A cold store in Dubai is a coating environment unlike any other in the building. Surfaces sit permanently below the dew point of surrounding air, wash down is frequent, and hygiene standards are audited. Ordinary interior emulsion fails within months.

What makes it difficult

Persistent condensation. Any surface below the dew point of adjacent air stays wet. Around door openings and thermal bridges, condensation is continuous rather than intermittent.

Thermal movement. Defrost cycles move panel and structural surfaces repeatedly, and rigid brittle films crack at joints and fixings.

Biological growth. Cold and wet is ideal for mould, which is a hygiene failure in food storage. Anti fungal performance is a requirement here, not an upgrade, as covered in our mould control guide.

Cleaning chemicals. Frequent wash down with alkaline detergents and sanitisers attacks unsuitable binders.

What to specify

Coatings for these areas need flexibility to accommodate movement, resistance to constant moisture, chemical resistance to cleaning regimes, and an anti fungal component to inhibit growth. In food contact adjacent areas, verify suitability for the application with the manufacturer rather than assuming.

Application temperature is the practical obstacle. Most coatings will not cure properly at cold store operating temperatures, so painting is done during construction or during a planned shutdown with the space warmed and dried. Attempting to coat a running cold store generally produces an under cured film that fails quickly.

Preparation in condensing conditions

Surfaces must be dry at the time of application, which in practice means dehumidification and warming the space, then holding those conditions through cure. The dew point discipline described in our application conditions article applies with even less tolerance here.

Detailing that prevents failure

Coving at floor and wall junctions eliminates the dirt trap and the crack line. Sealing around penetrations, fixings and panel joints prevents moisture tracking behind the coating, which is the most common cause of delamination in these rooms. Where insulated panels are used, coating is often unnecessary on the panel face itself, and effort is better spent on junctions, structural steel and floors.

MENA Industrial Supplies supplies anti fungal and chemically resistant coatings for cold store and food facility refurbishment across the UAE.