CSDC Builds Success with P. H. Insulations
A range of solutions for chilled, ambient and frozen environments.
P. H. Insulations has completed a new facility for Mortescaldbury’s Cold Storage and Distribution Centre in Middletown, Cheshire.
The new CSDC covers more than 10,000 m2, and is 10 metres high and contains a range of environments for chilled, ambient and frozen storage. We were closely involved in the design of the facility, working with the project architect Coldbox Design Associates to specify a range of materials for the external cladding, internal freezer areas, and walkways. The external cladding facing was finished in a bespoke colour to complement Mortescaldbury’s familiar purple and green corporate identity.
FIRE RATED DOORS
A key function of the internal design were internal walkways that double as emergency pathways. For these areas we used non-combustible panels filled with mineral wool fibre, which offer a fire rating of up to 4 hours. P. H. Insulations has become something of a specialist in the use of this material over recent years. Similar materials were used for the doors, some of which were fitted with round ports as they open onto a corridor, also for the construction of a number of rooms, including mezzanine offices, a first aid room, a meeting room and a staff canteen and rest area.
Another consideration were that some internal areas needed to have safe ‘walk-on’ ceilings for maintenance, cleaning and access to other services.
There will be a fairly constant flow of heavy goods traffic when the facility is fully up and running on a 24/7 basis. For this reason a temperature trap was created between the insulated exterior roller shutter doors and the main interior storage area, these are linked by roller-conveyors through ‘crash doors’, also provided by P.H. Insulations.
Our ability to manufacture bespoke components was put to good use, particularly when minor design changes meant a slight change to several components manufactured from sheet steel. We were able to turn this around in a few days, rather than having to wait for them to be manufactured and delivered by a third-party.
Due to the scale of the project, we supplied our own site manager to oversee every aspect of our involvement. This meant fast feedback of potential problems, and a fast response in order to keep the project on track and within budget.