freezer stores with concrete consrtuction floors

[spunkysparks]

does any body know why freezer floors with concrete consrtuction floors have low wattage heating incorporated into the floor??

[Brian_UK]

To stop it freezing.

If concrete freezes then it will split, fracture, swell up and ruin the floor.

Some floors also incorporate pipework with brine solutions running through them.

[US Iceman]

When water freezes when it expands. This continuous expansion cause the concrete floors to crack and lift up. This can also disturb and move any racks or products that may be in the freezer.

This is a serious problem you do not want to face!

[sparrow]

I think this is down to heat load if you simply just had a concrete floor heat would be pulled from it Latent heat and it would crack the floor.

Sparrow

[smpsmp45]

It has something to with Mass transfer phenomenon. When the freezer is operating the Specific Humidity is very very low & hence there is a tendency of water in the floor to flow upwards i.e. from High Sp Hudity area to Low Humidity area. So by putting up the heaters, we try & avoid the freezing of that water which is coming up!!!

If the water turns into Ice its volume increases& hence the cracking of the floor is always a possibility. & Hence heaters are a must

[US Iceman]

The warmer ground temperature will cause a higher vapor pressure of the moisture contained in the ground. For this you also need a vapor retarder (usually called a vapor barrier). This helps to reduce the flow of moisture into the cold space. In the freezer the vapor pressure is very low. Therefore, the moisture has a driving force (difference in vapor pressure) towards the freezer. The purpose of the heated floor in a freezer is keep the soil warm enough to prevent freezing which causes an ice lense to form. An ice lense looks something like an umbrella made of ice under the floor. The high point of the lense is what cracks the floors and causes the concrete to rise.

[Electrocoolman]

Commonly called Frost Heave.