Electrical Frost Heave Protection for Cold Storage Facilities
Cold Store Frost Heave Protection
In permanently refrigerated buildings, low temperatures can gradually penetrate through an insulated floor into the ground below. If moisture freezes, expansion can lift and damage the floor structure. Electrical frost heave protection maintains critical areas above the required minimum ground temperature.
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How frost heave develops
Long-term cold penetration into moist soil can freeze water and cause ground movement. This can create stress, cracking and damage to floor slabs and adjacent structural …
Long-term cold penetration into moist soil can freeze water and cause ground movement. This can create stress, cracking and damage to floor slabs and adjacent structural elements.
Development is long term and depends on soil moisture, building construction, insulation and room temperature. A momentarily normal display does not therefore prove that all areas are protected. Operators need identified measurement points, temperature trends and traceable circuit function.
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Design, manufacture and support for your system
Pro Therm designs and manufactures electric frost heave protection systems for the cold store project. The agreed scope can include engineering and costing, heating …
Pro Therm designs and manufactures electric frost heave protection systems for the cold store project. The agreed scope can include engineering and costing, heating components, controls, drawings, technical data and test records. Floor construction, area, temperatures and interfaces with the building design are coordinated before execution.
For existing installations, we provide maintenance, fault assessment and spare parts. Accessible circuits, sensors, connections and controllers are identified from the available records. For concealed components, the actual construction determines which tests or replacement options are feasible. Installation and commissioning scope are agreed for the specific project.
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Spare parts for existing systems
We support operators with replacement heating components, sensors, controllers and other parts for existing systems. Availability and compatibility are evaluated for the …
We support operators with replacement heating components, sensors, controllers and other parts for existing systems. Availability and compatibility are evaluated for the actual installation. Before selecting a replacement, the type, electrical ratings, connection method and installed conditions of the existing component need to be recorded. An older part cannot always be replaced with a current product without technical review.
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Distinguish accessible and concealed components
Servicing a floor system starts by identifying accessible equipment: panels, controllers, junctions, sensor wiring and any existing conduits. A replaceable heating …
Servicing a floor system starts by identifying accessible equipment: panels, controllers, junctions, sensor wiring and any existing conduits. A replaceable heating element can be assumed only when the documented construction and actual installation allow it.
Existing spare circuits and sensors are traced through the plant records. A normal controller reading is not a blanket assessment of the whole subsoil. Pro Therm supports the electrical and control-system assessment; any necessary investigation of the building structure is coordinated with the responsible specialists.
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Frequently asked questions
What is frost heave protection? It is an electrical heating system that keeps the ground below a permanently refrigerated building above a critical temperature to help …
What is frost heave protection?
It is an electrical heating system that keeps the ground below a permanently refrigerated building above a critical temperature to help prevent frost heave.
Does Pro Therm install frost heave protection systems?
We design, manufacture and supply electric frost heave protection systems and provide documentation, maintenance and spare parts. Installation and commissioning scope are agreed for the specific project. Our worldwide installation positioning with our own teams applies to electric heat tracing.
How is frost heave protection different from pipe heat tracing?
Frost heave protection protects the building structure and subsoil; pipe heat tracing protects or temperature-maintains process and utility piping.
What information helps with a temperature alarm?
The measurement point, trend, controller display, associated circuits and previous test values. An alarm can have different causes and is assessed in the context of the floor system.
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Related topics
Frost heave maintenance → Freeze protection → Controls and monitoring → Heat loss and insulation →
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Electrical protection principle
Electric heating elements installed below the insulated floor prevent critical cooling of the subsoil. Temperature sensors and controls monitor the relevant zone and …
Electric heating elements installed below the insulated floor prevent critical cooling of the subsoil. Temperature sensors and controls monitor the relevant zone and operate the heaters as required.
Controls and sensors are assessed for the specific floor system. High thermal inertia makes trends and system-specific alarm limits important. Before replacing controllers or heating components, we review existing drawings, electrical data and accessible connections. Inaccessible cables beneath the slab require a separate assessment.
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Typical applications
Frost heave protection is mainly used in freezer warehouses, cold stores, freezer rooms and other permanently refrigerated buildings. Additional heating may be used …
Frost heave protection is mainly used in freezer warehouses, cold stores, freezer rooms and other permanently refrigerated buildings. Additional heating may be used around doors, transitions or other critical areas depending on the facility.
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Tracking floor temperatures over time
Frost-heave protection safeguards a structure with considerable thermal inertia. Trends therefore matter: which sensor is changing, when did the change begin, and which …
Frost-heave protection safeguards a structure with considerable thermal inertia. Trends therefore matter: which sensor is changing, when did the change begin, and which circuits serve that area? An alarm does not by itself prove that a heating element has failed. Sensors, controls and the power supply are also assessed. Pro Therm’s current scope focuses on technical advice, equipment supply, spare parts and maintenance of existing systems.
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Standards and technical basis
Our knowledge section explains how the standards relate to the heating task, product selection and project design. Open the standards overview →
Our knowledge section explains how the standards relate to the heating task, product selection and project design.
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Discuss a new build or existing system
For a new project, send the floor plan, floor construction, area, temperatures, project stage and required scope. For an existing system, add circuit plans, controller …
For a new project, send the floor plan, floor construction, area, temperatures, project stage and required scope. For an existing system, add circuit plans, controller and sensor types, temperature trends and test records. Use the project enquiry for new heating or the service enquiry for maintenance and faults.
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References & projects
Explore our project reports for electric heat tracing and frost heave protection. View references & projects →
Explore our project reports for electric heat tracing and frost heave protection.
Electrical protection principle
Electric heating elements installed below the insulated floor prevent critical cooling of the subsoil. Temperature sensors and controls monitor the relevant zone and operate the heaters as required.
Controls and sensors are assessed for the specific floor system. High thermal inertia makes trends and system-specific alarm limits important. Before replacing controllers or heating components, we review existing drawings, electrical data and accessible connections. Inaccessible cables beneath the slab require a separate assessment.
Standards reference (checked 14 October 2026): For heating cables and embedded electric heating systems, the scope of IEC 60364-7-753:2014 and its German adoption DIN VDE 0100-753:2015-10 is checked. This installation reference does not replace the thermal assessment of a cold-store foundation. Heating, construction and protection functions are evaluated together.
Design, manufacture and support for your system
Pro Therm designs and manufactures electric frost heave protection systems for the cold store project. The agreed scope can include engineering and costing, heating components, controls, drawings, technical data and test records. Floor construction, area, temperatures and interfaces with the building design are coordinated before execution.
For existing installations, we provide maintenance, fault assessment and spare parts. Accessible circuits, sensors, connections and controllers are identified from the available records. For concealed components, the actual construction determines which tests or replacement options are feasible. Installation and commissioning scope are agreed for the specific project.
Typical applications
Frost heave protection is mainly used in freezer warehouses, cold stores, freezer rooms and other permanently refrigerated buildings. Additional heating may be used around doors, transitions or other critical areas depending on the facility.
Spare parts for existing systems
We support operators with replacement heating components, sensors, controllers and other parts for existing systems. Availability and compatibility are evaluated for the actual installation. Before selecting a replacement, the type, electrical ratings, connection method and installed conditions of the existing component need to be recorded. An older part cannot always be replaced with a current product without technical review.
Standards reference (checked 14 October 2026): For heating cables and assemblies outside hazardous areas, IEC/IEEE 62395-1:2024 is the international reference for general requirements and testing. Germany still lists DIN EN 62395-1:2014-10 as the current national edition.
Tracking floor temperatures over time
Frost-heave protection safeguards a structure with considerable thermal inertia. Trends therefore matter: which sensor is changing, when did the change begin, and which circuits serve that area? An alarm does not by itself prove that a heating element has failed. Sensors, controls and the power supply are also assessed. Pro Therm’s current scope focuses on technical advice, equipment supply, spare parts and maintenance of existing systems.