PIR & PU Insulated Cold Room Panels (50–200mm)

Insulated panels are the enclosure that determines most of the electricity cost of a cold store over the life of the building. Tan Long supplies EPS, PU and PIR panels with core thicknesses from 50mm to 200mm, an effective width of 950mm to 1,150mm, cut to length on request up to a maximum of 15m, together with matched accessories and installation of the room enclosure.

What a cold storage insulated panel is

Installation process for cold storage wall and ceiling insulation panels. — PU/PIR panels are assembled using Camlock fasteners for a tight seal, ensuring maximum heat loss prevention.

A panel is a three-layer board: two metal facing sheets sandwiching an insulation core, joined by a tongue-and-groove profile and camlocks to form the room enclosure. The panel is both the enclosing structure and the main insulation layer — which means choosing the wrong panel affects not only durability but the electricity bill every month.

The three insulation cores and how to choose

T-Light high-quality insulated cold storage doors are manufactured by Tan Long. — T-Light cold storage sliding doors are airtight, with double rubber seals to minimize heat loss.

EPS — the lowest cost, with weaker insulation at the same thickness. Suitable for chill rooms and air-conditioned rooms, not recommended for freezer rooms.
PU — significantly better insulation than EPS at the same thickness, and the most widely used for cold and freezer rooms.
PIR — adds better fire performance than PU, suitable for projects with high fire protection requirements.

Panel thickness selection table by store temperature

Warehouse type	Operating temperature	Recommended PU panel	Equivalent EPS panel
Air-conditioned room	+18°C to +25°C	50mm	75mm
Chill room for vegetables	+2°C to +15°C	75mm	100mm
Chill room for fresh meat	0°C to +4°C	100mm	150mm
Cold store for seafood	-5°C to -10°C	100mm – 125mm	150mm – 170mm
Freezer store for food	-18°C to -22°C	150mm	Not recommended
Deep freezer store, IQF freezing	-25°C to -35°C	200mm	Not recommended

Why choosing a thinner panel to save money is a false economy

For a freezer store, choosing a 100mm PU panel instead of 150mm forces the refrigeration system to make up roughly 30% more heat load, equivalent to an increase in electricity consumption of 20% to 25% a year over the whole life of the store.

The saving on materials happens once. The difference in the electricity bill repeats every month, for years. This is why, when comparing quotations, the panel thickness should be checked before looking at the final figure.

The joint profile — the insulation weak point most often overlooked

Many investors focus on panel thickness but overlook the jointing system, when in practice this is the most common insulation weak point.

An open or mismatched joint creates a thermal bridge and lets moisture into the panel core. The consequences appear gradually: insulation performance falls over time, and water and ice form right at the joint. A store with thick panels but poor joints still uses more electricity than a store with thinner panels that are properly sealed.

Insulated panel dimensions: width, length and thickness

The three dimensions to settle before ordering panels are the effective width, the panel length and the core thickness. The effective width of Tan Long panels is in the range of 950mm to 1,150mm — this is the real width remaining after two adjacent panels engage at the joint. When calculating the number of panels for a wall, this effective dimension must be used rather than the full panel width; otherwise there will be a shortfall on site.

Length is cut to the requirements of the project, up to a maximum of 15m. Cutting to the exact wall height at the factory reduces horizontal joints — and every joint is a potential point of heat leakage and condensation, so the fewer joints in a wall, the better it holds temperature and the less sealing work is needed later.

Core thickness from 50mm to 200mm, chosen according to the operating temperature range of the store — see the thickness selection table above for details.

Specifications

Category	Parameter
Insulation core type	EPS, PU, PIR
Core thickness	50mm – 200mm
Effective width	950mm – 1,150mm
Length	Cut to order, up to 15m
Facing	Colour-coated steel or stainless steel to the project requirement
Jointing	Tongue-and-groove profile with camlocks
Unit price	Contact us for a quote.

The type of facing is chosen by the installation environment: damp, salty areas or areas in contact with cleaning chemicals need better corrosion resistance. For areas in contact with food, the surface has to be smooth, impermeable and easy to clean.

Scope of supply

EPS, PU and PIR panels in all thicknesses, cut to the dimensions of the project
Matched accessories: corner trims, camlocks and joint sealing materials
Cold storage door dedicated doors: hinged, sliding and high speed
Turnkey installation of the room enclosure
Floor insulation and waterproofing
Combined with refrigeration system into a complete cold store package

Installing cold store panels: the 6-step process

Survey and establish the operating temperature range — the basis for choosing the core type and thickness
Calculate the heat load under actual conditions and check it against the panel solution
Settle the solution: core type, thickness, facing type and floor solution
Cut the panels to the project dimensions, limiting unnecessary joints
Install and seal the joints
Tightness acceptance testing before the refrigeration system is installed

Why choose Tan Long

Panels are not sold apart from the cold store problem. Tan Long advises on thickness according to the heat load calculated for the specific project, not from a general price list — because the same thickness can be right for one store and wrong for another.

More than 20 years installing industrial cold stores, has full command of both the room enclosure and the refrigeration system, so the panel solution is calculated together with the equipment solution rather than separately.

Frequently asked questions about cold storage insulated panels

How thick should the panel be for a -18°C freezer store?

For a food freezer store at -18°C to -22°C, the recommended PU panel thickness is 150mm. EPS panels are not recommended for this temperature range.

Is EPS or PU better for a cold store?

PU insulates significantly better than EPS at the same thickness, which is why it is widely used for cold and freezer rooms. EPS costs less and suits chill rooms and air-conditioned rooms but is not recommended for freezer rooms.

Can a thinner panel be chosen to save money?

For a freezer store, using 100mm PU instead of 150mm forces the system to make up roughly 30% more heat load, equivalent to 20% to 25% higher electricity consumption a year over the life of the store. The saving on materials happens once; the difference in the electricity bill repeats every month.

How much does the panel joint matter?

It is the most common insulation weak point in practice. An open joint creates a thermal bridge and lets moisture into the panel core, reducing insulation over time and causing water and ice to form at the joint.

What are the standard panel dimensions?

An effective width of 950mm to 1,150mm, length cut to order up to a maximum of 15m, and a core thickness from 50mm to 200mm depending on the material and the operating temperature range.

What criteria should the panel facing be chosen by?

By the installation environment. Damp, salty areas or areas in contact with cleaning chemicals need better corrosion resistance. For areas in contact with food, the surface has to be smooth, impermeable and easy to clean.