Ingress of warm moist air during cold-store door opening is a major issue in refrigeration plants, as it increases energy consumption and can also cause an undesirable rise in product temperature. Moisture infiltration itself can produce food safety problems in chill stores and can jeopardize personnel safety in frozen stores as the moisture turns to ice.

The British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has commissioned the University of Bristol (FRPERC) to look at this problem in partnership with Anglo Dutch Meats (UK) Ltd; ACS&T Wolverhampton Ltd., Thermoscreens Ltd., Northern Foods Plc and Ballymoney Foods Ltd. The aim of the project, which is part of the LINK programme, is to reduce infiltration through doorways and thereby reduce the effects on temperature control, safety and energy consumption.