A warehouse for structural steel and a warehouse for pharmaceuticals are two fundamentally different buildings, even though both can be built from steel structures in Almaty. The difference lies in the regulatory framework, temperature regime, finishing materials, and monitoring systems. In Almaty, industry-specific requirements are compounded by mandatory 9-point seismicity, which affects the anchoring of equipment, racking, and engineering systems. Let's look at the three most in-demand specialisations in the Almaty market.
+15°C … +25°C
GDP temperature range
general pharmaceutical warehouse in Almaty — GDP requirements per MHSD RK and EAEU standards
≤60%
humidity for pharmaceuticals
relative humidity for most pharmaceutical dosage forms — critical in Almaty's mountain climate
≥300 lux
lighting in e-com picking zone
for manual order picking — 50% higher than a standard warehouse
−18°C
freezing temperature
for frozen food storage per SanPiN RK — a popular request in Almaty
Why Almaty Is a Special Context for Specialised Warehouses
Almaty is Kazakhstan's economic capital and the country's largest consumer market. It concentrates:
- Kazakhstan's and EAEU's largest pharmaceutical distributors
- Main distribution centres for Magnum, Small, Coop, Rimcore and other retailers
- Order processing centres for Kaspi.kz, Wildberries, Ozon (KZ)
- Food industry manufacturing enterprises
At the same time, a specialised warehouse in Almaty$2 must account for:
- 9-point seismicity — anchoring of refrigeration equipment, racking, pipeline systems
- Mountain humidity — controlling condensation in zones with contrasting temperature regimes
- Almaty regulatory authorities — the city KZPP, SES (sanitary-epidemiological service), and DCS are active
Pharmaceutical Warehouse (GDP) in Almaty
Regulatory Framework in Kazakhstan
Storage and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Kazakhstan is governed by:
- GDP Rules (Good Distribution Practice) — implemented in Kazakhstan within the EAEU (CU Decision No. 73)
- Order of the MHSD RK No. QR DSM-45/2023 — licensing requirements for distributors
- Order No. 129 — standards for pharmaceutical warehouse certification
- Pharmacopoeia of Kazakhstan and EAEU technical regulations on pharmaceutical products
To obtain a wholesale pharmaceutical licence, a warehouse in Almaty must undergo certification by the authorised authority (MHSD/DCCMFD).
GDP Warehouse Temperature Zones
| Zone | Temperature range | Typical products | Almaty-specific |
|---|---|---|---|
| General zone | +15°C … +25°C | Tablets, capsules, most pharmaceuticals | HVAC accounting for summer +38°C |
| Cool zone | +8°C … +15°C | Biologically active preparations | Summer cooling mandatory |
| Refrigerated | +2°C … +8°C | Vaccines, insulin, biologics | Backup cooling (generator) |
| Frozen | –20°C | Some biological preparations | — |
Almaty summer temperature: On hot July days, air temperature reaches +38°C. For a GDP warehouse without cooling of the general zone (max +25°C) — this is unacceptable. HVAC with cooling is not optional but a mandatory component.
Technical Requirements for a GDP Warehouse in Almaty
Premises:
- Full zonal isolation of storage areas by temperature — physical partitions with vapour barriers
- Continuous monitoring of temperature and humidity (certified loggers, data stored 3 years)
- System validation (mapping) — thermal mapping every 2–3 years and after any refurbishment
- Humidity: ≤60% for the general zone, ≤45% for the cool zone
Structural design accounting for Almaty seismicity:
- Refrigeration equipment (cold rooms, chillers) — anchored with seismic calculation
- Engineering pipelines — seismic compensators in refrigerant routing
- Racking — floor-bolted with torque specification and documentation
Finishes:
- Walls and ceilings — washable coatings (class A antibacterial paints or HPL panels)
- Floor — seamless, chemically resistant, non-slip when wet
- Quarantine and rejection zones — physically separated
- Ventilation — supply-and-exhaust with H13/H14 filtration for sensitive product zones
Security:
- Access control system (ACS) — with event logging
- CCTV with archive storage ≥30 days
- Intrusion protection: grilles, alarm system, panic button
Mountain humidity: In Almaty, during transitional periods (March–April, October), air humidity rises to 85–90%. Without correct vapour barrier of the building envelope and air dehumidifiers, it is impossible to maintain ≤60% humidity in storage zones.
GDP Is a System, Not Just a Building
Premium Over Standard Warehouse
| Item | Premium over base heated warehouse |
|---|---|
| HVAC (summer cooling) | +3,000,000–7,000,000 ₸ per 1,000 m² |
| Temperature monitoring system | +500,000–2,000,000 ₸ |
| Cold room +2°…+8°C (200 m²) | +5,000,000–12,000,000 ₸ |
| Specialised finishes (HPL, epoxy) | +2,000–4,000 ₸/m² |
| Seismic equipment anchoring | +500,000–1,500,000 ₸ |
| Total GDP premium | +25–50% over standard heated warehouse |
Food Products Warehouse in Almaty$2
Regulatory Framework
- TR CU 021/2011 "On Food Product Safety" (EAEU)
- SanPiN No. 225 RK (2023) — sanitary requirements for retail and food storage facilities
- SN RK 3.02-29-2023 — warehouse buildings
- ISO 22000 / HACCP — for suppliers to Almaty chain retail
Why Food Warehouses in Almaty Are a Special Market
Almaty concentrates a third of all Kazakhstani retail. Major chains (Magnum, Small, Coop, RiMall) require their 3PL partners and suppliers to comply with HACCP or ISO 22000. Without this — you simply cannot become a qualified supplier.
At the same time, Almaty's food logistics market is growing dynamically: increasing deliveries from China via Khorgos, growing share of chilled products, growth of e-grocery.
Temperature Categories for Food Warehouses
| Product type | Temperature regime | Humidity | Notes for Almaty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry goods, canned, beverages | +12°C … +20°C | 55–75% | Summer air conditioning needed |
| Fruit and vegetables | +4°C … +10°C | 85–95% | Deliveries from Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan |
| Dairy products | 0°C … +6°C | 80–90% | Large segment in Almaty |
| Chilled meat | −1°C … +4°C | 85–95% | — |
| Frozen meat | −18°C and below | < 90% | Generator mandatory |
| Frozen fish | −22°C | < 90% | Generator mandatory |
Technical Requirements for a Food Warehouse
Finishes and structure:
- All product-contact surfaces — stainless steel or food-grade plastic
- Walls in wet zones — porcelain tiles 300×300 mm or epoxy wall panels (R10 anti-slip)
- Floor — anti-slip (R10–R12), slope to drains ≥1°, chemically resistant
- Ceiling — suspended, hygienic plastic panels
- Doors — self-closing, full-height seals, full-height door buffers
Pest and insect protection:
- Mesh on ventilation openings ≤6×6 mm
- Insect killers (minimum 1 per 80 m²)
- Mousetraps along perimeter (schedule — once a week)
- Disinfection mats at entrances
Sanitary zones:
- Handwashing basins at work zone entry — touchless taps
- Lockers — separation of street and work clothing
- Disinfection barriers at storage zone entrances
Seismicity in an Almaty food warehouse:
- Refrigeration equipment (cold rooms, condensers, evaporators) — floor/wall anchored with seismic calculation
- Refrigerant pipelines — flexible compensators at equipment connections
- Racking — floor-bolted with torque documentation
HACCP in Almaty — the Route to Major Contracts
Premium Over Standard Heated Warehouse
| Item | Premium |
|---|---|
| Specialised finishes (porcelain tiles, epoxy) | +3,000–6,000 ₸/m² |
| Cold rooms +2°…+8°C (400 m²) | +10,000,000–25,000,000 ₸ |
| Freezer rooms −18°C (200 m²) | +12,000,000–30,000,000 ₸ |
| Sanitary zones (sinks, barriers) | +800,000–2,000,000 ₸ |
| Generator for cold backup | +3,000,000–8,000,000 ₸ |
| Floor (anti-slip with slopes) | +1,500–3,000 ₸/m² |
| Total food warehouse premium | +30–60% over base heated |
E-Commerce and Fulfilment Warehouse in Almaty$2
Almaty E-Commerce Market
Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest e-commerce market. Kaspi.kz, Wildberries KZ, Ozon KZ, Arbuz.kz, Magnum Delivery — all these operators have or are developing warehouse infrastructure in Almaty. Kazakhstan's online retail market growth rate: 30–40% per year.
Demand for quality fulfilment warehouses in Almaty significantly exceeds supply. If you are building a warehouse for e-com — this is a high-liquidity investment.
Room Requirements for an E-Com Warehouse
Height:
- For manual picking (pallet trucks, stackers): 6–8 m — sufficient for 3–4 tiers of racking
- For automation (conveyors, sorters, AGVs): 10–14 m — for equipment clearance
Lighting:
- Storage zone: 150–200 lux
- Picking and packing zone: 300–500 lux — people work with small items
- Receiving zone: 200–250 lux
Floor:
- Flatness — critical: ±2 mm/2 m — required by most sorters and conveyors
- Anti-dust coating mandatory — dust on conveyors and AGVs causes breakdowns
- Load capacity 3–5 t/m² (usually sufficient)
- In Almaty's seismic zone — expansion joints with appropriate sealant
Power supply:
- Charging stations for AGVs/electric forklifts — significant electrical load
- Backup power (generator) — for conveyors and sorters: sorting stoppage at peak = huge losses
- Almaty tariff 38–42 ₸/kWh — high load on operational economics
E-Com Warehouse Zoning in Almaty
| Zone | Area (% of total) | Function | Almaty-specific |
|---|---|---|---|
| Receiving and inbound control | 10–15% | Unloading, verification, labelling | Flow from China via Khorgos |
| Storage | 40–55% | Racked goods | Seismicity → racking anchoring |
| Picking | 10–15% | Order assembly | High lighting 300+ lux |
| Packing | 8–12% | Packing, labelling, weighing | Antistatic for electronics |
| Despatch | 8–10% | Handover to couriers | Kaspi, Yandex Delivery, DHL |
| Service areas | 5–8% | Office, welfare rooms, server room | — |
Server room/IT: In an e-com warehouse the WMS (warehouse management system) is critical infrastructure. Server room: air conditioning +18°…+25°C, UPS, redundant internet connection, fire suppression (gas, not water!). Area: 15–30 m².
Automation: What to Incorporate During Almaty Construction
If you plan conveyors, picking robots, or carousel racking:
| Equipment type | What to incorporate during construction |
|---|---|
| Belt conveyors | Floor sockets, cable trunking route |
| Cross-belt sorter | Reinforced slab, flatness ±0.5 mm/m |
| Carousel racking | Floor load 5–8 t/m², seismically calculated anchoring |
| AGV robots | Charging stations, flat floor, route marking |
Important for Almaty: Automation equipment requires antiseismic anchoring. A conveyor line fastened only through vibration dampers without floor anchoring in a seismic zone is a breakdown risk at any tremor.
We'll build a specialised warehouse in Almaty to your requirements
StroyHub designs and builds GDP warehouses, food storage facilities, and fulfilment centres in Almaty accounting for 9-point seismicity, mountain climate, and regulatory requirements.
Comparison of Three Specialised Warehouse Types for Almaty
| Parameter | Pharmaceuticals (GDP) | Food products | E-commerce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature regime | +2°C … +25°C (zones) | −22°C … +20°C | +15°C … +22°C |
| Summer air conditioning | Mandatory (+38°C in Almaty) | Mandatory | Desirable |
| Finish requirements | High (GDP) | High (SanPiN) | Medium |
| Monitoring | Validation, logs, 3 years | Data logger, HACCP | Fire alarm |
| Equipment anchoring | Per seismicity (9 points) | Per seismicity | Per seismicity |
| Documentation | GDP, MHSD licence | HACCP, sanitary certificate | No special requirements |
| Premium over standard heated | +25–50% | +30–60% | +15–30% |
FAQ
Which Almaty authorities inspect specialised warehouses?
- Pharmaceutical: MHSD RK / DCCMFD (GDP certification)
- Food: KZPP (Consumer Rights Protection Committee), city SES
- Fire safety: DCS (Almaty Emergency Services Department) — for all facilities
- Construction supervision: GASKoK Almaty — during construction
Can pharmaceuticals and food products share one building?
No. These are incompatible activities under sanitary and GDP standards. Different rooms within the same building are permissible only with full physical isolation and separate entrances.
Is a separate site needed for a specialised warehouse?
No, a specialised warehouse can be a standalone building or part of a complex. Key requirement: separate entrance, separate systems, separate documentation.
How does Almaty seismicity affect refrigeration equipment?
During a 6–7 point tremor, an unreliably anchored compressor unit or condenser can break free from its base, leading to a refrigerant leak and accident. For Almaty: all units weighing >100 kg — anchoring calculated for horizontal acceleration of 0.4–0.5 g.
