Cold Storage

From processing and food production facilities; to breweries, hotels and cafes; cold storage rooms are a vital element for food preservation at scale. While most of the workplace safety risks with cold storage rooms stem from exposure to cold temperatures, the refrigeration systems in these spaces can pose additional health risks if they are not properly maintained and a gas leak occurs.

From processing and food production facilities; to breweries, hotels and cafes; cold storage rooms are a vital element for food preservation at scale. While most of the workplace safety risks with cold storage rooms stem from exposure to cold temperatures, the refrigeration systems in these spaces can pose additional health risks if they are not properly maintained and a gas leak occurs.

While electrochemical sensors are the most effective way to monitor and detect low-level NH³, these sensors rely on liquid electrolytes that can rapidly evaporate, so they have a shelf-life.

In typical cold storage room applications, temperatures are extremely low and there are often changes in the level of humidity as doors are opened and closed to retrieve food items. The liquid electrolytes evaporate very quickly in these environments, and if the sensor’s gain and sensitivity level is not increased as the electrolyte dissipates with calibration and routine maintenance, the readings will not be accurate.

Since ammonia gases are combustible, accurate sensors are vital to the safety of your workforce as well as risk management for your operations. Cold storage rooms should be equipped with best-in-class ammonia and refrigerant gas sensors to maintain the safest possible work environment.

While infrared sensors are the most effective way to monitor and detect low-levels of CO2 and the various fluorocarbons used in industry, maintenance and function checks are vital.  Routinely these sensors must be exposed to known concentrations of the target gases being measured and adjusted to ensure proper low-level detection is capable. A sensor that has not been properly maintained and tested may fail to react when a leak is present, or trigger false alarms frequently causing the employees to disregard alarms when a real danger is present.