Temperature Control Solutions For Your Warehouse: Our Top Tips

Installing proper heating and cooling solutions for your warehouse might seem like a mammoth undertaking, but it’s necessary to make sure the environment is temperature controlled. A 2022 McKinsey & Company report found that worldwide warehouse costs amounted to around €300bn, with a lack of temperature control being a potential factor.

At OKEL, we are experts in providing bespoke solutions for temperature control through efficient heating and cooling systems. Temperature control means maintaining a consistent temperature, as well as humidity and moisture levels.

In this post we guide you through the various options available for warehousing temperature control solutions.

Why Temperature Control For Warehouses Is Important

Firstly, controlling the internal temperature of a warehouse helps avoid large changes in temperature over time. This is vital when storing goods that require constant environmental conditions. The best examples are the food production and pharmaceutical industries, where produce and medicines will quickly spoil and become unusable if they aren’t kept in closely monitored conditions. Fluctuations in temperature can also impact the efficiency of factory facilities, as materials such as steel and machinery might behave differently.

Warehouses are a critical part of the supply chain, often serving as the final step before distribution to consumers. Whatever your storage requirements, accurate temperature control for warehouses is beneficial in the following ways:

Maintain stock

Changes in temperature can compromise stock quality or lead to product loss. Consistent temperatures allow goods to be kept for their maximum lifespans, no matter the external conditions.

Operational safety

Maintaining the environment inside the warehouse minimises unknown variables. This enables trained warehouse professionals to do their jobs to the best of their ability while avoiding safety risks.

Industry compliance

Proper temperature control for warehouses will ensure you meet several regulations and avoid fines. For example, the BFM Code of Practice states the minimum indoor temperature for workers is at least 13°C. These requirements are also backed up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). On top of this, there could be additional guidelines depending on the products being stored, such as those set out by the British Frozen Food Federation.

Air quality

The overall quality of the final product that’s delivered to consumers is impacted by the air quality inside the warehouse, especially food products. Many temperature control measures also lead to a higher quality of air, which can also help improve the experience for warehouse operators.

Challenges in controlling warehouse temperature

There are many risk factors involved in warehouse temperature control. Chief among these are the maintenance of information systems, inventory management, and an effective heating/cooling infrastructure. You may also be faced with industry-specific challenges such as regulatory standards, waste management, and more.

The features of the warehouse itself can also come into play when trying to maintain a consistent storage environment. For instance, warehouses with high ceilings are often more difficult to heat and cool. The degree of insulation in the building can also result in greater influence from external conditions.

By understanding the challenges posed by the logistics of temperature-controlled warehouses, you can protect the integrity of your stock and the safety of your workers all year round while cutting down on energy costs.

Cooling solutions for warehouses

Many types of stock such as perishable foods and technical components require storage cooler conditions to extend their lifespan. Maintaining low temperatures in a warehouse can be especially challenging in the presence of heat-generating machinery, as well as during seasonal changes. Energy efficient warehouse cooling solutions are the answer.

Evaporative Cooling

Increased seasonal temperatures, improved building insulation and heat generating machinery can each be a major source of unwanted heating for industrial spaces such as factories and warehouses.

Evaporative cooling systems work as part of a balanced mechanical ventilation system to cool a whole space or to provide spot cooling to areas of a building with excess heat – By introducing at regular intervals throughout the day fresh outside air drawn in over wetted pads, this then causes the water to naturally evaporate into the air and taking with it the unwanted excess heat. This leads to a much higher air quality than traditional refrigerant air conditioning systems which typically use recirculated air. Even on cooler days, the ventilation mode of the system will still work to introduce fresh air into the warehouse.

If you’re looking for an Evaporative cooling system to cool your warehouse or factory then look no further than OKEL. We’ve designed and installed commercial evaporative cooling solutions for UK businesses of all types and sizes.

Destratification Fans

Although not a cooling system as such, Destratification fans installed at ceiling height for example in a factory or warehouse, deliver continuous air circulation which in turn provides a cooler effect and creates a more comfortable environment for the workforce.

Air Conditioning

While Evaporative coolers are the preferred source of cooling for large open plan space, Modern air conditioning systems serve a dual function to both heat and cool smaller sized rooms / spaces with a more traditional refrigerant based system.

Heating solutions for warehouses

If your warehouse storage has temperature-sensitive stock that must be preserved at a temperature above the ambient level; such as the storage of cardboard, there are many different solutions for heating large industrial spaces. Securing expert advice is the best way to determine the heating requirements of your space and to help you to make a decision on which heating system is right for you.

Warm air heating

Commercial warm air heating systems are ideal for large open plan commercial spaces, with options for natural gas, Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), or Electric Fuel.

Having over the years become the preferred, modern, and efficient approach to heating factory and warehouse-type premises, warm air heating systems provide an effective and efficient even spread and distribution of heat throughout industrial spaces and one that minimises hot and cold spots that are often associated with other types of heating – OKEL is expert in designing and installing warm air heating systems, very often combining with destratification for maximum efficiency, and with all of OKEL’s warm air solutions tailored to the specific needs of your business.

Radiant Gas Fired Heating

Radiant gas fired heating systems work by heating only people and/or objectives that are within the throw of the overhead radiant heaters – To fully heat a whole large factory or warehouse with radiant heating would require significantly more kws than that of a warm air heating system that heats the air space, therefore radiant heating is now more commonly used at providing spot heating of an area, or when heating very poorly insulated buildings or those with several large roller shutter entrances that must remain open throughout the colder winter months.

Electric Infrared Heating

far-infrared electric heating solutions provides a subtle form of direct heating and is more commonly used for zone heating of spaces, such as individual workstations or loading bays requiring a more targeted approach as opposed to a system that heats the air space.

Top Tips For Controlling Temperature In Warehouses

Choosing the right temperature control solution for your warehouse is vital to protect the supply chain, uphold product quality, maintain customer confidence, and keep the work force happy and productive. Expert temperature control tips from our team include:

Choose the right systems – You should fully assess and seek the advice of experts about the suitability of each heating and cooling option for your business before making your final choice – As we discuss within this blog some of the systems we refer to are better suited to larger warehouses and factories whilst others are more suitable for zoned or smaller storage spaces. A brand-new heating and cooling solution can be a large financial investment and it’s therefore essential that you get it right the first time around.
Shutter entrance doors – There are many ways to minimise wasted energy and heat loss through shutter doors, including the introduction of a high-speed shutter door that opens and closes very quickly, heavy-duty strip curtains, or electric/gas-powered air curtains that immediately create a barrier of air when a shutter door is opened to prevent heat from escaping or entering a building. An immediate win and with no additional expense is by simply ensuring that shutter entrances are used sparingly.
Improve airflow – While it can be a challenge to maintain consistent airflow throughout large warehouses and factories, improving the quality of airflow can help the overall climate of the space. Compartmentalising different areas of the building can help with this.
Improved insulation – Ensuring proper warehouse insulation will let your heating and cooling systems do their job to their maximum effect. Small gaps and ineffective seals can compromise the established temperature, airflow, and humidity levels of industrial spaces.
Use smart thermostats – It seems obvious, but thermostats should be installed at regular intervals throughout the warehouse to monitor temperatures in key locations. These can be programmed so that temperatures can be set for various time blocks for example both during and outside of operational hours, and with thermostats then linked up to digital information systems that can respond quickly to unexpected changes in temperature.

Effective Temperature Regulation Systems For Warehouses

Temperature control solutions don’t just help to protect your stock, they maintain product quality, keep staff happy, and are often a regulatory requirement. Accurately controlling the temperature of your workspace will help you to save money through reduced energy bills and lower harmful emissions.

At OKEL, we’ve been supporting those in the industrial and manufacturing sectors with cost-effective, energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions for over a decade.

We also provide bespoke solutions for heating, cooling, and temperature control for long-term cost savings. Our team of experts takes the time to understand your ideal storage and manufacturing conditions, producing system designs to meet your requirements. Fill out the form below to get in touch with a member of the team to discuss your temperature requirements.