What is Cam-Lock? A hidden fastener joining insulated panels.
What are panels made from? PUR foam between metal skins.
How large should the room be? Peak stock plus shelves, aisles, airflow and growth.
Can one open room chill and freeze? No; separate temperature zones are needed.
Does a freezer need an insulated floor? Yes, as a panel floor or designed building system.
Can I self-install? Only within skills, lifting plan and product instructions; electrics and refrigeration need qualified work.
In short: confirm every answer against the ordered model.
Understanding CAM-LOCK cold rooms
What is a CAM-LOCK cold room? A modular cold store built from insulated sandwich panels that lock together with a built-in cam-lock mechanism. Turning a hex key rotates an eccentric cam that grips a steel pin in the mating panel, pulling the panels tight and compressing the gasket into an airtight seal. It assembles quickly with hand tools and can later be dismantled and relocated. See What is a cam-lock cold room?.
What are the panels made of? A rigid polyurethane (PUR) foam core between two pre-lacquered steel skins (galvanised standard, or stainless AISI 304 for washdown areas). Typical PUR thermal conductivity is around 0.022–0.024 W/m·K. Full build-up in Panel specifications.
How thick are the panels?
Frostbox standard range: chill/cold = 80 / 100 mm; freezer = 100 / 120 mm. (60, 150 and 200 mm exist as generic industry options but are not part of the Frostbox/Algor catalogue.)
Can they hold sub-zero temperatures? Yes. With the right Daikin unit and panel thickness, the same system family covers chilled through to frozen storage. Frozen storage is −18 °C by convention; chilled is typically ≤ 5 °C (the exact figure varies by product and national rule).
What door types are available? Frostbox cold rooms come with a hinged, semi-recessed door as standard — 700×1800 mm (rooms with internal width up to 1180 mm) or 900×1800 mm — fitted with an Equa handle with internal emergency release. Other door types common in the industry (sliding, vertical-sliding, high-speed) are context, not part of the standard Frostbox range. See Door types & specifications.
Sizing & floors
How do I work out the right size? Base it on current and projected stock volume, your footprint, and how you load and rotate product — then leave headroom for growth. The easiest route is the Frostbox size calculator; for a guided walk-through see Choosing the right cold room.
Can one room hold both chilled and frozen goods? Not in a single open space — each needs its own setpoint. Use a partition wall to create two zones, each with its own unit, or two separate rooms.
Do I need an insulated floor? For freezer rooms — yes, always, to stop ground-heat ingress and frost heave. For chillers it can sometimes be omitted over a suitable insulated, sealed, level slab. In the Frostbox range the "without floor" option is offered only for the Cold Room 80 mm configuration.
Installation & everyday use
Can I install it myself? Smaller monoblock rooms can be self-assembled by two competent, well-prepared people in a few hours following the Frostbox guides. Larger or split-system rooms — and all refrigerant and electrical connections — are best left to qualified trades. See Assembly process, step by step.
What foundation does it need? A flat, level, load-bearing surface, usually concrete. Joint airtightness depends on a true floor, so this is the single most important prep step. See Before you begin: site preparation.
What tools do I need? Basic hand tools — the cam-lock system needs only a hex key/wrench to lock the joints, and the wrench is included. Panels arrive pre-insulated on euro pallets, each clearly labelled.
Should I switch it off when quiet? No — keep it running whenever it holds product. Only power down a room that is empty and cleaned.
Does it need a defrost cycle? Yes, to keep the evaporator transferring heat efficiently. Frostbox systems use automatic defrost as standard, so no manual intervention is needed in normal operation. See Daily operation.
Related articles
- Frequently asked questions: overview
- Intermediate FAQ: operation, energy & compliance
- Advanced FAQ: controls, multi-zone & refrigerants
- What is a cam-lock cold room?
- Using the Frostbox size calculator
- Panel specifications
Can't find your question? Browse the technical glossary or contact [email protected].
