The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to regulated industry regarding existing walk-in refrigeration box design and finish requirements.

Serious consideration must be given to whether rehabilitation or replacement is the appropriate course of action. The public is advised to investigate the costs associated with all of these options.

Existing “built in” refrigeration boxes that hold temperature, have finishes that are impervious, sealed, easily cleanable and are in good repair, need not be upgraded or rehabilitated until such time as the finish becomes uncleanable or in disrepair or the unit becomes unserviceable.

Existing cam-lock style walk-in refrigerator boxes

Existing cam-lock style boxes that are serviceable but require refinishing may be refinished using various commercially available third-party certified organic coating products.

Products approved under ANSI/NSF Standard 51 for splash zone use in food establishments would be acceptable for this purpose. The units must be disassembled, individually refinished or recovered with aluminum-electroplated galvanized steel, 22-24 gauge (0.040 in.) or better, with a stucco-embossed or flat finish, and reassembled using new gasket material.

Existing “Built-in” Walk-in Refrigeration Boxes (not modern cam-lock walk-in refrigerator boxes)

The following criteria refer only to existing wooden or built-in refrigerated rooms, and are provided as guidance for NSF-Certified (Standard 2) fabricators for the refurbishment of walk-in refrigerator or freezer box interiors that will be equivalent to the applicable NSF materials and construction standards.

These criteria are meant only to apply to those boxes that are currently capable of maintaining proper temperatures as required by the Regulations Governing the Sanitation of Food Establishments, but that do not meet materials and construction standards:

1. The interior walls and ceiling are to be, as a minimum, aluminum electroplated galvanized steel, 22-24 gauge (0.040 in.) or better, with a stucco-embossed or flat finish.
   
   
2. Walls are to be vertically seamed between panels, and joined using a like-material concealed fastener such as an internal hem strip, which is gasketed at the seam without caulking. Ceiling panels are to be joined in a like manner. Vertical corners must have minimum continuous radii of 1/4".
   
   
3. Any fasteners used must be countersunk and concealed with "cam-lock"-type flat caps.
   
   
4. Floors must be quarry tile, with quarry tile base, sealed with epoxy grout, or other approved seamless material (such as sealed concrete) with proper cove base and corner treatment providing a minimum 1/4" radius at the floor-to-wall juncture and the corners.
   
   
5. Doors must be an NSF or equivalent approved component walk-in door. Vertical and ceiling door jams are to be finished as listed in item 2. In lieu of an approved component door, in situations where such a door is not commercially available, the existing door interior and door jambs are subject to the same finish as noted in item 2, properly fit, and with manufacturer’s approved gaskets. The exterior of such a door must be sealed, smooth and easily-cleanable.
   
   
6. All drain/condensate/refrigeration lines must not have exposed copper and must be sealed in accordance with NSF standard 2 or painted with epoxy paint and all penetrations for such lines must be sealed properly.
   
   
7. Refrigeration components must be NSF or approved equivalent, and must be drained indirectly to an external floor sink or other approved device (such as an external evaporation pan). The BTU rating for the given ambient temperature must meet or exceed those provided for by the calculations listed in the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Refrigeration Handbook.