Check both the finished-room clearance and the temporary space needed for assembly.
In short: measure the route for the largest panel, not only the final room footprint.
Allow for doorway width and height, corners, stairs, lifts and unloading equipment. Around the finished enclosure, typical planning values are at least 50 mm at side and rear surfaces and about 400 mm above, but the refrigeration-unit manual may require more. Assembly may need roughly 200 mm or more beside walls for people and tools.
Keep access to controllers, drains, access panels and condenser coils. Do not trap a serviceable component between the room and the building.
Clearances
Two separate requirements are usually merged into one number here. They are not the same thing, so they are set out separately below: the minimum safety distances the manufacturer specifies for the finished room, and the working space an installer needs to build it.
Minimum safety distances — MTH specification
MTH specifies minimum safety distances from side walls, other equipment, and heat sources, so that the room operates correctly and air can recirculate properly around it.
| Position | MTH minimum |
|---|---|
| A — Above (top) | 400 mm (40 cm) |
| B — Side / rear | 50 mm (5 cm) |
| C — Door side | Depends on the door selected |
Important: MTH states these minimum safety distances for a cold room without a refrigeration unit. A monobloc mounted on the room, or a split condenser sited nearby, has its own clearance and airflow requirements — take those from the refrigeration unit's own manual, supplied with the room.
Installation working space — recommendation, not a manufacturer requirement
Safety distances describe what the finished room needs. Building it needs more room than that: a panel has to be carried in, offered up to its neighbour, aligned, and locked. As a planning figure, allow at least 200 mm to the walls on each side and 300 mm above the planned roof height. Treat these as an installation recommendation — the MTH figures above are the ones that must be met.
Cam-lock panels are secured from inside, and the room is serviced from above (inspection hatch), inside, or at the outdoor condenser — so wide working aisles are not needed.
| Item | Allow | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Gap to walls (all sides) | 200 mm | Working space — panels lock from inside; service from above, inside, or at the condenser |
| Height clearance | 300 mm above planned roof height | Lifting and seating ceiling panels |
| Panel staging | Flat area to lay panels down | Never store panels standing on edge for long periods — they bow |
| Delivery access | Measured route to the site | Panels must physically reach the spot — check doorways, corridors, and lift dimensions |
Where the room may be installed
The clearances only matter if the location itself is suitable. MTH sets out the following conditions for the room the cold room stands in:
- Controlled temperature and humidity. The installation room must have a suitable, controlled temperature and humidity, so the unit does not malfunction and condensation does not form.
- Sufficient air exchange — including out of hours. There must be enough air exchange in the installation room also during periods when the premises are closed. A refrigeration unit rejects heat continuously; a sealed back room that is fine during trading hours can still overheat overnight or over a shutdown.
- Not outdoors. Do not install the cold room outdoors, in places directly exposed to the weather.
- Not in hazardous or ATEX zones. Do not install in hazardous areas and/or areas classified as ATEX (explosive atmospheres).
- Supporting surface. The floor the room stands on must be flat and level, with a load capacity calculated by a specialist for the mass and maximum load of the unit.
Clearance and installation-environment figures on this page are taken from the MTH Algor installation and maintenance manual. Download the documents
Don't skip the delivery-access check
The delivery-access check is the one most often skipped. Measure the narrowest point on the route — every doorway, corridor turn, and goods lift — against the largest panel before the lorry is booked. A panel that cannot reach the room is a build that stops on delivery day.
Related articles
- Before you begin: site preparation overview
- Floor conditions and floor panels
- Utility positions: power, condenser, drainage
- Tools, equipment and lifting safety
- Panel specifications
Not sure your access route fits the panels? Send your floor plan and largest panel size and we'll check it — contact [email protected].
