With a growing number of technical, environmental and regulatory factors to consider, specifying the right cold room technology is more complex – and important – than ever. Danfoss has urged contractors to be cautious, and take advantage of a new, dedicated support program.
Rising energy costs, F-Gas regulations and the Eco design directive in Europe – and EPA SNAP and AWEF in the United States – have complicated the picture for cold room installers in recent years.
The focus on cleaner, more efficient technology and lower-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants is growing, but client relationships and the need to protect food and perishables from breakdowns means these considerations cannot be addressed at the expense of reliability, maintenance or cost.
Danfoss believes these competing challenges are creating uncertainty for contractors, which could intensify further as organizations’ food waste and environmental track records come under scrutiny.
To help, the company has created a cold room program, including application brochures, free e-learning courses, technical articles, case stories and resources, and digital specification tools – with support from Danfoss technical specialists all over the globe.
The program has a dedicated website at
www.coldroom.danfoss.com, helping contractors to
- Simplify installation, service and maintenance, to minimize end-user disruption and downtime, while maintaining sustainable profit margins on contracts
- Comply with refrigerants, energy and other regulatory challenges, to ensure new equipment can still be used as environmentally-unfriendly alternatives are phased out
- Enhance efficiency and running costs, to help please end-users through lower overall cost of ownership
- Safeguard food safety, by focusing on smooth, reliable operation to eliminate breakdowns and undiagnosed safety issues
The program will also help to navigate the widest portfolio of technology designed to ease compliance with rules on lower-GWP refrigerants and energy use.New additions include:
- EVR V2 solenoid valves (to be released in October 2017): 10 key features have been applied to enhance design robustness in more applications, increase functionality and make service easier. They are designed to achieve even higher performance and system reliability, contributing to food safety while reducing energy consumption
- The well-established Optyma line of outdoor condensing units giving new refrigerant options and enhanced energy efficiency in a quiet, convenient, and plug-and-play format. All the ranges are Ecodesign compliant and contractors can print the Ecodesign report from Coolselector software
- The launches of Optyma Slim and Optyma Slim Pack outdoor condensing units, respectively in North and in Latin America: self-contained and ready to install units providing quiet, reliable and efficient operation. Designed with the contractor in mind, they are easy to install and service, and made for long lifespan. The American range is AWEF qualified. More information in Coolselector software
"Contractors often tell us they're still not clear about selecting a lower-GWP refrigerant, or what the Ecodesign or AWEF directives really mean for cold room installation in practice," says Stephen Gugliotta heading the Danfoss Cold Room team.
"As a leader in providing solutions for the cold room market, we feel it’s our responsibility to offer some much-needed clarity and support around new technologies and refrigerants at this pivotal time. More than ever, it’s vital that contractors make the right choice, and we are here to help."
Stephen concludes: "We'd advise caution to ensure that the environment is protected and client relationships are preserved. Quite simply, our message to those contractors is: there is no need to guess – we're ready to support you."
