Cold Storage Survey 2014 Results

Freezers and refrigerators are an integral part of any laboratory that requires temperature controlled storage.

Written byTrevor Henderson, PhD
| 2 min read

Maintaining samples at an optimal temperature while in storage is vital for many lab professionals and this makes choosing the right freezer or refrigerator a crucial task. While the average kitchen freezer operates at about -20°C, laboratory variants have a much wider range of options depending on the storage conditions needed.

Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a Cold Storage Equipment

  1. How is the product manufactured? Ask about the quality of the materials used and the product life.
  2. What is the warranty? What does it include and for how long? Will anything void the warranty?
  3. How green is the product? Ask the company to provide details on energy efficiency and have them relate it to your return on investment (e.g. in four years will you save enough money in energy costs to pay for your freezer/fridge?).
  4. How much sample capacity are you getting for your space?
  5. What are the optimal voltage/wiring conditions for running the fridge/ freezer? If the building is older, will low voltage or voltage fluctuations affect the performance of the freezer/fridge?

Types of cold storage used by survey respondents

Blood bank and plasma6%
Explosion-proof7%
Flammable materials storage6%
Upright general purpose lab freezers26%
Under-counter general purpose lab freezers10%
Low temperature chest lab freezers6%
Low temperature upright lab freezers14%
Upright ultra-low temperature freezers17%
Chest ultra-low temperature freezers5%
Other3%

For service and repair, survey respondents report using the following:

In-house service department28%
Third-party contract19%
Third-party time/material16%
Instrument manufacturer time/material16%
Instrument manufacturer service contract8%
Multi-vendor service provider6%
Don't know6%
Our department5%
Other1%

Nearly 44% of respondents plan on purchasing cold storage equipment in the next year. The budget ranges for these purchases are as follows:

Less than $5,000 
$5,000-$15,000
$15,000-$30,000
$30,000

Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing cold storage equipment

Reliability of product79%
Durability70%
Price66%
Sensitivity and Accuracy of Temperature Controls55%
Warranties48%
Energy Efficient43%
Reputation of Vendor39%
Service and Support39%
Audible and Visual Hi/Lo Alarm for Each Controller36%
Quiet operation35%

Completed Surveys: 340


For more information on cold storage equipment, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/fridges-freezers 

See the latest survey results

About the Author

  • Trevor Henderson headshot

    Trevor Henderson BSc (HK), MSc, PhD (c), has more than two decades of experience in the fields of scientific and technical writing, editing, and creative content creation. With academic training in the areas of human biology, physical anthropology, and community health, he has a broad skill set of both laboratory and analytical skills. Since 2013, he has been working with LabX Media Group developing content solutions that engage and inform scientists and laboratorians. He can be reached at thenderson@labmanager.com.

    View Full Profile

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