FAQ

1. general & natural refrigerants

Synthetic refrigerants (F-gases such as R404A, R134a, and R507) are subject to strict legal regulations and are being artificially made scarce and more expensive on the market. The new European F-Gas Regulation (EU 2024/573) further drastically tightens this phase-down through strict quotas and stringent service bans. Natural refrigerants—primarily ammonia (NH₃) in industrial refrigeration—are future-proof, unaffected by these bans, and exhibit significantly higher thermodynamic energy efficiency. . By making the switch, you’re investing in absolute legal security for your assets and consistently low operating costs.

We specialize in industrial applications. Our focus is on process cooling, large logistics centers, and large-scale industrial facilities—in particular, flooded NH₃ pump systems with capacities up to the megawatt range.. We are not the right point of contact for residential air conditioning systems (split-system units in homes) or traditional supermarket refrigeration systems.. Our core planning expertise lies precisely where high thermal loads, complex piping system designs, and strict regulatory safety requirements (e.g., TRAS 110) converge.

We operate strictly as an independent engineering firm specializing in planning and consulting. We design system concepts, prepare manufacturer-neutral bid documents, and oversee on-site installation. The physical installation itself is carried out by qualified refrigeration contractors. This strict separation of planning and execution guarantees you 100% independent quality control—as your construction management team, we rigorously inspect what others build.

2. Safety & Technology (NH₃, CO₂, and Propane)

Ammonia is toxic, but can be safely managed in modern refrigeration technology. It has been used extremely successfully in industrial refrigeration for over 100 years. Thanks to proper design and the implementation of strict safety regulations, gas detection systems, ventilation systems, and automatic shut-off valves, the risk is minimal. In addition, ammonia has a key practical advantage: you can smell it even at tiny, harmless concentrations (“self-warning”), long before a concentration dangerous to the human body is reached.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as both natural refrigerants have their own specific strengths. Ammonia is the undisputed leader for high capacities in the megawatt range and offers maximum thermodynamic efficiency, but due to its toxicity, it requires more complex safety measures (e.g., TRAS 110). CO₂ stands out for being non-toxic and non-flammable; it is excellent for deep-freezing as well as for recovering high-temperature waste heat, but it requires system designs capable of withstanding very high operating pressures. This means that every industrial refrigeration system is unique. The decision depends largely on your individual load profile, the required temperature levels, the building infrastructure, and the potential for heat recovery. This is exactly where we come in: As a manufacturer-independent engineering firm, we analyze your specific process and objectively determine which refrigerant is the best choice for your project, both technically and economically.

Propane and other hydrocarbons are flammable refrigerants. Therefore, a well-planned system design is crucial for safe operation. In practice, we primarily use R290 in chillers or heat pumps intended solely for outdoor installation. Only the water or brine lines run inside the building. We design the units themselves in accordance with DIN EN 378: with split refrigeration circuits to reduce refrigerant charge quantities, integrated gas detection, and active emergency venting. This allows you to safely harness the outstanding efficiency of propane.

3. project process & refurbishment

Generally not, because we know that a plant shutdown in the industrial sector costs real money. Since large-scale industrial plants have thermal loads that cannot simply be offset by temporary rental cooling, our key planning strategy is the intelligent use of system redundancies. We design the retrofit so that new plant components and piping runs are installed in parallel with ongoing daily operations. Even in sensitive areas such as deep-freeze rooms, we enable safe installation during ongoing operations by, for example, temporarily isolating and heating specific sectors. The only structural intervention in the refrigeration circuit is the final switchover to the new system—we time this already very short window precisely so that it has no or only minimal impact on your production process.

As early as possible—ideally as early as the architectural concept phase (Service Phase 1 or 2). Unfortunately, experience in the industry shows that refrigeration technology is often considered too late in the overall building planning process. In practice, this leads to costly compromises: machine rooms are designed far too small, structural roof loads for heavy condensers are underestimated, or the refrigeration plant is placed at the completely wrong end of the building. The result is extremely long piping runs, high pressure drops, and thus permanent energy losses. If we are involved in the coordination of trades from the very beginning, we will position the refrigeration system at the optimal location from both a thermodynamic and fluid dynamics perspective—and spare you from costly retroactive construction modifications.

Can an existing refrigeration system be expanded while it is in operation?
This is one of our most common planning tasks. In many existing industrial facilities, piping networks and machine rooms were originally designed with a certain amount of capacity to spare. Instead of immediately planning a complete new construction, we assess the thermodynamic and fluid dynamics capacities of your system. Often, the required additional capacity can be integrated into the existing infrastructure through the targeted retrofit of individual compressors, new pump performance curves, or the intelligent hydraulic integration of an additional refrigeration circuit.

4. costs & funding

As a traditional engineering firm, we offer you complete contractual and financial transparency. We structure and bill our planning services strictly in accordance with the German Fee Schedule for Architects and Engineers (HOAI) and provide seamless support for your project through all service phases (LPH 1–9), from the initial feasibility study to final site supervision. We handle the bidding process and construction in a legally compliant manner based on the VOB. Thanks to these standardized, audit-proof processes, we are not only qualified to work with private industrial companies but are also a reliable partner for public clients and on large-scale international projects.

The consistent use of natural refrigerants, for example, is strongly supported through federal funding (EEW Module 4). Depending on the size of your company, 20% to 30% of eligible costs can often be reimbursed—and in some cases, up to 50% for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We’ll assess your project’s eligibility for funding and prepare the mandatory technical energy-saving plan. Remember the golden rule: The funding application must be submitted before you hire a refrigeration contractor.