Walk-In Cold Rooms: The Complete UK Guide (2026)
- Lisa Craven
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Lisa Craven, Managing Director, FridgeSmart
A walk-in cold room replaces multiple upright fridges with a single modular unit — more storage per square metre, a 15–20 year working life and one temperature log instead of several. This guide covers every TEFCOLD modular cold room size, installation planning, and an honest running cost comparison.
- Temperature ranges: TEFCOLD chiller rooms operate at 0°C to +8°C; freezer rooms at −20°C to −10°C — meeting the 8°C chill-holding requirement in England and Wales and the −18°C industry standard for frozen food
- HACCP requirement: Any business storing perishable food in bulk must implement HACCP procedures under retained Regulation (EC) 852/2004 — a cold room with a calibrated thermometer and daily temperature logs (kept for at least 12 months — good practice, not law) provides the monitoring record your HACCP plan needs
- Modular cold rooms: TEFCOLD modular cold rooms are panel-built on site — no groundworks or structural changes required; available from 1.2m × 1.2m upwards
- Freezer rooms: TEFCOLD CRNF1212 (1.2m × 1.2m external) and CRNF1818 (1.8m × 1.8m external) — floor-standing, self-contained, suitable for commercial kitchens and food storage
- Planning and building regulations: An internal cold room normally needs no planning permission, but Building Regulations (structure, electrics, ventilation) can still apply; large external installations may need planning consent — check with your local authority
- Power requirements: Most TEFCOLD cold room units run on single-phase 13A or 16A supply — no three-phase power required up to medium-size rooms
- Supplier: TEFCOLD cold rooms — supplied and installed UK-wide by FridgeSmart
If you’re running out of fridge space — or replacing upright fridges every few years — a walk-in cold room is usually the better long-term buy. A single modular cold room can replace three or four commercial upright fridges in a smaller footprint and last 15–20 years with basic maintenance.
This guide covers everything you need to know before you buy: UK food law, how to read the model numbers, which size suits your operation, what the real running costs look like, and how FridgeSmart’s TEFCOLD walk-in cold room range stacks up from the smallest 1.2m × 1.2m unit right up to custom configurations.
Under the Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995 (now Schedule 4 of the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 and the Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006), chilled food must be held at 8°C or below in England and Wales — Scotland has its own rules. There is no statutory UK frozen-food temperature, but −18°C or below is the industry standard your HACCP plan should set. The HACCP duty itself comes from retained Regulation (EC) 852/2004. You must maintain a written temperature log — or use an automated monitoring system — and be able to demonstrate HACCP compliance to your local Environmental Health Officer. See the FSA guidance on chilling food safely for the full requirements. A cold room that holds accurate, consistent temperatures makes this far easier than relying on multiple domestic-style units with varying door seals and compressor ages.
Starting price for a TEFCOLD chiller room (ex. VAT)
Years typical lifespan of a quality modular cold room
UK hospitality food waste each year — WRAP estimates run well above this
Cold Room vs Multiple Upright Fridges
This is the question most buyers start with. The short answer: if you need more than about 3m³ of chilled storage, a cold room almost always wins on cost, energy, and usability within a few years. To reduce your cold room running costs further, read our guide to cutting commercial fridge energy bills.
Factor
Cold Room
Multiple Upright Fridges
Upfront cost
£3,043–£6,471+ (ex. VAT)
£600–£1,500 each × 3–5 units
Usable capacity
Full walk-in space, shelving on all walls
Limited by door openings and shelf depth
Energy
✗ Higher — 18–23 kWh/day for a monoblock room
✓ Lower — c. 0.8 kWh/day per Energy Class A upright
Temperature stability
✓ Large thermal mass, minimal swing
✗ Temperature spikes every time door opens
Staff workflow
✓ Walk in, see everything, load full trays
✗ Bend, search, rotate stock awkwardly
Lifespan
✓ 15–20 years with servicing
✗ 6–8 years average in commercial use
Compliance logging
✓ One probe, one log, one record
✗ Must log every individual unit daily
Refrigerant (TEFCOLD)
✓ R290 natural refrigerant, low GWP
Varies — older units often use R134a/R404a
Installation
Modular panels, plug-in, 1–2 days
✓ Plug in, no installation needed
TEFCOLD Chiller Rooms — Four Sizes Compared
TEFCOLD’s CRPF chiller room range runs from a compact 1.2m × 1.2m starter room up to a 3.0m × 3.0m full commercial unit. All models run at 0°C to +8°C, use R290 natural refrigerant, and are plug-in ready after assembly — no specialist refrigeration engineer needed to commission them. Below are four representative sizes spanning the common catering range.
ex. VAT — RRP £4,300
- External: 1,200 × 1,200 × 2,200mm
- Internal: 1,040 × 1,040 × 2,040mm
- Volume: 2.2m³
- Energy: 17.93 kWh/24h
- Refrigerant: R290 (130g)
- Input: 830W / 220–240V
Ideal for a small café, deli counter, or single-site takeaway. Replaces 2–3 upright fridges in footprint and offers far easier stock rotation. Anti-slip SS304 steel floor included.
ex. VAT — RRP £4,663
- External: 1,500 × 1,500 × 2,200mm
- Internal: 1,340 × 1,340 × 2,040mm
- Volume: 3.66m³
- Energy: 17.93 kWh/24h
- Refrigerant: R290 (130g)
- Input: 830W / 220–240V
The most popular starter size for cafés and small restaurants. Over 66% more usable space than the 1212 for just £246 extra. Electronic controller with auto hot-gas defrost keeps temps locked in overnight.
ex. VAT — RRP £5,209
- External: 1,800 × 1,800 × 2,200mm
- Internal: 1,640 × 1,640 × 2,040mm
- Volume: 5.49m³
- Energy: 18.72 kWh/24h
- Refrigerant: R290 (130g)
- Input: 860W / 220–240V
A serious workhorse for busy kitchens doing 50–150 covers. At 5.49m³ it comfortably holds a full week’s meat, dairy, and prep — and runs on just 860W. Includes lockable door and LED lighting.
ex. VAT — RRP £7,041
- External: 2,400 × 2,400 × 2,200mm
- Internal: 2,240 × 2,240 × 2,040mm
- Volume: 10.24m³
- Energy: 23.4 kWh/24h
- Refrigerant: R290 (170g)
- Input: 910W / 220–240V
Over 10m³ of usable chilled space for hotels, event caterers, and large kitchen brigades. At 910W you’re running this on standard single-phase supply. Optional shelving kits and ramp accessories available.
FridgeSmart stocks the complete TEFCOLD CRPF chiller room range from 1.2m × 1.2m up to 3.0m × 3.0m, including non-square configurations (e.g. 1.2m × 2.4m, 1.8m × 2.7m). Browse all chiller rooms →
Need a Freezer Room Instead?
The CRNF freezer room range is TEFCOLD’s negative-temperature counterpart — running at −20°C to −10°C, with 120mm insulation panels (vs 80mm on the chiller range) and a beefier compressor to handle the colder temps. If you’re holding ice cream, raw meat for ageing, or bulk frozen prep, this is what you need. Even under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 there is no statutory frozen-storage temperature, but −18°C or below is the universal industry standard and what an EHO expects to see in your HACCP plan — the CRNF range, set to −20°C, meets it.
ex. VAT — RRP £5,756
External: 1,500 × 1,500 × 2,200mm
Internal: 1,260 × 1,260 × 1,960mm
Volume: 3.11m³
Insulation: 120mm panels
Energy: 22.49 kWh/24h
Input: 1,100W / 220–240V
Refrigerant: R290 (150g)
The CRNF1515 is the most popular entry-level freezer room in this range. Thicker 120mm panels retain temperature longer during peak access periods. Anti-slip SS304 floor rated to 2,000 kg/m² — handles pallet loads. Plug-in ready after assembly, no F-gas engineer needed. At 3.11m³ it stores around 800–900kg of frozen product — think a week’s worth of raw protein for a busy kitchen, or 300+ litres of ice cream for a high-volume dessert operation.
Accessories: optional extra shelving, door ramp, and alarm kit available separately.
ex. VAT
External: 1,200 × 1,200 × 2,200mm
Insulation: 120mm panels
Refrigerant: R290
Input: 220–240V / single phase
The CRNF1212 is the smallest walk-in freezer room in the TEFCOLD range — ideal for a dark kitchen, small bakery, or standalone takeaway that needs proper frozen storage without committing to a full 1.5m footprint. At 1.2m × 1.2m it takes up the same floor space as a large domestic chest freezer but gives you walk-in access, 120mm insulation, and compliant −20°C capability. Good for holding around 6–8 weeks of pre-portioned frozen desserts, sauces, or marinated proteins for a solo or two-person kitchen team.
ex. VAT (approx.)
External: 1,800 × 1,800 × 2,200mm
Insulation: 120mm panels
Refrigerant: R290
Input: 220–240V / single phase
The CRNF1818 steps up to a 1.8m × 1.8m footprint — the freezer equivalent of the best-selling CRPF1818 chiller room. At this size you have room for full-height racking on three walls with a wide central aisle, making FIFO stock rotation straightforward for kitchen teams. It suits restaurants with weekly frozen deliveries, catering companies pre-prepping and freezing ahead of events, or school kitchens holding a full term’s frozen produce. The 120mm panel construction means temperature recovery after door access is faster than thinner-walled alternatives.
The CRNF range runs from 1.2m × 1.2m (£3,550) to 3.0m × 3.0m (£8,151), covering the same footprint options as the chiller range. Browse all freezer rooms →
Size Guide: Which Model Do You Actually Need?
The TEFCOLD model number directly encodes the external footprint: CRPF + width(dm) + depth(dm). So CRPF1818 = 1.8m × 1.8m external. All models share the same 2,200mm external height.
CR = Cold Room | P = Positive (chiller 0/+8°C) or N = Negative (freezer −20/−10°C) | F = Floor included
1218 = 1.2m wide × 1.8m deep (external). Each digit pair = decimetres.
Example: CRPF2427 = Chiller Room, Positive, Floor, 2.4m wide × 2.7m deep.
| Model | External (W×D) | Internal Volume | Best For | Ex. VAT Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRPF1212 | 1.2m × 1.2m | 2.2 m³ | Small café, deli, dark kitchen | £3,043 |
| CRPF1515 | 1.5m × 1.5m | 3.66 m³ | Café, small restaurant (most popular) | £3,300 |
| CRPF1818 | 1.8m × 1.8m | 5.49 m³ | Restaurant, pub, 50–150 covers | £3,686 |
| CRPF2121 | 2.1m × 2.1m | ~7.5 m³ | Busy restaurant, school kitchen | £4,060 |
| CRPF2424 | 2.4m × 2.4m | 10.24 m³ | Hotel, event caterer, large kitchen | £4,982 |
| CRPF3030 | 3.0m × 3.0m | ~18 m³ | Wholesale, production kitchen, large retail | £6,471 |
| Non-square options | e.g. 1.2×2.4m, 1.8×2.7m | Various | When room shape dictates footprint | From £3,030 |
What Temperature Do You Need?
Not all food has the same storage requirement. Use this table to confirm whether a chiller room (CRPF, 0 to +8°C) or a freezer room (CRNF, −20 to −10°C) is right for your operation — or whether you need both.
Food Type
Required Temp (UK law)
CRPF Chiller?
CRNF Freezer?
Dairy, cooked meats, RTE foods
≤ 8°C
✓ Yes
Not needed
Fresh fish, shellfish
0°C to 4°C
✓ Yes (set to 0–2°C)
Not needed
Raw meat, poultry (short-term)
≤ 5°C
✓ Yes (set to 1–4°C)
Not needed
Fruit & vegetables
4°C to 8°C
✓ Yes
Not needed
Frozen raw meat, poultry
≤ −18°C
✗ Too warm
✓ Yes
Ice cream, frozen desserts
≤ −18°C
✗ Too warm
✓ Yes
Frozen prepared meals
≤ −18°C
✗ Too warm
✓ Yes
Wine, soft drinks
8°C to 12°C (service)
Marginal — set to 8°C; use a wine chiller for service temperature
Not needed
Planning Your Installation
Modular cold rooms are designed to be self-installed or assembled by a builder in a day or two. That said, there are four things worth sorting before the unit arrives.
The TEFCOLD chiller rooms are rated to 1,500 kg/m² floor load; freezer rooms to 2,000 kg/m². Check your floor can handle the combined weight of the unit and a full load of stock. The floor must be level — a slope of even a few mm causes door seal problems and pooling condensation inside.
All TEFCOLD cold rooms are 2,200mm external height. Check your ceiling height — you’ll want at least 200mm of clearance above for heat dissipation from the monoblock unit mounted on top. The panels arrive flat-packed, so doorway height is not an issue — the finished room height is.
All CRPF chiller models up to the CRPF2424 run on standard 220–240V / 50Hz single-phase supply at 830–910W — the same as a commercial upright fridge. Freezer rooms (CRNF) require up to 1,100W. No three-phase supply needed unless you’re ordering a very large configuration. Run a dedicated circuit from a fused spur.
The monoblock compressor sits on top and expels heat upward and to the rear. Leave the clearance the manual specifies behind and above the monoblock — allow 300mm behind as a planning figure — and good airflow in the room. In a warm kitchen (above 25°C ambient), performance drops — consider positioning near an external wall or in a back-of-house area with some air movement.
7 Things to Check Before You Order
-
Measure the footprint twice
External dimensions are 80mm wider per side than internal on the chiller range and 120mm on the freezer range — the panel thickness. A CRPF1818 needs a 1.8m × 1.8m floor space plus service clearance. Don’t forget door swing room — the door opens outward. -
Chiller or freezer?
The CRPF chiller range (0 to +8°C) suits all chilled food. The CRNF freezer range (−20 to −10°C) is for frozen stock. If you need both — and you have the space — they can sit back to back to share a wall and reduce heat loss. -
Square or rectangular?
If your back-of-house is long and narrow, a non-square configuration (e.g. CRPF1227 = 1.2m × 2.7m) may suit you better than a square room. The full walk-in cold room range includes many non-square options at competitive prices. -
Shelving needs
The TEFCOLD range is supplied with anti-slip flooring but shelving is sold separately. Factor in the cost of wire shelving kits — they’re not expensive but you want to plan the internal layout before the unit arrives. -
Temperature monitoring & logging
UK food law requires a temperature record. The electronic controller on every TEFCOLD cold room has a built-in display — log daily readings manually and keep the logs for at least 12 months (good practice, not law). For automated monitoring (especially useful for overnight), add a wireless temp sensor and a basic data logger. -
Ambient temperature of the room
Check the ambient rating on the datasheet for your model — TEFCOLD monoblocks are typically rated to Climate Class 4 (30°C ambient). If your kitchen regularly exceeds this in summer, or the unit is in direct sunlight, ask about a higher-rated monoblock or position the room in a cooler area. -
Service plan
Annual servicing keeps your cold room running at peak efficiency and catches door seal wear before it becomes a compliance issue. Budget roughly £150–£250/year for a maintenance visit.
What Does a Cold Room Actually Cost to Run?
Upfront price is only part of the picture. The real question is total cost of ownership over 15 years compared to three or four upright fridges doing the same job.
£3,686 (ex. VAT)
~£1,845/year
~£234/year energy + £1,887 purchase
5.49m³ cold room vs 1.71m³ (3 × 570L net)
9–10 cabinets, 10 compressors, 10 daily logs
15–20 years vs 6–8 years per upright
All Featured Models at a Glance
Model
Type
Ext. Footprint
Volume
Temp Range
Energy / day
Ex. VAT
CRPF1212
Chiller
1.2 × 1.2m
2.2 m³
0 to +8°C
17.93 kWh
£3,043
CRPF1515
Chiller
1.5 × 1.5m
3.66 m³
0 to +8°C
17.93 kWh
£3,300
CRPF1818
Chiller
1.8 × 1.8m
5.49 m³
0 to +8°C
18.72 kWh
£3,686
CRPF2424
Chiller
2.4 × 2.4m
10.24 m³
0 to +8°C
23.4 kWh
£4,982
CRNF1212
Freezer
1.2 × 1.2m
1.81 m³
−20 to −10°C
22.49 kWh
£3,550
CRNF1515
Freezer
1.5 × 1.5m
3.11 m³
−20 to −10°C
22.49 kWh
£4,073
CRNF1818
Freezer
1.8 × 1.8m
~4.8 m³
−20 to −10°C
—
From £4,520
A commercial cold room is a walk-in refrigerated or frozen storage room used by restaurants, caterers, food retailers, and food production businesses. TEFCOLD modular cold rooms are panel-built on site without groundworks — available in chiller (0°C to +8°C) and freezer (−20°C to −10°C) configurations. UK businesses storing perishable food must implement HACCP procedures under retained Regulation (EC) 852/2004 and hold chilled food at 8°C or below (Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995, now Schedule 4 of the 2006 Food Hygiene Regulations in England and Wales); −18°C is the industry standard for frozen food. The TEFCOLD CRNF series (freezer rooms) and modular chill room range are stocked by FridgeSmart, which supplies and supports cold room installations across the UK. Most units run on standard single-phase power.
Frequently Asked Questions
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