Cold storage facilities must adhere to strict temperature guidelines. When designed correctly, they function more efficiently and reduce costs for maintenance. Take a look at three design principles in Ware Malcomb principal Cameron Trefry which maximize the value of real estate in these exclusive structures.
Warehouse owners of cold storage have a greater emphasis on worker comfort in order to draw many more employees. This is crucial as a labor shortage persists.
Maximizing Efficiency
Cold storage facilities should be located in areas with easy access to transportation infrastructure that can connect to a huge customer base. Additionally, they need to be close to raw materials, packaging and labor.
When planning your building take into consideration the kind of products you’re storing and how much you’ll be keeping in each space. Different types of perishables produce the heat in the form of latent heat, which needs to be dissipated through ventilation and cooling systems.
Also, using automation tools like Automated Guided Vehicles (AGV) in your warehouse will improve efficiency and reduce handling errors inside your business. A well-planned approach to planning these systems in your facility design can assure that you’re prepared to make use of these technologies right from the start. This can save time and costs in the long term, while ensuring the cold storage facility you have in place can provide excellent service to customers.
Product Safety
Cold storage facilities are typically used to store and ship products that are perishable, and require a high degree of specialized attention. In a cold storage facility, there are carries several risks that must be taken into account to ensure worker safety as well as product integrity and warehouse efficiency.
Safety measures for workers should include equipment, such as warm coats, gloves and insulated clothing when working inside cold storage rooms. Also, any facility that uses refrigeration systems made up of ammonia needs to take proper fire prevention measures.
Utilizing sprinkler systems and frequently checking them regularly is a way to reduce the risk of fire. Furthermore, incorporating heated spaces in existing or new-construction natural warehouses (a box-in-box strategy) is a different way to limit fire risks and shield stored goods from harm. Additionally, a well-designed warehouse layout can significantly reduce the number of trips required for employees to travel across different zones of operation.
Key Considerations
Cold storage facilities employ two primary kinds of refrigeration: vapor absorption and recompression. It is crucial for the design team to comprehend the demands of these systems and their ability to operate within the building.
The most crucial consideration of an owner’s equipment is a system of refrigeration that can operate for a long time that consumes minimal energy, and an extremely small footprint. This is accomplished by integrating it into the overall construction design. This can reduce roof and floor square space without affecting storage capacity.
Another crucial aspect is that the storage space for cold-storage should be designed with an enclosure, which is designed to block out outside air. This is important for both separate facilities as well as for cold storage areas inside larger buildings. These attached structures big anterooms that are maintained with a moderate temperature in between outdoor and storage areas can aid in preventing condensation from walls and roof assemblies.
Best Practices
Having clear communication between each of the third parties that are part of the cold storage supply chain is crucial to optimizing logistics. This will help prevent problems that can cause costly delays.
Making sure that the equipment you choose to use is designed for cold temperatures is important. For instance, touchscreens on machines should be designed to be responsive with gloved fingers. Additionally, buttons must be large enough to allow for a good feel when you wear heavy gloves. It is also important to regularly replace batteries, because they will degrade more quickly in colder environments.
In the end, it’s essential to properly seal and insulate your construction envelope in a way that ensures an ongoing vapor barrier. This will save you a significant amount of energy in the long run. Additionally, efficient lighting is crucial to ensure proper performance of tasks and visibility of safety signs for those working outside in the cold.
Cold Storage Sustainability and Technology
Cold storage warehouses need lots of care for maintaining the correct temperature. This is particularly the case with fruits and vegetables, which require specific temperature requirements to preserve their quality.
Numerous kho thuc pham dong lanh facilities today adopt eco-friendly design and construction techniques and are often unaware of they are doing it. Recycling insulation, as well as eco-friendly building materials reduces the carbon footprint of production and also provide long-term savings through energy efficiency.
In addition to the load of service from refrigeration illumination, ventilation as well as occupant traffic Cold storage facilities are required to release heat generated through ripening fruits and other processes. The energy-efficient concrete slab construction and a building envelope that has a high R value aid in reducing this load of heat which in turn reduces energy bills.