Blast freezers provide a unique challenge for food distribution centre doors

Blast freezers provide a unique door challenge to rolling steel, overhead and even fabric doors. The temperatures are usually in the range of -10°F on the warm side to a subfreezing temperature of -30° to -40°F on the cold side.

These low temperatures are needed to ensure that the products remain frozen during transportation abroad. Unfortunately, such low temperatures also cause icing problems on conventional doors. The doors jam and ice builds up on the panels creating headaches and safety issues for the owner.

A cold store/food distribution centre in Richardson, TX, faced just such a challenge. The centre was facing large temperature differentials, constant ice build-up, doors jamming and high traffic flow.

TNR Industrial Doors was able to solve these difficult issues with its model HDT door. The door has a heavy-duty low temperature 0.25 in. thick EPDM rubber curtain that is rated for continuous use at -40° to -50°F.

The EPDM curtain remains flexible and straightens quickly to enter the guides during the closing cycle. Ice does not build up on this curtain the same way it does on conventional products.

Other items that need to be included in the order for proper operation of the door are: a BMH rectifier to keep the brake warm and frost free;  synthetic oil and a heat probe in the gear box; and, a heater strip in the limit box and the wall mounted panel.

In this application, four doors measuring 16 x 17 ft. were specified.

For further information, contact TNR Doors at 1-866-792-9968, info@tnrdoors.com or www.tnrdoors.com.