Refrigeration & Cold Storage RFQ template & spec checklist

This category spans mechanical refrigeration and the spaces it serves: ammonia, CO2, and glycol plant refrigeration, screw and reciprocating compressor packages, blast and spiral freezers, plate freezers, process chillers, and insulated cold rooms. Buyers range from a plant adding a freezing tunnel for a new frozen line to one replacing an end-of-life condensing unit or expanding racked storage. Refrigerant choice, ambient design conditions, and defrost strategy drive both capital cost and decades of energy bills, so the cheapest bid is rarely the cheapest system to own. Competing quotes expose how each vendor sized the load and what they assumed about your worst-case day.

What to include in your request

• ▢ Refrigeration load in kW or tons, with product entering and leaving temperature plus mass flow or pull-down time
• ▢ Room or process setpoint, and the design summer dry-bulb ambient for condenser sizing
• ▢ Refrigerant preference or constraint: ammonia, CO2, propylene glycol, or HFC/HFO
• ▢ Defrost method (hot gas, electric, air) and the acceptable temperature swing during defrost
• ▢ For ammonia, whether the charge triggers OSHA PSM / EPA RMP scope and IIAR compliance
• ▢ Cold-room dimensions, panel thickness or R-value, floor loading, and door type and traffic
• ▢ Available power, heat-rejection space, and machinery-room ventilation

What drives the quote

• Total refrigeration capacity and the number and type of compressors
• Refrigerant system type and its code, safety, and ventilation requirements
• Evaporator count and defrost method
• Insulated panel area, thickness, and the floor and door specification
• Heat rejection choice (evaporative, air-cooled, adiabatic) and energy-efficiency options

Common spec mistakes to avoid

• Sizing the plant to average load and ignoring simultaneous pull-down and infiltration peaks
• Picking a mild design ambient for the site, so the system starves on the hottest afternoon
• Underestimating how much defrost disrupts product temperature and room recovery
• Skipping freezer floor insulation or vapor-barrier detail, which invites frost heave later
• Not scoping ammonia safety obligations early, then discovering PSM cost after the award

Lead time

Lead time is driven by compressor package availability, the size of the refrigerant charge, and any engineered evaporator or panel work. Ammonia systems with full safety documentation and third-party review run longer than a packaged glycol chiller.

FAQ

How do I get quotes for Refrigeration & Cold Storage?

Post a request describing what you need. Suppliers in the Refrigeration & Cold Storage category respond with a quote covering price, lead time, and what's included. No account is required.

Is it free?

Yes. Posting a Refrigeration & Cold Storage request and receiving quotes is free for buyers.

Do suppliers see who I am?

No. Your Refrigeration & Cold Storage request posts anonymized — suppliers see the category, spec, and state only. Your name and contact details are shared with a supplier only if you choose to connect with their quote.