Cold Room Temperature Ranges UK: Refrigerant Selection Guide

Matching Refrigerant to Cold Room Temperature

Commercial cold rooms in the UK operate across a wide range of temperature setpoints, and the correct refrigerant choice depends on the required evaporating temperature. Using the wrong refrigerant for a temperature application results in poor efficiency, excessive compressor cycling and shortened equipment life.

Medium Temperature Applications (0°C to +8°C)

Standard chill rooms, dairy storage, fresh produce and drinks chillers. Common refrigerants: R134a, R407C, R448A. Evaporating temperature typically -10°C to -5°C.

Low Temperature Applications (-18°C to -25°C)

Frozen food storage, blast chilling, ice cream hardening. Common refrigerants: R404A, R448A, R449A, R507A. Evaporating temperature typically -35°C to -28°C.

Ultra-Low Temperature (-40°C to -80°C)

Pharmaceutical freezers, laboratory ultra-low temperature units and blast freeze tunnels. These often use cascade refrigeration systems combining two refrigerants — a high-stage refrigerant (R134a or CO2) and a low-stage refrigerant (R508B or similar).

Key Selection Criteria

• Required evaporating temperature
• Available refrigerant under F-Gas quotas (avoid high-GWP where alternatives exist)
• Compressor manufacturer approval for the selected gas
• Oil compatibility

For R404A legacy cold room servicing and R448A/R449A transition supply, browse our full refrigerant range.