Polyurethane Insulated cool room panels industry standard
As PU insulated panels have become the norm for cool rooms, chillers and freezers, Stroeven Coolrooms increasingly specify PU chiller panels as default, and we wanted to explain why.
Made with a rigid core of polyurethane between two metal sheets, a PU panel is a composite prefabricated building material which has become the most commonly used insulation material in cold-rooms across New Zealand – and is even useful in the construction of energy efficient buildings.
Polyurethane panels are waterproof and airtight and are swiftly becoming the bench-mark in cool room and controlled atmosphere room construction globally. PU panels can hold temperatures from -45 to +80 degrees Celsius, and can control air pressure and humidity levels.
As well as looking very clean and tidy, PU cool room panelling is very hygienic as the panels are smooth for easy cleaning and to inhibit bacterial growth. PU cool room panels meet all HACCP and international standards for food processing and storage.
The PU freezer panels are easily assembled on-site, and can be swiftly unassembled for relocation or reuse.
PU cool room panels deliver superior insulation properties
Polyurethane has exceptional insulation properties, so PU cool room panels compare very well against other insulating materials including EPS, polystyrene and fibreglass. Note that the R Values shown are based on the relationship between the thickness of material and the transfer of heat per unit area, a higher R value means a material is more insulating.
| Insulating material | R-Value |
| Polyurethane rigid panel (CFC or HCFC expanded) | R-7 to R-8 |
| Foil-faced polyisocyanurate rigid panel (Pentane expanded) | R-6.8 |
| High density moulded expanded polystyrene (EPS) | R-4.2 |
| Low density moulded expanded polystyrene (EPS) | R-3.85 |
| Open-cell polyurethane spray foam | R-3.6 |
| Loose-fill fibreglass | R-2.5 to R-3.7 |
| Glass | R-0.14 |
Manufacture of rigid polyurethane cool room panels
Two roll formed galvanised metal sheets are placed in moulds and liquid polyurethane is injected between them at high pressure. The panels are then heat cured in the moulds to form a strong, rigid freezer panel with excellent insulation properties. The cool room panels are pre-painted and sealed with a layer of polythene on top for rust resistance.