Fridge Buildings

Frost heave is a term commonly used to describe the displacement of structures caused by water turning into ice underneath all or portions of structures operating constantly at low temperatures. Most refrigerated facilities are constructed with a slab-on-grade. In cases where the slab persistently operates below freezing temperature (0°C/32°F), frost from moisture in the soil will form underneath the slab unless some form of heat within or below the slab is provided. If the sub-slab is not heated, frost heave will not only eventually destroy the slab but also create other significant structural problems within the facility. If the slab-on-grade is wet, the ice forming inside the reinforced concrete slab will crack due to appearance and structural damages.

A properly designed CUPOLEX® passive or mechanically heated Aerated Concrete Floor will provide sufficient heat to prevent frost formation under or into the slab; thereby, preventing structural failures while minimizing the parasitic heat gain to the refrigerated space.

Moreover, the traditional insulation layer, when loaded with racks or forklifts, will still deflect a few centimeters. Deflection of thermal insulation layer will also cause cracks, which can incur in high maintenance costs.

Alternatively ISOLCUPOLEX® can be used in place of traditional insulation layers. With ISOLCUPOLEX the loads are transmitted by means of a reinforced concrete structure to the sub-layer, so the insulation layer is not compressed. Consequently, the structure will be more rigid and reduce the cost of maintenance.

The air distribution ductwork below CUPOLEX® is continuous and provides unrestricted air flow below the entire concrete slab.
In warmer climate areas the CUPOLEX® floor can be easily ventilated naturally by outside air
Allows any moisture that may condense inside the CUPOLEX® void space to drain out
Easy to inspect
Will not restrict airflow from moisture from air condensing and possibly freezing on the inside surface of the void
Simple design and lower cost than other electric, hydronic heating systems or vented piping systems
Allows ventilating from a furnace/makeup air unit or recover heat from the hot gas coming off the refrigeration system.
Under-floor heat can be supplied from outside air, warm exhaust air from a process, warm air from the engine room, or any other conveniently located space.
Can be designed as a “closed” system, meaning the air used in the under-floor system is recirculated after adding heat and dehumidifying