Feature
COLD STORAGE PROJECTS
– A QUICK GUIDE
By Ilana Koegelenberg
As we continue our look at HVAC&R in application, we chat to industry
professionals about the ins and outs of cold storage projects and how to
offer clients the best possible solution for their needs.
A
fter getting various comments over the years that we
don’t emphasise the ‘R’ in RACA Journal enough, the
2019 features list includes a number of refrigeration features.
For this edition, our refrigeration journey focuses on the topic
of cold storage: very relevant considering the number of cold
stores I see going up not only in Johannesburg, but around
the country.
Just to make sure we’re on the same page, a cold store
is a large, insulated refrigerated room or building designed
for storage of goods in an environment below the outdoor
temperature. Products needing refrigeration include fruit,
vegetables, seafood, meat, and anything else perishable –
even already frozen goods like ice cream.
These stores can be located on the farm itself or even at the
point of shipping at the harbour, or at any link of the cold chain.
Some are owned by the client directly, and many companies
rent out cold storage space for smaller clients or those who
don’t want the hassle of running a cold store themselves.
We chat to local contractors and engineers about how to
design these systems as well as how to install and maintain
them. What regulations govern these installations and how do
you improve energy efficiency? From challenges to trends and
everything in between — read more for your ‘crash course’ in
cold storage projects.
REGULATIONS
You can’t simply build a cold store any which way you want.
There are numerous regulations and standards that need to be
followed, in particular, to obtain an Occupation Certificate for
a building, which insurance companies are starting to demand
on new build projects, explains Christo van der Merwe of
Marine and Refrigeration Engineering (MRE).
Some of these regulations include:
• SANS 10400 (structural steelwork, building works,
building efficiency, and fire engineering)
• SANS 10147, SANS 347 (refrigeration installations)
• SANS 10142 (electrical installations).
There are also various product-dependent regulations,
explains Grant Ford of Matador Refrigeration. For example,
pharmaceuticals and flammable products must adhere to
strict health and safety regulations, including that electrical
work must have a certain amount of protection to avoid sparks
should a malfunction occur.
The size of the
cold store will
influence which
refrigeration
system should be
selected.
www.hvacronline.co.za
RACA Journal I June 2019
29