Almaty is the food trade and distribution hub for southern Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The growth of retail chains (Magnum, Small, Korzinka), the expansion of food delivery, and increasing agricultural exports from the Almaty region create steady demand for cold storage facilities. Building such a facility in Almaty is more complex than in other cities: the 8–9-point seismic zone imposes special requirements on structures and systems.
from 23,500 ₸/m²
cold storage warehouse construction in Almaty
turnkey — warm structure with refrigeration equipment; medium-temperature from 45,000 ₸/m²
200–300 mm
wall and roof insulation thickness
for -18°C/-25°C regime — PIR panels or PUR panels with λ=0.022 W/m·K
+0…+4°C
optimal regime for food products
fresh vegetables, fruits, dairy products, chilled meat
up to 25%
electricity savings
multi-compressor units with variable-speed control vs single compressors
Temperature Regimes: Which One Does Your Business Need
Before designing, you need to define the temperature zones precisely. Everything depends on this: insulation thickness, equipment type, refrigeration unit capacity, and final cost.
| Regime | Temperature | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Chilled (positive) | +2…+8°C | Dairy, chilled meat, fish, semi-processed foods |
| Fresh (fruit/veg) | +0…+4°C | Vegetables, fruits, greens, flowers |
| Frozen | –18°C | Ice cream, frozen foods, fish |
| Deep frozen | –25°C | Long-term storage of meat and seafood |
| Pharmaceutical (GSP) | +15…+25°C | Medicines without special requirements |
| Pharmaceutical (cold chain) | +2…+8°C | Vaccines, insulin, biologics |
Tip for Almaty: when designing, plan for multi-zone layouts with several temperature compartments — this increases the commercial flexibility of the facility.
Insulation: Materials and Thickness
The quality and thickness of insulation determines how much you will pay for electricity throughout the entire service life of the facility. Cheap insulation means expensive operation.
Types of Insulation Materials
| Material | Thermal conductivity λ | Application |
|---|---|---|
| PIR panels (polyisocyanurate) | 0.022 W/m·K | Walls, roof — best choice |
| PUR panels (polyurethane foam) | 0.022 W/m·K | Walls, roof — equivalent to PIR |
| XPS (extruded polystyrene) | 0.030 W/m·K | Cold storage floors |
| Mineral wool | 0.035–0.045 W/m·K | Not used in cold storage (absorbs moisture) |
Required Insulation Thickness
| Temperature regime | Walls (PIR/PUR) | Roof | Floor (XPS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| +2…+8°C (chilled) | 100 mm | 120 mm | 100 mm |
| –5…0°C | 150 mm | 150 mm | 120 mm |
| –18°C (frozen) | 200 mm | 200 mm | 150 mm |
| –25°C (deep frozen) | 250 mm | 250 mm | 200 mm |
The cold storage floor requires special attention
Structural Features in Almaty (9-Point Seismic Zone)
A cold storage warehouse is more complex than a standard warm building — insulation panels create additional weight and inertial loads during seismic events. Almaty-specific requirements:
1. Steel frame with reinforced joints Columns and trusses are designed for dynamic loads per SP RK 2.03-30-2017 (rev. 12.08.2025). For cold storage — an additional check is required for loads from hanging evaporators and pipelines.
2. Thermal deformations + seismic activity = double requirements for joints Metal structures contract and expand with temperature changes (from -25°C to +40°C in summer outside). In the seismic zone, joints must compensate for both types of movement — thermal and dynamic.
3. Anti-seismic mounting of refrigeration equipment Compressors, condensers, and evaporators are attached to structures with vibration and anti-seismic elements — this is a state technical review requirement.
4. Vapour barrier In Almaty's climate (up to +40°C in summer, down to -25°C in winter), condensation is the main enemy of insulation. PIR panels are installed with metal joint strips without gaps. Compromised vapour barriers mean wet insulation within 3–5 years.
Refrigeration Equipment: Choosing the Right System
Types of Refrigeration Systems
| System | Application | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single compressors | Small warehouses up to 300 m² | Simple, inexpensive | No redundancy, no variable speed |
| Multi-compressor units | 300–3,000 m² | 25% energy savings, redundancy | Higher installation cost |
| Chiller + fan coils | Climate-controlled warehouses +5…+15°C | Quiet operation, even climate | High cost |
| Ammonia systems | Industrial warehouses 3,000+ m² | Energy-efficient, cheap to run | Requires hazardous facility licence |
Recommendation for Almaty: for a 500–3,000 m² warehouse, multi-compressor units using R-449A or R-452A refrigerants are optimal (environmentally safe refrigerants not subject to EU phase-out, and widely used in Kazakhstan).
Brands on the Kazakh Market
- Bitzer (Germany) — reliability leader, official service centres in Almaty
- Copeland/Emerson (USA) — widely used, spare parts available
- Danfoss (Denmark) — electronics and automation for refrigeration systems
- Pol, Mitsubishi — Japanese systems for Class-A facilities
Cost of Building a Cold Storage Warehouse in Almaty
| Type and regime | Area | Construction cost |
|---|---|---|
| Chilled (+2…+8°C) | 300 m² | 25–35 million ₸ |
| Chilled (+2…+8°C) | 1,000 m² | 70–100 million ₸ |
| Frozen (–18°C) | 300 m² | 35–55 million ₸ |
| Frozen (–18°C) | 1,000 m² | 100–150 million ₸ |
| Multi-temperature (3 zones) | 1,500 m² | 180–260 million ₸ |
Includes: seismic-reinforced steel frame, PIR panels of required thickness, XPS floors with ground heating, refrigeration units, installation and commissioning. Land not included.
Additional Costs — Don't Forget to Budget For
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Electrical grid connection approval (300+ kW) | 500,000–1,500,000 ₸ + 2–4 months |
| Refrigerant leak alarm system | 300,000–600,000 ₸ |
| Temperature monitoring system (SCADA/IoT) | 800,000–2,500,000 ₸ |
| Anti-vandal doors with cold curtains | 700,000–1,500,000 ₸/unit |
| Dock leveller with seal | 1,200,000–2,200,000 ₸/unit |
We'll design a cold storage warehouse in Almaty accounting for seismic requirements and your temperature regimes
StroyHub develops turnkey cold storage and multi-temperature warehouse projects — from calculations to commissioning.