WHY SEALING THE JOINTS OF A REFRIGERATION PANEL? 

We showed a slide where we compared the air-tightness of a panel with a sealed joint to one without sealant in the joint. The difference in air-tightness is quite stunning, especially if we consider that we have performed the test on a brand-new cold-room, recently installed. We all know, that it’s easier to install perfectly a small cold-room rather than a large refrigerated warehouse.

Why so? Because there are factors that influence the installation of a large refrigerated plant. For example, we consider the settling of the structure, seismic movements, and dilatation and contraction of the metal facing. So, when we look at a real context of a large installation, sealing the joints is an essential element.

The most common issue that metal panels face: the sun heats the outer metal facing up and dilatates it during the day while shrinking it during the night. This process happens every day only to the outer face while the inner face stays still, stretching and shrinking the joints continuously. When we consider an external wall of 10 meters, the dilatation can be of a few millimeters. We can imagine the consequences of such a dilatation on the cold-room walls’ air-tightness over the years. The most important thing is to consider the geographic area where the installation will take place, exposure to the sun, humidity, and rainfall.

These factors and the type of building will influence the type of joint of the insulated panel and the type of sealant required.