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Cold room efficiency is often affected by small, repeated issues rather than a single fault. Door openings, damaged seals, poor airflow, overfilled shelving and inconsistent temperature monitoring can all make refrigeration systems work harder than necessary.
With World Refrigeration Day on 26 June, it is a useful time for food businesses, warehouses, hospitality sites, and cold storage operators to review where cold air may be lost during everyday operations.
This is especially relevant in cold rooms used throughout the day for stock movement, picking, deliveries or food preparation. Each opening can allow cold air to escape and warmer air to enter, potentially affecting temperature stability and energy use.
The table below compares common cold room efficiency measures and explains where each is most useful.
Compare cold room efficiency measures.
There is no single measure that improves every aspect of cold room efficiency. The right approach depends on how the cold room is used, how often the door is opened, the condition of the refrigeration system, and whether the space is used for chilled storage, frozen goods, food preparation or dispatch.
Most cold rooms need a layered approach. Industrial door seals, maintenance, airflow management, monitoring and doorway barriers each solve different problems. No single measure will fix every cause of cold air loss or poor temperature stability.
Why busy cold room doors affect efficiency
Cold room doors are a common source of efficiency loss because they are used repeatedly during normal operations. Staff may need to enter for stock picking, deliveries, food preparation, cleaning, dispatch or stock rotation, and each opening creates an opportunity for air exchange.
When a cold room door is opened, cold air can escape, and warmer air can enter. In busy areas, this can happen many times an hour, especially where trolleys, cages, pallet trucks or staff are moving in and out. The refrigeration system then has to work to bring the space back to the required temperature.
Warm air can also bring moisture. In chilled areas, this may contribute to condensation around doors, on floors, or on stored goods. In freezer environments, moisture can increase the risk of frost or ice forming around entrances, thresholds or internal surfaces.
For this reason, cold room efficiency should not only be assessed by looking at the refrigeration unit itself. Door use, stock movement, picking routines, and loading activity can all affect how much cold air is lost and how often the system needs to recover.
How polar-grade PVC strip curtains help reduce cold air loss
Polar-grade PVC strip curtains can be used as a secondary barrier at cold room and freezer doorways. They sit behind or within the doorway opening, helping to reduce the amount of open space exposed when the main door is in use.
The overlapping strips part when staff, trolleys or goods pass through, then fall back into place afterwards. This can reduce air exchange during repeated access, particularly in areas where the door is used throughout the day.
In cold rooms, chilled storage areas, food production spaces, warehouses and dispatch areas, this type of barrier may help limit cold air loss, draughts and airflow disruption. It can also support more stable temperature control by reducing the impact of frequent door openings and closings.
Polar-grade PVC is used in low-temperature environments because standard PVC can become stiff in cold conditions. The correct grade, strip width, thickness and overlap will depend on the doorway size, temperature range and type of traffic using the opening.
Strip curtains should be seen as one part of a wider cold room efficiency plan. They are not a replacement for refrigeration maintenance, correctly set temperatures, staff procedures, or regular checks of doors, seals, and equipment.
Strip curtains vs door seals vs airlocks: which option fits which cold room?
Different cold room access measures solve different problems. Some reduce leakage when the door is closed, while others reduce air exchange when the doorway is being used.
Door seals are most useful when leakage occurs around a closed door, such as due to worn gaskets, damaged frames, or poor threshold contact. Polar-grade PVC strip curtains are more relevant where the doorway is used frequently, and the aim is to reduce open-air exchange during access. Self-closing doors can reduce how long a door remains open, but warm air can still enter while it is open.
Airlocks and antechambers create a buffer zone between different temperature zones but usually require more space and incur higher installation costs. Air curtains may suit some specialist cold storage entrances, but performance depends on design, mounting position, doorway conditions and containment.
Other ways to improve cold room efficiency
Doorway control is only one part of cold room efficiency. The refrigeration system, room layout, airflow and daily routines all affect how hard the system has to work.
Clean condenser and evaporator coils: Dirty coils can reduce heat transfer, forcing the refrigeration system to work harder.
Check door seals and gaskets: Worn, split or loose seals can allow cold air to escape even when the door is closed.
Avoid overloading shelves: Overfilled shelving can block airflow and create uneven cooling.
Keep vents clear: Vents should not be blocked by stock, packaging or equipment.
Leave space around stock: Cold air needs space to move around the room.
Review temperature set points: Setting a room to a colder temperature than necessary can increase energy use without improving storage conditions.
Use LED lighting: It produces less heat than older systems.
Maintain refrigeration equipment: Regular servicing can identify worn parts, refrigerant issues, control faults or performance problems.
Monitor temperatures: Frequent fluctuations, slow recovery after door openings, or changes in performance may indicate issues.
Train staff on cold room use: Closing doors promptly, avoiding unnecessary access and moving stock efficiently can reduce avoidable cold air loss.
Choosing the right PVC strip curtain for a cold room
The right PVC strip curtain depends on the doorway, the temperature range, and the type of movement through the opening.
Doorway size: The width and height affect the strip width, thickness and level of overlap required.
Temperature range: Cold rooms and freezers usually require polar-grade or super-polar PVC, as standard PVC can stiffen at low temperatures.
Traffic type: Pedestrian access, trolley routes and forklift traffic place different demands on the curtain.
Internal vs external opening: External or loading-side openings may need to manage draughts, warmer ambient air and more frequent movement.
Cold room vs freezer environment: Freezer areas may need a lower-temperature material grade and closer attention to overlap.
Clear vs ribbed PVC: Clear PVC improves visibility, while ribbed PVC may be considered where there is frequent contact with trolleys, cages, or equipment.
Strip width, thickness and overlap: These affect coverage, ease of access and how well the strips return to position.
Safety and visibility: Safe movement through the opening should be considered, especially in busy trolley or forklift areas.
Made-to-measure vs standard kits: Standard kits may suit common doorway sizes; made-to-measure curtains may be better suited to unusual openings or high-traffic areas.
Insulated curtains: In some cold rooms and freezers, insulated curtains may be more suitable when a stronger thermal barrier is the priority.
Need help choosing a cold room doorway barrier?
The most suitable doorway barrier depends on the size of the opening, the temperature range, the traffic using the doorway and how the cold room is used.
When specifying a doorway barrier, useful details include the doorway width and height, the operating temperature range, the type of traffic using the opening, and the main use case. These details can help determine whether polar-grade PVC strip curtains, insulated curtains or another doorway solution is more appropriate.
Relevant product categories to consider include Polar Grade PVC Strip Curtains, Cold Stop Insulated Curtains, and the main PVC Strip Curtains range.
FAQs
How can I improve cold room efficiency?
Cold room efficiency can usually be improved by reducing cold air loss, maintaining door seals, keeping airflow clear, avoiding overloaded shelving, cleaning coils, checking temperature settings and monitoring performance. In busy cold rooms, doorway control is also important because repeated access can allow warm air to enter and cold air to escape.
Why does my cold room use so much energy?
A cold room may use more energy if doors are opened frequently, seals are damaged, coils are dirty, airflow is blocked, the room is overfilled, or the temperature is set lower than necessary. These issues can make the refrigeration system work harder to maintain the required temperature.
Do strip curtains help cold rooms stay efficient?
Strip curtains can help reduce cold air loss at frequently used cold room doors by creating a flexible secondary barrier. They do not seal the room completely, but they can reduce air exchange while allowing staff, trolleys or goods to pass through.
What is the best way to reduce cold air loss from a cold room?
The best approach depends on how the cold room is used. Door seals help reduce leakage when the door is closed, while polar-grade PVC strip curtains can help reduce cold air loss when the doorway is used frequently. Airlocks, self-closing doors and staff training may also be relevant in high-traffic areas.
What type of strip curtain is best for a cold room?
Cold rooms and freezers usually require polar-grade PVC, as standard PVC can become stiff at low temperatures. The right strip width, thickness, and overlap will depend on the doorway size, the temperature range, and whether the opening is used by pedestrians, trolleys, or forklifts.
