Condensation in cold rooms can be a persistent and problematic issue, caused when warm air from outside contacts the cool surfaces of cold store doors, door frames and metal fixtures. Condensation should never be ignored in cold rooms as it can cause mould to grow, cause costly damage to the structure of the store, and may breach health and safety regulations. Identifying and resolving the root cause is, therefore, important.
The Causes Of Condensation In Cold Rooms
Before you take steps to eradicate condensation from your cold store, it’s important to identify the cause, and there are several possible reasons for its appearance:
1) Poor Ventilation:
A lack of ventilation is the prime cause of condensation, not just in commercial cold stores, but in all sorts of domestic and business locations. Poor ventilation allows the build-up of moisture in the air which, when it meets cold external surfaces, causes water droplets to form. Pooling of water close to the cold room may indicate a ventilation problem.
2) Warm Ambient Temperature:
If the air temperature outside the cold room is warm, it will probably be humid inside. If the warm air comes into contact with panels or fixtures, it will rapidly condense.
Incorrectly sealed panels will let air out, which affects temperature control. For optimal performance, it’s important that panels are properly insulated.
Opening the cold room door can cause temporary fluctuations in the internal temperature that may lead to condensation appearing. This is normal. However, persistent condensation close to the door can indicate a problem with the door seal that must be resolved.
How To Solve Persistent Condensation Problems
Depending on the cause of the problem, several solutions could resolve the issue:
1) Replace The Door Seal
The most important step to resolving condensation problems in your cold store is to replace the door seal to eliminate the thermal bridge that conducts heat from outside the room to the inside. This will ensure that the seal is airtight all the way around the frame, so that warm air from outside the cold room can’t seep in when the door is closed.
2) Secondary Barrier
If the door is being constantly used during operation then a secondary barrier could help prevent warm air ingress. Ideal choices include PVC strip curtains.
3) Make Some Minor Adjustments
If the seal appears to be intact and in good condition, adjust the door handle strike so that a tighter fit is achieved when the door is closed. This is a simple yet potentially effective solution to the problem of persistent condensation in a cold store.
4) Increase Ventilation
Poor air flow can be addressed by increasing ventilation in the vicinity of the cold store, or by installing an extractor fan to remove some of the excess humidity from the air. If left unresolved, water pools on the floor can pose a slip hazard to operatives.
Professional Installation & Support From MTCSS
Fortunately, a cold room condensation problem is not difficult to resolve, although ignoring it could prove costly in the long-term. Professional design and installation of your cold stores is essential to help prevent the issue from occurring, so for more information on our cold room services, get in touch with us today.
