 'need a cold room, send prices' cannot. Limitations: ColdMatch is not an automatic marketplace — no instant supplier list. The completeness of the first submission sets the pace.

Question 16

Is there a minimum project size?

Accepted Answer

Full procurement support is designed for projects of roughly USD $250,000 and above — cold rooms, cold storage warehouses, industrial refrigeration plants and pharma cold chain facilities. The threshold exists because structured supplier research and human review are only economical on projects of that scale. Smaller projects are still served by our guides, calculators and cost benchmarks, which answer most planning questions without a full sourcing engagement. If your project sits near the boundary, submit it anyway with an honest budget figure — the review team will tell you quickly which track fits. Method: Full procurement support is designed for projects of roughly USD $250,000 and above; below that, the guides, calculators and cost benchmarks answer most planning questions without a sourcing engagement. Worked example: A single 40 m³ cold room for a restaurant is typically below the threshold — the size calculator and cost guide cover it. A multi-room food-processing facility is above it. Limitations: The threshold reflects the economics of structured supplier research and human review, not the value of your project. Near the boundary, submit with an honest budget and the team will route it.

Question 17

What does it cost to use ColdMatch?

Accepted Answer

For qualified buyers, the sourcing service is free. ColdMatch is vendor-neutral: no paid ranking, no preferred placement — supplier compensation never decides who is shortlisted. Suppliers and service providers can support the platform through clearly labelled advertising and sponsorship, which is separate from project shortlists. In practice this means the shortlist you receive reflects fit against your brief — capability, experience, geography and capacity — and nothing else. You remain free to negotiate with, contract or decline any supplier introduced; ColdMatch is an intermediary, not a party to your contract. Method: For qualified buyers the sourcing service is free. ColdMatch is vendor-neutral: no paid ranking, no preferred placement, and supplier compensation never decides who is shortlisted. Suppliers can support the platform through clearly labelled advertising that is separate from project shortlists. Worked example: A shortlist of three suppliers for a frozen warehouse reflects fit against the brief — capability, experience, geography, capacity — and nothing else; you remain free to negotiate with, contract or decline any of them. Limitations: ColdMatch is an intermediary, not a party to your contract; commercial terms are agreed directly between you and the supplier.

Question 18

How long does a sourcing request take?

Accepted Answer

Every request is reviewed manually by the ColdMatch project team, and the time needed depends on the completeness of your brief and the complexity of the scope — a well-specified project moves faster than one that still needs its technical boundaries defined. Providing temperature class, capacity, product, country and budget in your first message removes most of the back-and-forth. Multi-site or multi-technology projects naturally take longer to structure than a single cold room. We deliberately do not promise fixed turnaround hours, because a careful review of a complex brief is worth more than a fast superficial one. Method: Review time scales with brief completeness and scope complexity: temperature class, capacity, product, country and budget in the first message remove most back-and-forth; multi-site or multi-technology projects take longer to structure. Worked example: A single cold room with the five key inputs provided typically needs one clarification round; a three-country rollout with mixed chilled and frozen facilities needs several structuring rounds before supplier research. Limitations: We deliberately do not promise fixed turnaround hours — a careful review of a complex brief is worth more than a fast superficial one.

Question 19

What should an RFQ for refrigeration equipment include?

Accepted Answer

At minimum: scope and duty (temperatures, capacities, product and throughput), site constraints (power supply, footprint, ambient conditions, permits), required standards and codes, expected delivery and commissioning milestones, and commercial terms such as payment structure and warranties. A structured RFQ lets suppliers quote like-for-like and prevents most disputes later. The two omissions that cause the most trouble are ambient design conditions — a plant sized for a European climate underperforms in the Gulf — and the boundary of supply, meaning who provides panels, electrical works, commissioning and training. The RFQ Builder generates a structured document from your answers, and the procurement page explains what we need before approaching suppliers for a real quote. Method: Cover five blocks: scope and duty (temperatures, capacities, product, throughput), site constraints (power, footprint, ambient conditions, permits), required standards and codes, delivery and commissioning milestones, and commercial terms (payment structure, warranties). Worked example: The two omissions that cause the most trouble: ambient design conditions — a plant sized for a European climate underperforms in the Gulf — and the boundary of supply, meaning who provides panels, electrical works, commissioning and training. Limitations: A structured RFQ lets suppliers quote like-for-like; it does not replace the technical specification for complex plants. The RFQ Builder generates the structured document from your answers.

Question 20

Which countries and suppliers does ColdMatch cover?

Accepted Answer

ColdMatch sources globally across a network of more than 100 qualified refrigeration and cold chain equipment suppliers, with dedicated market pages for high-demand regions in Africa, the Middle East, Europe and beyond. Where a market has particular import duties, climate conditions or standards, the market pages explain the local adjustments that matter for budgeting and supplier selection. Coverage is not limited to countries with a dedicated page — those pages exist where buyer demand is concentrated, but supplier research is run for any credible project location. If your country is not listed, submit the project with its location and the review team will assess which suppliers can serve it, including regional service and spare-parts support. Method: ColdMatch sources globally across 100+ qualified refrigeration and cold chain suppliers. Dedicated market pages exist where buyer demand is concentrated; for any other credible location, the review team assesses which suppliers can serve it, including regional service and spare-parts support. Worked example: A project in a country without a dedicated market page is still sourced — the team checks which suppliers have delivered, installed or serviced comparable facilities in that region. Limitations: Coverage means supplier research capability, not a guarantee that every technology is available in every market. Import duties, climate and standards are assessed per project.

Cold Chain FAQ: Cold Storage, Refrigeration and Procurement Questions

Cold storage basics

Costs and budgeting

Refrigeration technology

Pharma cold chain

Procuring with ColdMatch

You submit one RFQ. Our team handles the supplier outreach.

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