The Problem

A pharmaceutical customer based in Manchester had expanded rapidly and outgrown their existing cold storage capacity. Their current facilities were no longer sufficient to safely store sensitive products while staying compliant with MHRA guidelines.

To make space for a new coldroom, they needed to demolish part of their existing packing laboratories. The client’s priority was finding a partner who could:

  • Deliver a pharmaceutical-grade coldroom built to strict MHRA compliance.
  • Manage the entire project end-to-end, from demolition through to validation.
  • Ensure minimal disruption and a fast turnaround to keep operations running smoothly.

Without this, the risks were significant: limited storage, potential compliance breaches, and disruption to product distribution.

The Solution

ICE Ltd were chosen as the trusted partner thanks to our proven track record of delivering compliant, high-specification coldroom solutions for pharmaceutical clients.

We provided a turnkey package, removing all friction from the process. The client had just one point of contact — ICE managed and delivered every stage of the project.

Scope of Works Delivered by ICE:

  • Demolition & Building Works – Safely demolished existing packing labs to create the required footprint for the new coldroom.
  • Coldroom Build – Installed a floorless insulated coldroom, measuring 4.5m x 4.2m x 2.5m (w x d x h).
    The coldroom was constructed with 100mm insulated panels for walls and ceilings, fitted with a 1500mm wide sliding door, large enough to allow pallet access.
  • Lighting & Electrical – Supplied and installed lighting and emergency lighting, ensuring compliance with required LUX levels. All electrical mains were connected directly to the bespoke control panels.
  • Refrigeration Systems – Installed two refrigeration systems designed to operate on a run and standby basis.
    This ensures system resilience and uninterrupted performance, even in the event of a fault.
  • Control Systems – Bespoke pharmaceutical-grade control panels were installed, featuring: Temperature alarm, Fault alarms and Door-open alarms
  • Temperature Compliance – Designed to maintain a constant 5°C operating temperature (within the 2–8°C MHRA guideline range). The system passed temperature mapping first time, proving compliance and reliability.
  • Handover & Documentation – Full Operation & Maintenance manuals were issued the next working day after commissioning, giving the client everything required for regulatory audits and ongoing maintenance.

The Outcome

The project was delivered on time, within programme, and with zero disruption to the customer’s ongoing operations.

The customer now has:

  • A future-proof coldroom meeting MHRA guidelines.
  • Increased storage capacity to support business growth.
  • A resilient run-and-standby system that ensures product safety at all times.
  • Full documentation and confidence in compliance for inspections and audits.

Because ICE had already delivered three previous coldroom projects on the same site — and remain the customer’s ongoing refrigeration maintenance provider, the client was assured of both quality and continuity.