COLD ROOMS

INSULPANEL MANUAL 7 OF 7

C O L D

ROOMS

INSULPANEL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INSULPANEL WALL INSULPANEL ROOF INSULFOIL INSTALLATION COLD ROOMS
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A. SPECIFICATIONS
On this section, we present the minimum requirements that
Fanosa suggests to take into account when building, expanding or
renovating an area to use it as a cold room or refrigerator. It must
be clarified that these recommendations must not be considered
as exclusive since each project has unique characteristics that
require their evaluation.

Condition Temperature

Comfort From 70 to 80°F

Refrigerator From 32 to +60°F
Freezer From 32 to -86°F

1.- COLD ROOM DIMENSIONS

The cold room dimensions will be based on the individual project
or on the client’s needs. The thickness in both walls will depend
01 on the temperature required inside the cold room, either a room
with a comfortable temperature, a refrigerator or a freezer.

It has been found that in order to ensure that a panel is not

damaged during production, handling, shipping and installation,
its minimum thickness must be its length divided by 90, which
will facilitate its handling.

It is recommended to leave a clearance of at least 1.5 ft from the

panels in order to perform maintenance to the joints, seals, vapor
barriers, fasteners, and screws and bolts between panels. It is
important to obtain a study regarding the maximum outdoor
temperatures and the relative humidity for the region where
the facility will be located; these data will serve as a reference to
obtain the panel’s thickness. In order to determine the ideal panel
thickness, check with FANOSA’S Technical Assistance Department.

2.- INSULATION
Currently, the rigid polystyrene foam is the material most
frequently used for the insulation of refrigerators.

In order to obtain the best results for an Insulpanel insulation,

the installations must be carried out in a proper way following the
norms set for the building of refrigerators.
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Insulation thickness
The insulation thickness required for a specific situation can be
precisely calculated based on the operating temperature, the
local average temperature and the inflow of heat through walls
and ceilings considered during the selection of refrigeration
equipment.

Generally speaking, in practice the insulation thickness is selected

from charts prepared based on the operating temperatures.

3.- VAPOR BARRIER

The vapor barrier is a water vapor resistant membrane that
must be installed on the insulation’s hottest side. This barrier
prevents the entry of water vapor found in the air to the inside
of the insulation; if this would occur, the insulation would lose its
efficiency, and if the chamber operates at temperatures below the
freezing point, ice would form and its accumulation might destroy
the insulation.

The impermeability of the vapor barrier will vary depending on 02

the operating temperature, and the environmental temperature
and relative humidity; it is defined by the PERM unit.

One PERM is the equivalent to one water vapor grain going

through one square feet of surface during an hour and under one
inch of pressure.

Service Vapor barrier’s maximum permeability

Refrigeration 0.1 PERM

Freezing 0.01 PERM

The vapor barrier might be manufactured with asphaltic compounds or polyethylene aluminum membranes.
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86°F
Operating
77°F Cook, bake and fry
temperatures
68°F

60°F Handling and processing foods

This diagram shows the operating

50° F
temperature relative to the use in a
Fruits and vegetables from 47 °F to 54 °F
specific field.
41°F
Cold product storage
32°F

23°F Mortuaries, fruits, vegetables and fresh

meats.
14°F

5°F
Frozen meats and foods
-4°F

-13°F

-22°F Meats, fish and food frozen during longer periods

of time. Frozen vegetables and ice cream.
-31°F

°F
03

4.- THERMAL REQUIREMENTS

The thermal transmission through the panels between the interior
2
and exterior sides must not exceed 3.17 Btu/ n. ft (we must note
that this data help us determine the panel’s thickness, and not
to determine the refrigeration capacity, which falls outside this
brochure’s scope).

5.- AIR CHAMBER

It is a cover used as a panel protection installed over the enclosure
of the Insulpanel at a height of 5 ft. It is recommended to get
brand new building materials, and not used.
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Air chamber
Cold room

Outside cover

Concrete based protection

5 ft
Floor slab

Insulpanel Wall based

ceiling
Structure
Recommended separation
between the Insulpanel and
the outside cover
Supports for ceilings or
panels with threaded rods
Floor insulation based on
expanded polystyrene
board
Insulpanel insulation on
walls *Basic example of an Insulpanel cold room, interior walls and ceilings; sheet metal structure.

04
6.- SEALING
For the joints, it is recommended to provide a seal on both sides
using butyl or silicone, which is an elastic clay with only one
polyurethane-based ingredient, for the sealing of architectural
joints. It is available in white and sand colors.

B. INSTALLATION DETAILS

1.- PANEL DETAILS

The image shows a detailed view of the sealant use during the
panel’s installation, where it is recommended to use a threaded
rod for the suspension of the panel and sealant.
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Coupler-based hanger and

3/8” rod

Insulpanel Wall

Butyl or silicon

Aluminum “T” ¼” thick

Self-drilling screw #8 x ¾” @ 1 ft

Non-conductive upper plate

Perimeter seal for nuts
3/8” smooth rod with
threaded ends*
Coupler (when the distance to the
structure requires 2 or more rods)

Structure’s idler on the

building
*Materials not supplied by FANOSA

05

Tuner-based hanger and

3/8” rod

On-site insulation (only for cold

room)

#10x1” screws @1ft

Butyl or silicon

Insulpanel Wall
Connector

3/8”x1-1/2” screw with three

washers and a nut*
Aluminum tee*
Continuous seal on the panel
joint with molding
Vapor barrier*
*Materials not supplied by FANOSA Continuous flat molding
3/8” tuner or tensioner when
leveling is required
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Support-based idler hanger

(cutaway view)

Support structure for cover*

3/8” galvanized threaded rod

@ 3 ft*

3/8” nut and galvanized washer

Butyl or silicon, on the inside

Support element according to

the structural calculation*

Special flashing molding with a

10 to 20 in development

Phillips screw #8 x ¾” @1ft, or

pop-type rivet AM-54

Insulpanel Wall as ceiling

06
2.- DETAILS OF JOINTS ALONG WALLS AND COVERS
COLD ROOM EXTERIOR
Wall intersection for cold
room (plan view)
CF 001

Butyl or silicon

Phillips screw #8 x ¾” @1 ft,

or pop-type rivet AM-54

Interior corner, gauge 26 COLD ROOM INTERIOR COLD ROOM INTERIOR

Polyurethane; required for

temperatures below 23°F
Cut sheet metal on-site to break
the thermal bridge

*Materials not supplied by FANOSA

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COLD ROOM EXTERIOR

STRUCTURE
Wall joint - Cross Section
CF 002
D
Insulpanel Wall

Butyl or silicon
A C A
Polyurethane; required for
temperatures below 23 °F

Butyl or silicon;
required for temperatures
below 23 °F B
COLD ROOM INTERIOR

Cold Room Roof Fastening

CF 003

Self-drilling screw with a 1/4” COLD ROOM EXTERIOR

diameter and a length 3” longer
than the Insulpanel’s thickness
on each idler

Metal Washer
07 Insulpanel Roof COLD ROOM INTERIOR

Butyl or silicon

Idler according to the structural

calculation
*Note: to freezing temperatures is necessary to use the dowel Fablock
Polyurethane; required for
temperatures below 23 °F

Wall joint – Cover for cold

COLD ROOM EXTERIOR
room exterior (cutaway view)
CF 004

Cut sheet metal on-site to break

the thermal bridge

Butyl or silicon

Phillips screw #8 x ¾” @1ft,

or pop type rivet AM-54
COLD ROOM EXTERIOR COLD ROOM INTERIOR Interior corner, 26 gauge

Insulpanel Wall

Polyurethane; required for

temperatures below 23°F
Insulpanel Roof
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COLD ROOM EXTERIOR Wall joint – Cover for cold
room interior
CF 005

Butyl or silicon

Phillips screw #8 x ¾” @1ft,

or pop-type rivet AM-54

Interior corner, 26 gauge

COLD ROOM EXTERIOR (see detail on plan #08, esqx)

Phillips screw #8 x ¾” @ 1 ft.

COLD ROOM INTERIOR
or pop-type rivet AM-54

Insulpanel Wall

Interior corner, 26 gauge

Insulpanel Wall as ceiling

Cut steel sheet on-site to break

the thermal bridge

Polyurethane; required for

temperatures below 23°F

C. UNDERGROUND INSULATION
Exterior wall foundation on
freezer with flashing molding
base board
CG 007
08
Insulpanel Wall
20 in
Sanitary curve

Q #8 x ¾” Phillips screw

Butyl or silicon

Retaining wall

Remove sheet metal to continue

the insulation

Cover with a window screen

0.5% slope

Compacted soil

Aeration piping
Gravel layer

16 in Lean concrete layer

Polystyrene-based insulating
plates
Work surface
NGL
Protection for front loader
crossing
FREEZER’S EXTERIOR WALL Injection of polyurethane based
sealant; 2 lb/ft³ density
Q Anchor nail @1ft
*Note: Basic sample; project, temperatures and floor plan will be evaluated to define the ideal solution.
 COLD ROOMS

D. THERMAL BOW

The thermal bow might be defined as the force caused by the

temperature variations between the panel’s internal and external Detail of thermal bow
sides. This difference found between temperatures leads to the
panel’s deformity. The wall’s thermal bow is an effect that requires
attention, that is why the proper fixing method must be assured,
distributing the forces produced by the steel sheet’s movements.

This phenomenon is not exclusive to Insulpanel or panels

Wind
Cold
Hot
with a coreintegrated insulation. It is a phenomenon or effect
experienced by all building materials, such as concrete surfaces or
slabs. The information presented herein is to advice the user about
the importance of this phenomenon and how to reduce it mainly
in walls and covers where the Insulpanel is used.

According to the thermal needs on each project (interior operating

09 temperature), the building’s orientation, as well as its geographic
location (exterior working temperature), it is calculated that
a temperature differential is generated between both spaces,
known as “thermal gradient”.

It is found within any kind of material, but it is recommended

to focus on its evaluation when the panel will be used in spaces
operating as cold rooms or freezers, where the thickness’s design
recommends to not only consider the thermal gradient, but also
to verify that when the panel’s length is over 26 ft, the interior
thermal cuts are made for the expansion joints.

For this purpose, the following factors and recommendations

must be taken into account:

• The panel’s proper thickness.

• The thermal cut in the panel, also known as “expansion joint”.
• The panel color, preferably white or embossed steel sheet.
• Using repetitive patterns on the panel’s exposed steel sheet.
As a “shallow” or “nine groove” profile, or in special cases, use the
ridged panel (“three deck”, also known as Insulpanel Ceiling), in
order to give this wall a capacity greater than the thermal effects.
• Reducing the tension on the fixing screws in order to liberate
temperature-based tension on these fixing points. It is possible to
use fixing elements that work on the inside steel sheet, such as
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the stud “FABLOK”, which due to its structural capacity and properties, it
can substitute any type of screw.

• The panel’s shading, which may be considered part of the building’s

orientation.
• If the panel’s thickness and length meet the requirements for a thermal
warping, it will not be necessary to perform the thermal cut or other
aforementioned considerations.
• You can check with our technical department for any questions about the
selection of panels that best suit your needs.
THERMAL CUT (EXPANSION JOINT) In order to alleviate the stress on the
cold side, and to reduce to a minimum the movements on the panel’s critical
spots, it is recommended to perform at least one horizontal cut along the
wall’s panels, on the inside face, locating it preferably on the structure’s idler
that is closest to the height’s middle point in order to hide it. On panels of
greater length, at least two cuts must be performed in order to create this
expansion joint.

Preferably, on the structure’s idler that is closest to the height’s middle point
in order to hide them.

Expansion Joint 10
Steel sheet cut

Fixing angle

Idler

Screw #14 x ¾” @1ft or solder

EXTERIOR
Fablok stud SIDE

Insulpanel Wall

INTERIOR SIDE

FANOSA provides the following information as a backup for the application of all products. FANOSA cannot be held responsible for any product misuse. Likewise, to verify applicability it is recommended
that, at the client’s expense, the advice of a specialist be obtained.
FANOSA under no circumstances will be responsible for the installation and/or accessories used for installation of products sold.
FANOSA expressly disclaims all warranties, express or implied. By making this information available FANOSA is not providing professional services and assumes no duty or liability with respect to any person
who makes use of such information.
Similarly, FANOSA would not be liable for any claim, demand, injury, loss, expense, cost, legal fees or liability of any kind, in any way arising out of or connected with the use of the information contained in this
publication, whether or not such claim, demand, injury, loss, expense, cost, legal fees or liability results directly or indirectly from any act or omission of FANOSA. Any party using the information contained in
this manual assumes all liability arising from such use. Because there are risks associated with the handling, installing or use of steel and accessories, we recommend that the parties involved in the handling,
installing or use review all applicable material safety data sheets from the manufacturer, as well as rules and regulations from the Secretary of Labor and Social Security and other government agencies having
jurisdiction over such handling, installing or use, and other relevant building practices publications.

Issue 01, August 2014 FANOSA reserves the right to change, without notice, the data hereof.
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www.fanosa.com 619 6775706