Cold rooms are not only reserved for professional use. In fact, it is possible to install one in a private home, especially if it has a basement. You can use it to store perishable foodstuffs. It will also avoid overloading your fridge and freezer. However, you should know that there are two categories of cold rooms. There are the positive cold rooms and the negative cold rooms. Their use is different, as well as their temperature. In any case, their construction must comply with the imposed standards. Find out more about this in this article.
What Type of Cold Room Do You Need?
Cold rooms are available in two categories: the positive cold room and the negative cold room. The first one, with a temperature around 3°C, is a storage place for foodstuffs that do not require freezing, such as vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. The positive cold room can also be used to store medicines and products essential to the pharmaceutical sector. It is also the ideal storage space for plants and flowers. The temperature of around 2°C keeps them in good condition and shape.
On the other hand, if you plan to use your cold room to store food products for a more extended period, you should choose the negative cold room. This storage place where the temperature can reach below 18°C is intended to conserve meats, seafood, ice cream, etc. Moreover, you should know that there are different forms of cold rooms. Some modular or kit models are affordable and particularly suitable for prepared products. However, depending on your space, it is also possible to opt for a custom-made construction. In addition, with the custom model, you can add additional accessories, such as shelves.
How to Build a Custom Cold Room?
The custom cold room is the best option for a single house, regardless of the size of your home and its configuration. It also gives you more freedom in choosing the covering and the accessories to be installed. In any case, you must consider the technical constraints related to the cold room. Therefore, choose a covering that respects hygiene standards (easy to clean and washable) and is fireproof.
You can also ask for the advice of an installer specializing in the cold room business. You should know that it is also forbidden to place food products on the floor in a cold room. You must therefore install furniture adapted to the products you wish to store. It is recommended to choose a dismountable shelf to facilitate cleaning.
A cold room, whether positive or negative, must also have lighting. It is not only more practical for loading and storing products, but it is also for safety reasons. Nevertheless, make sure to choose lighting adapted to the climatic conditions of a cold room. LED lights are the most commonly used, as they are perfectly suited to low temperatures. You should also think about other safety measures such as the installation of a warning light on the outside or an audible alarm that will give an alert in case someone is accidentally locked in the cold room. According to the regulations, a cold room must also be equipped with a temperature recording device. This is very essential, since it facilitates the control of the interior temperature.
