A cold-room panel is a sandwich: two protective metal skins surround a rigid insulating core. Cam-Lock parts and the joint profile are built into the edges.
In short: the skins protect and stiffen the panel, the PUR core slows heat flow, and the joint closes the gap between panels.
Frostbox Algor panels use a rigid polyurethane (PUR) core, normally around 40 kg/m³, between coated steel skins. Stainless steel may be available where the environment or cleaning method requires it. Exact finishes must be confirmed for the ordered product.
The tongue-and-groove edge helps align the panels. A flexible gasket limits air movement, while the hidden cam and steel pin provide compression.
Do not drill, cut or fix heavy equipment to a panel without checking the drawing. A penetration can create an air leak or thermal bridge, and loads may need separate support.
The three-layer sandwich
Understanding the three layers explains nearly all of the panel's thermal, hygienic, and structural behaviour.
| Layer | Function | Typical specification |
|---|---|---|
| Outer skin | Impact and corrosion defence | Pre-lacquered galvanised steel; food-safe lacquer or PVC laminate for washdown areas; stainless steel (AISI 304) optional for hygienic service |
| Insulating core | Thermal barrier | Rigid closed-cell polyurethane (PUR) foam, density ≈ 40 kg/m³; low thermal conductivity (typical PUR λ ≈ 0.022–0.024 W/m·K) |
| Inner skin | Hygienic interior | Smooth or lightly patterned steel — non-porous, wipe-clean, disinfectant-resistant |
The core is what makes the panel work. PUR is a rigid, closed-cell structure — millions of sealed gas pockets that resist heat flow — not the soft open-cell foam of furniture. It delivers a high R-value (thermal resistance) per millimetre, so the room reaches its target temperature without metre-thick walls eating into floor space.
Note on the core material: Frostbox/MTH Algor panels use a PUR (polyurethane) core. PUR and PIR (polyisocyanurate) are often confused; they have different fire behaviour, so treat manufacturer fire-class and reaction-to-fire data as specific to the documented core — request the declaration of performance rather than assuming a grade.
Thickness follows temperature
Panel thickness sets the R-value and therefore the lowest temperature the room can hold efficiently — colder targets and hotter surroundings call for thicker cores. The figures below are practical starting points, not the full product line.
| Application | Target temperature | Typical minimum thickness |
|---|---|---|
| Cool room (dairy, produce, beverages) | +2 °C to +8 °C | 80 mm |
| Meat / fish chiller | 0 °C to +4 °C | 100 mm |
| Freezer (frozen goods, ice cream) | −18 °C to −22 °C | 100–120 mm (the Frostbox freezer range starts at 100 mm) |
| Deep freeze / blast / long-term | −25 °C and colder | 150 mm (industry guideline — outside the Frostbox range) |
Frostbox standard range: The Frostbox (MTH Algor) catalogue is built around 80 mm and 100 mm panels for chill/cold rooms and 100 mm and 120 mm for freezing rooms. These cover the overwhelming majority of food-service, retail, and pharmaceutical applications. A "without floor" configuration is offered specifically for the Cold Room 80 mm option, where the existing slab is level, sealed, and thermally adequate. Thinner (60 mm) or thicker (150 or 200 mm) panels are generic industry context, not Frostbox product options. For the full thickness breakdown, see Panel specifications.
A useful rule of thumb: in a high ambient — an unconditioned warehouse, a hot kitchen, or a wall in direct sun — step up one thickness beyond the table. Under-specifying rarely fails outright, but it forces the refrigeration unit to run longer and harder, raising energy cost and shortening compressor life.
Related articles
- What is a cam-lock cold room?
- How the cam-lock joint works
- Why industry chooses cam-lock construction
- Panel specifications
- Choosing the right cold room
Specifications reflect the MTH Algor panel system supplied by Frostbox. Custom dimensions, finishes (AISI 304 stainless), and load ratings are available on request — contact [email protected].
