Chest Freezer or Upright Freezer: Which Solution is Best for the Medical Sector?

In the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, selecting between an upright freezer and a chest freezer is crucial to ensuring optimal storage conditions for biological samples, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, and laboratory materials. Each healthcare facility must carefully evaluate the operational characteristics of both models to determine the most suitable solution for its specific requirements.
Below is a technical analysis of the functional differences between upright and chest freezers, with a focus on thermal efficiency, accessibility, and storage capacity.

Upright freezers feature a vertical design with front-opening doors and internal shelves that allow for precise organization of stored materials. This structured layout is particularly advantageous in environments where frequent access to samples is required, ensuring quick identification and retrieval.
Conversely, chest freezers are designed with a top-opening lid, which helps minimize cold air loss when opened. However, the absence of internal shelving can make access to samples stored at deeper levels more challenging, necessitating a more strategic organization of materials.

Energy efficiency is a key consideration in the medical sector, where maintaining consistent low temperatures is essential for the safety of stored materials.

• Chest freezers are generally more energy-efficient due to their top-opening structure, which minimizes cold air loss. Additionally, optimized lateral insulation enhances long-term thermal stability.
• Upright freezers tend to have higher cold air loss due to their front-opening design. However, Evermed’s advanced models are engineered to reduce this drawback:
  • High-density polyurethane foam-insulated doors minimize temperature fluctuations.
  • Optimized structural design significantly reduces heat loss, ensuring consistent internal temperatures even with frequent access

These features make Evermed upright freezers a competitive choice in terms of both energy efficiency and operational stability.

Selecting the appropriate freezer model also depends on the available space within the laboratory or healthcare facility.

• Upright freezers, thanks to their vertical design, optimize floor space, making them ideal for laboratories with limited room, hospital pharmacies, and specialized clinics. Evermed upright freezers can hold up to 2,300 liters, offering high-capacity solutions for large-scale storage needs.
• Chest freezers require more horizontal space and are better suited for facilities with long-term storage needs. Available capacities generally range from 100 to over 800 liters, with industrial-sized models exceeding these volumes.

The choice between an upright or chest freezer also depends on the type of samples and materials being stored:

• Upright freezers → Best suited for biological samples, laboratory reagents, and temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals that require precise organization and frequent access.
• Chest freezers → Preferred for bulk storage, thanks to their enhanced thermal stability. They are ideal for long-term preservation of pharmaceuticals, blood, biological tissues, and research materials.

Evermed chest freezers feature compensated lid opening mechanisms, improving user-friendliness and energy efficiency, while also reducing temperature fluctuations during occasional access.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution—choosing between an upright and a chest freezer depends on several key factors:

• Available space in the laboratory or pharmacy
• Frequency of access and need for internal organization
• Required energy efficiency for operational sustainability
• Type and volume of materials to be stored

For facilities that require frequent access to samples and structured organization, an upright freezer is typically the best choice. In contrast, for long-term storage and bulk preservation, a chest freezer provides significant advantages in terms of thermal stability and energy efficiency.
Evermed’s product range includes highly specialized solutions for the medical sector, incorporating advanced technology to ensure the highest level of reliability in temperature-sensitive storage.
Our customer service team is available for personalized consultations, helping you choose the most suitable freezer for your facility’s needs.

Contact us for more information and discover our complete range of professional medical freezers.