A cold store differs from a regular warehouse in that the envelope must be thermally continuous. Every point where the structure passes through the insulation layer is a thermal bridge, and a thermal bridge collects condensation, freezes and gradually damages the structure itself.
CGD has in-house lead engineers certified for refrigeration machinery and equipment, so the refrigeration and construction teams work together from the first sketch rather than joining the two at the end. For high-bay cold stores, we address the thermal and structural problems for automated racking at the same time.
Scope of work
- Process flow layout: receiving, freezing, storage, order picking and dispatch areas
- Insulated building envelope; thermal bridge treatment at column bases, beams and penetrations
- Floor level and dock doors matched to the vehicles and handling equipment to be used
- Slab protected against frost heave, with underfloor heating where needed
- Refrigeration system, refrigerant selection, machine room layout and condensate drainage
- Fire protection for cold storage — a subject with its own regulations, not simply the regular warehouse standards
- High-bay cold storage with automated racking: combining thermal and structural design
Why choose CGD for this work
- The lead engineer certified for refrigeration machinery and equipment is part of the CGD team, not outsourced.
- Prepared warehouse and distribution center documents for logistics and retail investors.
- The same team continues with supervision, so insulation details are checked on site against the drawings.
Projects delivered
New service, not yet linked to any project in the public portfolio.
Related free tools
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Related articles
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- Cold storage design: 7 decisions that must be finalized before drawing the floor plan
Frequently asked questions
What floor level should a cold store have?
There is no one-size-fits-all figure. It must match the vehicles and handling equipment of the owner's own operation. We have a separate article analyzing this in detail.
Can CGD also handle the refrigeration and MEP part?
Yes. The refrigeration and MEP disciplines both have in-house lead engineers, working together with the structural discipline.
Does a cold store require separate fire safety approval?
Yes. Cold storage falls into a category with its own requirements, and CGD holds lead certificates for fire protection design consulting and supervision.
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