Refrigeration design

Commercial refrigeration specified for your space and operation.

From upright and undercounter refrigeration to prep counters, display units and cold storage, we specify commercial refrigeration around your capacity, available space, workflow and budget.

Specified forCapacity and application
CoversChilled and frozen
Available asStandalone or full project
Commercial refrigeration and cold room installed by CKLS
How we designSpecified around youThe right refrigeration for the space, capacity and application
Scope

What we design

Refrigeration fails when it is sized by floor area instead of by heat load. We start with the load.

Upright refrigeration

Commercial upright fridges and freezers selected around storage capacity, available space and day-to-day usage.

Storage refrigeration

Counter and undercounter refrigeration

Refrigerated counters and undercounter units positioned to keep chilled and frozen ingredients close to where they are needed.

Counter units

Cold rooms and freezer rooms

Where additional storage capacity is required, cold and freezer room options can be incorporated into the wider kitchen design.

Bulk storage

Prep refrigeration

Prep counters and refrigerated workstations specified around your menu, service style and kitchen workflow.

On the line

Display refrigeration

Multidecks, serve-over and bottle coolers chosen for the merchandising and the ambient conditions they sit in.

Front of house

Specialist refrigeration

From blast chillers and ice machines to other application-specific refrigeration, we’ll specify equipment around the requirements of the operation.

Specialist
Commercial refrigeration plant and cold room
The brief

What we consider when specifying refrigeration

  • Capacity — what you need to store now, with sensible allowance for peak periods and future requirements.
  • Available space — equipment dimensions, door openings, ventilation clearances and access for installation and servicing.
  • Kitchen workflow — where ingredients are received, stored, prepared and used during service.
  • Temperature requirement — chilled or frozen storage and any specialist temperature requirements for the application.
  • Operating environment — kitchen temperatures, positioning and ventilation considered when selecting suitable equipment.
  • Energy efficiency and running costs — balancing purchase price, efficiency, reliability and expected usage when comparing equipment.
In use

Refrigeration positioned around the way your kitchen works

Good refrigeration design isn’t just about capacity. We consider where stock is delivered, stored, prepared and used so the right equipment is positioned where your team actually needs it.

CAD plan of a walk-in coldroom at +1 to +4C alongside a walk-in freezer at -17C, with four-tier storage racking, GN pan trolleys and marked service connections
Stage two, concept layoutCold rooms set out to scale with services marked, before anything is priced
Food safety & hygiene

Refrigeration specified with food safety in mind

Reliable temperature control, easy cleaning and appropriate separation all matter in a commercial kitchen. We consider these alongside capacity and workflow when selecting refrigeration equipment.

Interior of a new stainless steel walk-in cold room with aluminium shelving

Reliable temperature control

Commercial refrigeration selected to suit the application, operating environment and storage requirements, helping maintain consistent chilled or frozen temperatures.

  • Equipment suited to the application
  • Chilled and frozen storage options
  • Capacity matched to your requirements
Zoning diagram showing delivery, chilled and frozen storage with stock flow arrows

Easy to clean

Equipment specified with day-to-day hygiene and cleaning in mind, with practical finishes and accessible storage areas suited to a busy commercial kitchen.

  • Commercial-grade, easy-clean finishes
  • Removable shelving where applicable
  • Practical access for routine cleaning
Section detail of a cold room showing insulated panels, door, evaporator and condensate drain

Storage & separation

Refrigeration planned around how ingredients are stored, prepared and used, helping support good food hygiene practices and efficient kitchen workflow.

  • Storage planned around your operation
  • Chilled and frozen requirements considered
  • Positioned close to the point of use
Running costs

Refrigeration that is not fighting the room

Commercial refrigeration runs around the clock, so energy use and running costs matter. We consider efficiency alongside capacity, reliability and purchase price when specifying equipment.

  • Correct capacity — equipment sized appropriately for the storage requirement and operation.
  • Energy efficiency — efficient models considered alongside purchase price and expected usage.
  • Positioning and ventilation — adequate airflow and sensible positioning help refrigeration operate as intended.
  • Whole-life value — specification considers reliability, serviceability and ongoing running costs, not simply the cheapest purchase price.
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Upright commercial refrigerator in a stainless steel kitchen, holding prepared stock at 3C
New commercial refrigeration cabinets and cold room panels staged for installation
Supply

Refrigeration supplied by the team that specified it

From individual refrigeration units to equipment specified as part of a complete commercial kitchen, we can supply, install and commission the equipment we’ve selected for your project.

  • Manufacturer-independent specification — equipment selected from leading commercial refrigeration brands to suit the application, budget and project requirements.
  • Single units or complete projects — from replacing an individual fridge or freezer to supplying refrigeration throughout a new commercial kitchen.
  • Delivery & installation — equipment delivered, positioned and installed as agreed within the project scope.
  • Commissioning & handover — equipment commissioned where required and handed over ready for use.
  • Warranty support — manufacturer warranty information provided and support available should an issue arise.
  • Ongoing service & maintenance — reactive repairs and planned maintenance available after installation.
Browse Equipment
How it runs

From survey to commissioning

1

Survey and consultation

We discuss your requirements, measure the available space and understand how the equipment will be used.

2

Layout and options

Where refrigeration forms part of a kitchen project, equipment is incorporated into the wider layout and service requirements.

3

Specification

We select suitable equipment based on capacity, application, footprint, efficiency and budget.

4

Quote & order

Specification and pricing agreed before equipment is ordered, and delivery arranged around the project programme.

5

Install and commission

Equipment delivered, installed and commissioned where required, with handover on completion.

20+
Combined years in commercial refrigeration
All makes
Leading commercial refrigeration brands
F-Gas
Qualified refrigeration support
UK-wide
Survey, install and callout coverage
Questions

Before you brief us

What refrigeration equipment do I need for my commercial kitchen?

This depends on what you need to store, your available space, menu, delivery frequency and how your kitchen operates. We can specify everything from upright and undercounter fridges and freezers to prep counters, display refrigeration and, where required, cold or freezer rooms.

As part of a wider kitchen project, we’ll also consider where refrigeration is positioned so it works efficiently with your kitchen layout and workflow.

Can you supply refrigeration as part of a complete kitchen project?

Yes. Refrigeration is regularly specified as part of our complete commercial kitchen projects, allowing us to consider storage capacity, workflow, available space and other kitchen equipment as one coordinated design. We can also supply refrigeration as a standalone requirement where you simply need an individual unit or replacement equipment.

How much will it cost to run?

Running costs vary depending on the type and size of equipment, energy efficiency, usage and operating environment. Because commercial refrigeration operates continuously, we consider energy efficiency and whole-life running costs alongside purchase price when recommending equipment. Correct specification, positioning and adequate ventilation can also help refrigeration operate efficiently.

Can you replace just one fridge or freezer?

Yes. Although we regularly supply refrigeration as part of complete commercial kitchen projects, we can also help with individual replacement requirements. We can review the existing equipment, available space and application before recommending a suitable commercial replacement.

Can you incorporate a cold room into a commercial kitchen design?

Yes. Where additional chilled or frozen storage is required, we can incorporate cold and freezer room options into the wider commercial kitchen design. We’ll consider the available space, storage requirements, access and how the cold room fits into the kitchen workflow.

Keep reading

Related services and equipment

Start with the load

Tell us what you store and how often it arrives.

Stock, deliveries and the space you have are enough to start. We will survey, calculate the load and come back with a design and a cost.

Speak to the team · Mon–Fri 9–501200 411 914

We reply to every enquiry within one working day.