Commercial Refrigeration Installation for UK Businesses
ColdTec handles commercial refrigeration installation for shops, pubs, restaurants, hotels, cafés and forecourts. From one display chiller to a full kitchen fit-out, an F-Gas certified team installs, commissions and services every unit.
Get a Free Site Visit 020 3773 1250Equipment That Holds Its Temperature
A fridge that runs two degrees too warm spoils stock quietly. Money is lost every day and nobody sees it. Good commercial refrigeration installation fits equipment that holds its temperature, uses less power and lasts for years.
Larger sites may also need a commercial cold room installation or wider cold storage solutions.
Commercial Refrigeration We Install
This table shows the equipment fitted most often, with the temperature each unit holds.
| Equipment | Temperature | Best for | Key point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display chillers | +1°C to +10°C | Shops, forecourts, delis | Glazed doors and LED lights cut running cost |
| Upright storage fridges | +1°C to +4°C | Commercial kitchens | Stainless steel, easy to wipe down |
| Upright freezers | −18°C to −22°C | Kitchens, catering | Thick insulation holds temperature in a hot kitchen |
| Prep counters | +1°C to +4°C | Sandwich bars, pizza, salads | Chilled top keeps ingredients safe at hand |
| Cellar cooling | +10°C to +14°C | Pubs, bars, clubs | Keeps beer at the right pour, cuts waste |
| Bottle coolers | +3°C to +10°C | Bars, restaurants | Fast pull-down before service |
| Ice machines | −12°C and below | Bars, hotels, hospitals | Clean ice, filtered water, serviced regularly |
| Walk-in cold rooms | +2°C to −18°C | Large kitchens, wholesale | Built to the space and the stock |
Pick the Right Unit for the Business
Every commercial refrigeration installation starts with the business, not the catalogue. Start here.
| Business | Start with | Then add |
|---|---|---|
| Corner shop or forecourt | Glazed display chiller | Upright freezer, bottle cooler |
| Pub or bar | Cellar cooling | Bottle coolers, ice machine |
| Restaurant or café | Upright fridge and freezer | Prep counter, walk-in cold room |
| Hotel | Walk-in cold room | Ice machines, minibar cooling |
| Butcher or fishmonger | Serve-over counter | Walk-in chiller, blast chiller |
| Bakery | Blast chiller | Upright freezer, proofing control |
Retail Display Refrigeration
Display chillers can sell more and cost less to run. Glazed doors hold the cold in. LED lights show the product without heating it.
Each unit is placed so customers reach it easily. Shelves are set to match product heights, and the cabinet is levelled so the doors seal and the drain works.
Display refrigeration is installed for corner shops, farm shops, butchers, delis and forecourts.
Cellar Cooling for Pubs and Bars
Beer must pour at the right temperature. Too warm and it foams. Too cold and it tastes flat. Cellar cooling holds the cellar between +10°C and +14°C all year.
A well-set system also cuts waste. Every degree saved stops beer going off behind the bar, and most pubs recover the cost in wasted stock alone.
The unit is sized to the cellar, the lines and the busiest Friday night. The controller is then set, and staff are shown how it works.
Commercial Kitchen Refrigeration
Kitchens run hot, and a fridge in a hot kitchen works twice as hard. Units rated for the heat are fitted, with thick insulation and strong compressors.
- Upright fridges and freezers. Stainless steel inside and out, with rounded corners that wipe clean.
- Prep counters. A chilled top keeps ingredients safe while the team works.
- Blast chillers. UK food safety guidance says hot food should move from +70°C to +3°C within 90 minutes.
- Walk-in cold rooms. Bulk storage for busy kitchens. See commercial cold room installation.
How Commercial Refrigeration Installation Works
Free site visit
The space is measured, power and drains are checked, and the way the team works is noted.
Pick the kit
A list of units, sizes and prices is supplied. No jargon, no pressure.
Fit it
Engineers install around opening hours so trading continues.
Test it
Every unit runs, the temperature is logged and the result is proved.
Show the team
Staff are walked through the controls, alarms and cleaning routine.
Service it
Four visits a year run under a maintenance and repair contract.
Running Costs and Savings
Good installation saves money every month. Poor installation costs for years. The table shows where the money goes.
The controller is set to the product being stored, not the factory default. Qualified refrigeration engineers handle every set-up.
| Choice | Cheap option | Right option |
|---|---|---|
| Doors | Open front | Glazed doors hold the cold in |
| Lights | Old fluorescent, adds heat | LED, bright and cool |
| Siting | Next to the oven | Away from heat and sunlight |
| Seals | Left until they tear | Checked and replaced on service |
| Coils | Never cleaned | Cleaned every visit |
| Controller | Left on factory settings | Set to what is actually stored |
Legal duties, handled
UK law requires certified engineers, leak tests and written records for refrigerant work. Every ColdTec service contract covers the tests and the paperwork. Read the official UK F-Gas guidance and check any contractor on the Refcom register. Cutting food waste through better storage helps the bottom line too. See WRAP's guidance on food waste reduction.
Where Commercial Refrigeration Is Installed
Coverage includes the whole of the UK. Work is most common in these areas:
- Cold Room Installation London
- Cold Room Installation Birmingham
- Cold Room Installation Oxford
- Cold Room Installation Sheffield
- Cold Room Installation Southampton
- Cold Room Installation Colchester
- Cold Room Repair Northampton
- Commercial Refrigeration Peterborough
Outside these areas? Call 020 3773 1250 for an honest answer, or browse all UK service areas.
About ColdTec
ColdTec was founded fifteen years ago with one purpose: keeping heavy business refrigeration cold, safe and dependable. Qualified teams are sent nationwide in fully stocked service vehicles.
ColdTec Cooling Service
Address: Unit 7, 177 Hook Road, Surbiton KT6 5AR
Phone: 020 3773 1250
Email: info@cold-tec.co.uk
Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30am–5:30pm
24/7 emergency cover for contract clients
Book a Free Site Visit
Free survey, fixed written quote and a 24/7 emergency line, with fast cover through the Cold Room Repair Northampton and Commercial Refrigeration Peterborough teams.
Emergency? Call 020 3773 1250.
Commercial Refrigeration FAQs
How long does commercial refrigeration installation take?
A single display chiller takes a few hours. A full kitchen fit-out takes one to two weeks. Work is planned around opening hours so trading continues, and a fixed completion date is given in writing before work starts.
Can installation happen outside normal hours?
Yes. Early mornings, evenings and weekends are all possible. Quiet hours can be shared during the survey, and the plan is built around them.
Is an F-Gas certified engineer needed?
Yes, by law. Anyone who works on a refrigerant circuit must hold a current F-Gas certificate, and the company must sit on a UK register. ColdTec holds Refcom approval and ISO 9001:2015. Meet the refrigeration engineers.
What temperature should a commercial fridge hold?
Between +1°C and +4°C for fresh food. Freezers hold −18°C or below. Cellars sit between +10°C and +14°C. The controller is set to match the stock.
Is the equipment serviced after installation?
Yes. Cold room maintenance and repair contracts include four visits a year, F-Gas records and priority call-outs.
What happens if a unit breaks down?
Call any hour. The 24/7 emergency refrigeration repair team stocks the parts that fail most often, so most faults are fixed on the first visit.
Can new refrigeration cut an electricity bill?
Yes. Coils are cleaned, door seals are checked, the controller is set to the real load and set points are reviewed. Small changes add up fast on equipment that runs 24 hours a day.
Need commercial refrigeration installed or replaced?
Commercial refrigeration installation across the UK. Free site visit, fixed written quote.