{"id":2409,"date":"2023-02-01T01:22:14","date_gmt":"2023-02-01T01:22:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vikkins.com\/?p=2409"},"modified":"2026-07-01T23:59:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T23:59:00","slug":"cold-room-panel-buyers-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vikkins.com\/fr\/cold-room-panel-buyers-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Comment choisir des panneaux de chambre froide : un guide d'achat complet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Choosing the right cold room panel<\/strong> is one of the most consequential decisions in any cold storage project. The panel is not just a wall \u2014 it is the thermal barrier that keeps your product safe, and it will quietly set your energy bill for the next 15 to 20 years. Get it right, and the cold room holds temperature effortlessly and cheaply. Get it wrong, and the refrigeration plant runs constantly, energy costs climb, and product quality suffers. This guide walks through every decision a buyer actually has to make \u2014 core material, thickness, facing, locking system, and how to spot a panel that has been quietly cheapened \u2014 so you can specify with confidence.<\/p>

\"Cold<\/figure>

Cold room panels are prefabricated to fixed lengths, widths and thicknesses, then assembled on site.<\/strong><\/p>

What a cold room panel actually is<\/h2>

A cold room panel \u2014 also called an insulated sandwich panel or cold storage board \u2014 is a composite element built from three layers: two metal facings on the outside and a rigid insulation core in the middle. The core does the thermal work; the facings protect the core, give the panel its structural strength, and provide a hygienic, cleanable surface. Panels are prefabricated in a factory to precise dimensions and joined on site with a locking system, forming continuous insulated walls and ceilings for the cold room.<\/p>

Because the panel is a system, choosing well means matching several properties to your application at once: the temperature you need to hold, the fire and hygiene rules you must meet, the loads the panel will carry, and the budget you have to work with. The sections below take these one at a time.<\/p>

Decision 1: The core material<\/h2>

The insulation core is the single most important choice, because it sets the panel’s thermal performance, fire behaviour, and moisture resistance. Three core materials dominate the market: polyurethane (PU) and its higher-fire-grade cousin polyisocyanurate (PIR); expanded polystyrene (EPS); and rock wool (mineral fibre). The comparison chart below summarises how they differ across the properties that matter most.<\/p>

\"Cold<\/figure>

PU \/ PIR \u2014 the cold storage benchmark<\/h3>

Rigid polyurethane is the industry benchmark for cold storage, and for good reason. Its thermal conductivity (\u03bb) is roughly 0.020\u20130.024 W\/(m\u00b7K) \u2014 about half that of EPS and rock wool \u2014 which means a thinner PU panel delivers the same insulation as a much thicker panel of any other material. In a freezer where every degree costs money, that efficiency compounds year after year. PU is also hydrophobic: it does not readily absorb water, so its insulation value stays stable over time and the panel resists the moisture problems that plague cold rooms. For applications that demand better fire performance, PIR uses the same production process but a modified chemistry to reach a B \/ B1 fire rating with lower smoke emission and self-extinguishing behaviour. For most walk-in cold rooms, freezers and cold-chain facilities, PU or PIR is the default choice.<\/p>

\"Cross-section<\/figure>

A PU \/ PIR cold room panel: rigid foam core bonded between two steel facings.<\/strong><\/p>

EPS \u2014 the budget option for high-temperature rooms<\/h3>

Expanded polystyrene is the lowest-cost core. Its thermal conductivity is higher (around 0.038\u20130.042 W\/(m\u00b7K)), so an EPS panel has to be noticeably thicker to match PU, and it absorbs more moisture over its life. Where EPS earns its place is in budget-sensitive projects with modest temperature demands \u2014 high-temperature cold rooms above 0 \u00b0C, staging areas, or short-life installations where the lower upfront cost outweighs the higher running cost. For freezers and low-temperature storage, EPS is generally a false economy.<\/p>

Rock wool \u2014 when fire performance comes first<\/h3>

Rock wool (mineral fibre) is the choice when fire safety is the governing requirement. It is non-combustible and typically carries an A-grade fire rating, far above PU or EPS, and it adds useful sound absorption. Its thermal conductivity is similar to EPS (around 0.038\u20130.045 W\/(m\u00b7K)), so it is not as thermally efficient as PU, and it is heavier and more prone to absorbing moisture. Rock wool panels are specified where building codes or insurers demand non-combustible construction \u2014 often in fire compartment walls, or facilities handling flammable goods \u2014 rather than for pure thermal efficiency.<\/p>

Decision 2: Panel thickness by temperature<\/h2>

Once the core is chosen, thickness follows from the temperature you need to hold. Colder rooms need thicker panels to slow heat transfer and keep the refrigeration load manageable. The values below are the industry norms for PU \/ PIR panels \u2014 the reference most buyers start from.<\/p>
Room type<\/strong><\/td>Typical temperature<\/strong><\/td>PU\/PIR thickness<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
High \/ medium-temp cold room<\/td>+15 \u00b0C to 0 \u00b0C<\/td>75\u2013100 mm<\/td><\/tr>
Low-temperature chill room<\/td>0 \u00b0C to \u221218 \u00b0C<\/td>100\u2013120 mm<\/td><\/tr>
Freezer \/ cold storage<\/td>\u221218 \u00b0C to \u221225 \u00b0C<\/td>120\u2013150 mm<\/td><\/tr>
Blast freezer \/ deep freeze<\/td>below \u221225 \u00b0C<\/td>150\u2013200 mm<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

These are starting points, not absolutes. The right thickness also depends on your climate \u2014 a cold room in a hot, humid region faces a larger temperature difference across the wall and may need a step up in thickness \u2014 and on how hard you want the refrigeration plant to work. Under-specifying thickness to save on panel cost simply shifts the cost to the electricity bill, every day, for the life of the building. When in doubt, size up.<\/p>

Decision 3: The facing material<\/h2>

The two metal facings determine the panel’s durability, hygiene and corrosion resistance. The most common choice is pre-painted (colour-coated) galvanised steel, which is economical, durable and available in a range of RAL colours. For interiors with strict hygiene demands \u2014 food processing, pharmaceutical and medical cold chains \u2014 stainless steel facings offer a smooth, non-porous, corrosion-resistant surface that withstands aggressive cleaning and disinfection.<\/p>

A practical detail many buyers miss: the two facings do not have to be the same. It is common and cost-effective to specify a stainless steel facing on the hygienic interior side and a coated galvanised steel facing on the exterior, tailoring each side to its conditions. Whatever the material, the steel gauge matters \u2014 reputable manufacturers use facings of 0.4 mm or thicker, and a thinner facing is one of the first places a panel gets quietly cheapened.<\/p>

\"Cold<\/figure>

The facing gives the panel its strength, hygiene and corrosion resistance; the core does the insulating.<\/strong><\/p>

Decision 4: The locking system and joints<\/h2>

A cold room is only as good as its joints. Even a high-performance panel will leak cold and waste energy if the seams between panels are loose or poorly sealed. Quality cold room panels use a cam-lock (eccentric hook) system built into the tongue-and-groove edges: as the cam turns, it pulls adjacent panels tight together, compressing the seal and closing the joint. This does three things \u2014 it speeds installation, it ensures a tight, repeatable joint, and it minimises the thermal bridging and air leakage that undermine insulation. When comparing panels, ask about the locking system and the edge profile, not just the core and thickness.<\/p>

How to spot a panel that has been cheapened<\/h2>

Two panels can look identical and perform very differently. The savings a low-cost supplier offers usually come from places you cannot see once the panel is installed. Three things separate a quality cold room panel from a cheapened one:<\/p>