Mould is one of those problems that sneaks up on you. One day everything's running smoothly, and the next you're facing health code violations, equipment failures, and potentially thousands of dollars in remediation costs.
Mould doesn't care whether you're running a commercial kitchen or storing wine at home. It thrives wherever refrigeration and cooling systems create the right conditions, and understanding ‘why’ puts you one step ahead of it.
Why mould loves refrigeration environments
When a refrigerated room sits on a concrete slab, the cold travels through the concrete. This causes condensation to form on the underside where it meets the ambient air below. That condensation leads to dripping, mould growth, and structural damage that can spread rapidly if left unchecked.
Steve Ellis, one of White’s project leads, points out that it’s not just a question of installing and plugging in a cooling unit.
"Most people don’t understand the physics behind refrigeration and what damage it can do if it’s not done right."
The problem becomes even more serious in commercial settings. Walk-in cool rooms, blast-chill systems, and large-scale cold storage facilities all generate significant temperature differentials. Each one creates multiple potential condensation points where mould can take hold. Understanding these physics helps, but sometimes the damage happens before you get the chance to prevent it.
White’s engineering team once worked on a large commercial building where a fire had broken out during construction. The fire itself caused substantial damage, but the real problem came from the millions of litres of water used to extinguish it over five days.
With the building’s power cut off, the pumps couldn’t evacuate the water. The bottom three levels of the building turned into a swimming pool. Within two weeks, black mould had taken hold throughout the entire structure.
For that project, mould contamination meant replacing all refrigeration equipment and systems. But it wasn’t just a matter of ripping out the old and installing the new. The lengthy and complex insurance process, combined with proper remediation work, turned what should have been a straightforward completion into years of additional work.
It also gave our experienced refrigeration engineers the opportunity to rethink how they approach the problem.
Traditional approaches to preventing condensation can involve step-up designs with ramps between the concrete slab and the cold room. These work, but they also create accessibility issues and make loading stock more difficult.
Our solution involved thermally isolating sections of the concrete slab through a combination of underfloor insulation and perimeter heating. Steve explained the process:
"We had to figure out how cold travels along the concrete slab, and then how to stop the cold getting through to the steel beams. We did theoretical thermal imaging based on known material data in a 3D modelling system to figure out how far the cold could go. And then I had to engineer around that.”
The result was an on-slab design with a flush floor throughout. No ramps, no transition points where moisture could accumulate, and significantly reduced risk of condensation forming in the first place. But solving condensation at floor level was only part of the challenge.
Concrete slabs aren’t the only place where warm meets cold. On another project, we needed to install a viewing window between a warm meeting room and a 10-degree pre-chilled larder where chefs prepare food. The temperature difference would create condensation on the glass, turning it into a breeding ground for mould. The solution couldn’t be obvious or unsightly.
We specified heated glass with an invisible titanium oxide coating imported from Australia. Electricity passes through this coating to warm the surface, preventing condensation without any visible wiring. It’s the same principle as a car’s rear demister, just far more discreet.
These kinds of challenges appear in every project where different temperature zones meet. The solutions vary, but the principle remains the same: identify where condensation will form, then engineer it out of existence before installation begins. When that doesn’t happen, the costs add up quickly.
The financial impact of mould in commercial refrigeration extends well beyond equipment replacement.
There’s lost revenue from operational shutdowns. Health code violations that can force closures. The cost of proper remediation before any new installation can begin. And the reality is that cutting corners on prevention creates far higher costs down the track.
For large commercial operations like hotels, restaurants, and event venues, these costs multiply quickly. For example, a facility designed to serve thousands of guests needs multiple walk-in refrigeration systems, blast-chill capabilities, and cold storage across multiple levels. When mould forces remediation on that scale, you’re looking at complex coordination between plumbing, electrical, and mechanical contractors, all working to compressed timelines.
The engineering complexity alone requires proper water flow rates and temperatures to water-cooled units. Get that wrong, and you’re not only dealing with mould. You’re dealing with system failures that can shut down your entire operation. The same financial pressures apply at the residential scale, just with different numbers.
If you’re planning a commercial refrigeration installation, expert engineering from the start saves you money and headaches later.
Thermal imaging identifies where cold will travel through structural elements. Proper insulation and strategic heating elements control condensation before it becomes a problem. And working with experienced refrigeration specialists means understanding not just how to install equipment, but how to prevent the conditions that allow mould to thrive.
At White’s, we’ve seen the shortcuts that lead to problems. Step-up designs that seemed cheaper initially but created ongoing maintenance challenges. Inadequate insulation that led to condensation and mould within months of installation. Equipment was installed over surfaces that hadn’t been properly remediated.
The consequences reach beyond technical failures. Businesses lose time, money, and reputation.
Commercial operations face the largest-scale mould challenges, but residential properties are equally vulnerable. Wine cellars, for example, require precise temperature control, creating the same condensation risks as commercial cold rooms.
A wine cellar sitting on an inadequately insulated concrete slab will develop condensation on the underside. That moisture creates mould, damages your wine collection, and can spread into surrounding rooms. The same thermal isolation principles that work for commercial installations also apply to residential wine cellars, cool rooms, and climate-controlled storage spaces.
Home refrigeration systems and air conditioning units also create condensation. When ducting isn’t well insulated, or drainage systems become blocked, moisture accumulates. Left unchecked, this leads to black mould spreading through wall cavities and ceiling spaces.
The warning signs are often subtle. A musty smell near vents. Discolouration on walls or ceilings. Increased humidity in rooms with air conditioning. By the time mould becomes visible, it’s usually established in areas you can’t see. Catching it early makes all the difference.
Regular maintenance catches mould problems early. Check that drainage lines from air conditioning units run clear. Inspect insulation around refrigeration equipment for damage or deterioration. Look for condensation forming on surfaces near cooling systems.
If you notice any signs of mould, expert remediation matters. Surface cleaning might remove visible growth, but it won’t address the underlying moisture problem causing it. The source needs fixing, contaminated materials need extensive treatment or removal, and the conditions that allowed mould to develop need changing.
For wine cellars, cool rooms, or any residential refrigeration project, thermal imaging identifies where cold travels through structural elements before installation begins. Effective insulation and expert strategic design prevent condensation from forming in the first place. The same approach that works for large commercial installations scales down to residential projects.
Mould problems rarely announce themselves early. By the time you see visible growth or smell that distinctive musty odour, the damage is already underway.
The question worth asking: what’s happening behind your walls, under your floors, in the spaces you can’t see?
Expert installation by experienced refrigeration engineers addresses problems before they start. Thermal imaging shows where cold will travel. Insulation controls temperature transfer. Strategic design prevents the conditions mould needs to thrive.
The choice comes down to this: pay for prevention now, or pay far more for remediation later.
White’s specialise in the design, installation, service, and maintenance of commercial refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Contact us to discuss your project and how we can help you.
Information in this article was accurate at the time of publication, but industry standards and regulations evolve frequently. Please consult with us directly for the most current guidance relevant to your specific situation.
