Outdoor Walk-Ins
KPS Global is an industry leader of outdoor walk-ins. Regardless of your application need, we have a solution for you.
With more than 75 years in the industry, the team at KPS Global has the industry knowledge to provide an outdoor walk in to meet your business need.
All outdoor walk-ins by KPS Global are designed and reviewed by our in house engineers to ensure all building and local code requirements are met including seismic requirements and wind and snow loads.
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TYPES OF OUTDOOR WALK-INS
Utilizing a urethane insulation, KPS Global outdoor walk in coolers offer the highest R-value in the industry.
Outdoor walk in coolers by KPS Global are a customized solution and are offered in wood frame and non-wood frame options.
Our in house team of designers and engineers take all design considerations and DOE guidelines. These considerations include:
1. Floor panels or insulated floors
2. Heat Vents
3. Heated Doors and Sweeps
4. R-Value
5. Membrane or Standing Seam Weather Roof Assemblies
KPS Global offers three panel types for outdoor walk in freezers:
1. Woodframe
2. INSULFRAME™
3. FUSIONFRAME®
OUTDOOR COMBO BOXES
KPS Global offers customizes solutions for outdoor combo boxes. Customizations include size, configuration and color.
KPS Global walk-ins are built to suit and meet all project needs. Our outdoor walk ins can be customized with either a standing seam metal roof or membrane roof. Customizations based on site location and use includes: frame types, panel thickness, floor options, door options, lighting, shelving and windows.
OUTDOOR WALK-IN LEAD TIMES
KPS Global offers industry leading lead times for outdoor walk ins leveraging our five strategically located plants.
Having multiple locations across the country KPS Global offers redundancy to protect our customers against unexpected delays at a single manufacturing location.
OUTDOOR WALK-IN CUSTOMIZATIONS
KPS Global is the leading provider of custom outdoor walk-ins offering a wide range of customizations to meet any project spec.
Metal Finishes
KPS Global provides outdoor walks ins in a variety of metals and materials depending on application need including:
- Aluminum
- Aluminum Zinc Oxide
- Stainless Steel
Depending on the location and metal type, the finish and color may vary.
For outdoor walk-ins, KPS Global utilizes coated metal to prevent the metal from oxidizing. KPS Global metal finish options include white and tan but can supply customized colors on request.
KPS Global also offers mesa profiles for outdoor walk-ins to help protect the unit from the expansion and contraction of components caused by outdoor elements. While not required, is highly recommended throughout the industry.
We recommend light, natural colors for outdoor walk ins to prevent the absorption of heat onto the panel.
Roof Options
KPS Global offers roof options for outdoor walk ins to properly protect your units from varying weather conditions. Weather roof options for outdoor walk ins are either standing seam metal roofs or membrane roofs.
Outdoor walk in roofs include glue, termination bars, or both. Our standard membrane weather roof assemblies come in a variety of colors including standard white, tan and grey. Other colors are available upon request.
In the event your outdoor walk in is installed under a shed or roof, a standard weather roof for outdoor walk ins may not be required but should be evaluated by a skilled KPSG engineer to ensure all wind loading requirements are met.
Door Options
Outdoor walk ins require protection from the elements.
Our commercial metal doors offer a wide range of customizations including color, size, and hardware. Although white and sandtan are standard colors for outdoor commercial doors, other colors are available on request. We also offer both single and double doors (both active or one inactive).
In addition, KPS Global recommends utilizing rain hoods. Rain hoods for outdoor walk-ins provide an overhang above the door opening to prevent rain, snow and other elements from entering the unit.
Size
As a custom build manufacturer, KPS Global takes on all projects big and small. As part of the design process our experts evaluate your specifications to design and manufacture a unit that is built to your requirements.
Additional factors should be considered depending on the size of the unit, its location and proximity to other structures, internal blocking or support may be needed for greater external loads.
Depending on these factors, our in-house engineers may require internal steel support and thicker top panels.
Flooring
- Foot Traffic: Uniform Load = 700 PSF*
- Hand Truck: Uniform Load = 1000 PSF*
- Pallet Jack : Uniform Load = 2500 PSF*
- Super Floor: Uniform Load = 5000 PSF*
While every outdoor walk in is not required to have a manufactured floor, it should be noted that heat transfer can take place through standard concrete slabs in warm climates therefore manufactured floors should be considered to prevent increased temperature infiltration causing the units refrigeration system to cycle more frequently. Freezers require insulated slabs or insulated floors to maintain the thermal envelope. KPS Global meets all NSF standards by providing cove base on insulated concrete slabs and insulated floor to wall radius or angle at the connection point if using floors.
Insulation
KPS Global utilizes urethane insulation for outdoor walk ins as it offers the highest R-value per inch in the industry.
The design and engineering team at KPSG have the experience to identify appropriate insulation thickness based on the climate, location and need of the customer.
Other factors include identifying the change in temperature between the interior temperature and exterior ambient temperature.
Want to learn more about our insulation types? Check out our Foam Insulation Comparison.
OUTDOOR WALK-IN CERTIFICATIONS
At KPS Global, safety is our top priority. That’s why our products fully comply with all safety requirements and go through extensive testing. Learn more about our certifications or review our International Building Code Letter.
HOW TO CHOOSE A WALK-IN FOR YOUR CLIMATE
Climate plays a significant role in designing an outdoor walk in. Evaluating the climate of the site location is an important factor for our team of engineers as this dictates roof options and insulation thickness.
Hot Climates
Choosing an outdoor walk in for a warm to hot climate requires thicker wall insulation to protect contents of the cooler as the metal has the ability to absorb heat and raise the temperatures within the unit. It is also important to note that outdoor walk ins in warm to hot climates may require a roof option that is either secured with a termination bar or a standing seam metal roof.
Mild Climates
Outdoor walk ins in intermediate to mild climates are most standard option. While factors such as wind, rain, and snow may be evaluated, typically these elements in intermediate to mild climates do not have enough of an effect to change the design of the unit.
Cold Climates
Cold climates are great for outdoor walk-ins and typically only require 4” wall thickness as stated by the DOE. One benefit of outdoor walk ins for cold climates is that outdoor walk in coolers and freezers benefit from cold environments as they typically are more energy efficient as they are not fighting against heat absorption.
Altitude
One major environmental factor that requires consideration is the altitude at which the outdoor walk in will be located. KPS Global employs engineers who are adept at handling altitude effects and have the experience to choose the appropriate refrigeration system for specific environments.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can Outdoor Walk-ins Be Placed Under Weather Roofs Or Other Structures?
Yes, all outdoor walk ins have the ability to be installed under weather roofing or other structures. Our engineers evaluate every design to meet all requirements of the project.
What Size Of Outdoor Walk -Ins Do You Offer?
KPS Global is a custom solution provider that designs and manufactures outdoor walk in coolers to spec. We have the ability to design and manufacture outdoor walk in coolers of any and all sizes.
What Is The Life Expectancy Of a Walk-in Cooler Or Freezer?
The average lifespan of an outdoor walk in greatly differs depending on maintenance, repair work, and environmental elements.
Can Indoor Walk-ins Be Used Outdoors?
While similar, indoor walk-ins are specifically designed for indoor use and unsuitable for outdoor applications.
Aside from a lack of weatherproofing and planning for site location indoor walk-ins are not designed and engineered with outdoor environments in mind.
Indoor walk-ins outdoors could result in a wide range of issues.
It is not advisable to utilize walk-ins that have not been engineered to withstand building and site conditions.
Outdoor Walk-ins vs Indoor Walk-Ins
The difference between outdoor walk ins and indoor walk ins comes down to a few differentiating factors. Most noticeable and obvious is the location where the walk in is installed and the materials needed to build a base on-site.
Outdoor walk ins most commonly require thicker insulation to ensure protection from direct sunlight and heat absorption.
Outdoor walk ins also require roof options for protection including membrane roofs and standing seam roofs whereas indoor walks in do not have a need for this.
