Condensation Prevention

Condensation prevention beneath coldrooms and freezers

Condensation beneath cold rooms in humid conditions
On humid days moisture from the air will then condense on this surface and drip down into the space below.

The most common method of prevention is the use of heating cables as described for frost heave prevention, usually with the cables more closely spaced and with slightly higher output eg. 20 – 25 W/sq.m.

Apart from the problems of condensation causing damage to ceiling panels or to vehicle paintwork, rusting of the wet steel reinforcing in the concrete can cause spalling of the concrete and structural harm.

Despite having sub-floor insulation beneath coldrooms and freezers, a small temperature reduction will be experienced on any exposed elevated surfaces below.

Condensation damage to a ceiling, caused by a first floor freezer above, with floor insulation used, but no sub-floor heaters.

A coldroom above. No floor insulation, and no sub-floor heaters. Its’ raining inside!

Thermal bridging

Where rooms lack adequate floor insulation, suitable heating cable can be selected to run along the external perimeter to prevent condensation along the floor.

If a partition wall is built into an existing room dividing areas of different temperature and a gap is not made in the metal skin of the panel, a similar exercise can be done to prevent condensation opposite the coldest side.

Door heating cable made to Heatec’s specifications includes an earthed screen for safety, and a high temperature Teflon insulation

Condensation outside the coldroom can be overcome by the installation of a heating cable – as shown above. However from an energy perspective, it is always preferable to insulate the coldroom floor, as this saves the cost of constantly running the heating cable and reduces the load on the refrigeration plant as well.

Columns extending through cold rooms/freezers.

To prevent condensation forming on steel columns or other structural components projecting through the insulated panel, heating cable is attached beneath an insulated and covered section where the illustration shows condensation, to return the temperature of the projecting steel back to ambient temperature.

Door heating cable made to Heatec’s specifications includes an earthed screen for safety, and a high temperature Teflon insulation

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Contact details:
26/17 Cairns St, LOGANHOLME. QLD. 4129. Australia.
Email: sales@heatec.com.au

Ph. (07) 3806 2326
International: Ph. 617 3806 2326