Darkstore Fulfillment Facility

ADA is a leading company that specialises in providing innovative, energy-efficient, and sustainable refrigeration solutions for various industries. ADA recently developed a new dark store fulfillment facility in London, covering an area of approximately 100,000 sq./ft. The facility included 45,000 sq./ft of multi-temperature (chilled & frozen) picking chambers, and the client’s specification required a full natural refrigerant refrigeration solution that did not include ammonia, CO2, or high change A2L (R290 propane) due to local fire authority restrictions.

Challenge:

The primary challenge faced by ADA was to develop a natural refrigerant refrigeration solution that would comply with the local fire authority’s restrictions while providing efficient cooling for the chilled and frozen chambers.

Solution:

ADA developed a unique solution that consisted of using R290 / glycol chillers located on the external of the building envelope to support the chilled chambers. For the freezer chambers, water-cooled R290 integrated monoblocks were utilised, which made use of the return flow glycol as the condensing cooling medium. This solution enabled the installation to remain under the required practical limit for the building and satisfied the insurers.

Benefits:

The solution developed by ADA provided the following benefits:
Compliance with local fire authority restrictions: The solution provided by ADA complied with the local fire authority’s restrictions on the use of high change A2L (R290 propane), ensuring the safety of the facility and its occupants.

ESG compliance: The solution developed by ADA satisfied the client’s ESG requirements, making it an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution.

Energy-efficient: The solution used natural refrigerants, which are known for their energy efficiency, making the facility cost-effective in the long run.

Insurance compliance: The solution developed by ADA satisfied the insurers of the building, ensuring that the facility is protected from potential risks.

Conclusion:

The development of the new dark store fulfillment facility in London by ADA demonstrates ADA’S expertise in developing innovative and sustainable refrigeration solutions that comply with various regulatory requirements. The solution developed by ADA not only satisfied the client’s ESG requirements but also complied with local fire authority restrictions, ensuring the safety of the facility and its occupants. Additionally, the energy-efficient solution provided by ADA will save costs for the client in the long run, making it a practical and sustainable solution.