Today, in this article, we want to talk about the usable space for food cold storage. Join us until the end of the article. Nowadays, the diversity of consumable food products has significantly increased. A wide range of products require several stages to reach the consumer, which can be time-consuming. For example, a product needs substantial preservation time to reach distribution and ultimately the store. Many of these products must be stored at low temperatures for an extended period to remain fresh and prevent spoilage. Therefore, to maintain the health of food and prevent spoilage, we need to rely on cold storage facilities. The performance of a cold storage facility can be likened to that of a refrigerator or freezer.

Before delving into the suitable space for constructing a cold storage facility, it’s better to consider the types of cold storage. Cold storage facilities are generally categorized into sub-zero and above-zero. Above-zero cold storage facilities are known for storing specific food items such as dairy products, vegetables, protein products, mushrooms, etc. Sub-zero cold storage facilities, on the other hand, store items like various frozen meats, ice cream, cream, etc. Additionally, these mentioned facilities can also be used for storing medicines.

Reviewing the Standards for Usable Space in Food Cold Storage

In this part of the article, we’ll discuss the requirements for usable space in food cold storage. It’s evident to everyone that nothing is more important than health, and ensuring the consumption of healthy food is of great importance. To supply food and maintain its health, hygiene and technical principles must be observed correctly. Thus, the storage and cold storage of food should adhere to necessary and specialized standards. The best way to preserve the health and freshness of food items is to store them in a cold storage facility. To ensure that a space is suitable for constructing a cold storage facility, it must possess specific features. For instance, if the intended site lacks proper drainage and is unsuitable for constructing a large warehouse and cold storage facility, it will lead to future problems.

Continuing the discussion on the suitable space for food cold storage, there might be an inappropriate location that cannot bear the weight of a warehouse. On the other hand, the terrain may be such that water accumulates on its surface. Sub-zero cold storage facilities have a maximum temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius. Above-zero cold storage, as introduced earlier, has temperatures equivalent to 4 to 7 degrees Celsius. Sometimes, it’s necessary to store meat in a condition where it transitions from a frozen state. To soften meat, they use a cold storage facility with a temperature equivalent to zero degrees Celsius. This cold storage serves as a gateway and has the mentioned function. One of the things that should be considered during the construction of a cold storage facility is the washability of the floor, walls, and ceiling. Therefore, in selecting construction materials, sufficient care must be taken.

Features of Usable Space for Food Cold Storage

In this section, we talk about the features of usable space for food cold storage. The space used for constructing a food cold storage facility should have sufficient lighting. For this purpose, it’s better to use fluorescent lamps for illuminating the interior space. One of the significant advantages of these lamps is their low energy consumption. The space should be illuminated only with artificial light, and natural light can cause food spoilage. The land area on which you intend to build the cold storage facility is also important. As a standard, for every ton of food, a minimum of 4 cubic meters of storage space should be provided.

When a cold storage facility is built, nothing should be placed or stored under the cooling equipment. This can pose technical hazards, which we will not delve into. According to the principles of cold storage construction, air circulation in space is also important. This issue depends to a large extent on the distance between the pallets and their distance from the walls. Consumable foods require regular quality control over time. Therefore, a space should be available as a passageway to facilitate work. In the storage space for food, thorough cleaning is vital and must be performed regularly. Cooked and raw foods must also be stored separately in different sections within the cold storage facility.