Cold Storage Built Around Laboratory Requirements
A laboratory refrigerator is not a kitchen appliance with a different label on it. Samples held at the wrong temperature for a few hours can invalidate weeks of work, flammable reagents stored in a standard unit create a genuine ignition risk, and a chromatography column held outside its intended range produces results nobody can trust. VWR, part of Avantor, builds cold storage around those specific laboratory realities, and MediDepot carries an extensive range of the brand’s refrigerators, freezers, and combination units spanning general laboratory storage through hazardous location and flammable material applications.
The breadth is what makes this collection useful to a lab manager or procurement team. With more than 200 configurations covering four product series, capacities from under 4 cu. ft. to over 31 cu. ft., glass and solid doors, and single through triple door layouts, a facility can specify cold storage precisely rather than settling for whatever unit happens to be in stock.
Labs and Facilities This Equipment Serves
VWR laboratory cold storage is built for organizations where sample integrity, reagent stability, or regulatory documentation depends on holding a controlled temperature. This collection is a fit for:
- Research laboratories and academic research departments
- Hospitals with clinical, pathology, or translational research labs
- Pharmaceutical companies storing formulations and reference materials
- Biotechnology companies managing reagents and biological samples
- Universities running life sciences and chemistry programs
- Industrial and analytical testing laboratories, including those handling flammable solvents
How the VWR Series Break Down
MediDepot’s VWR collection is organized around several product series, each targeting a different combination of control sophistication and application.
Premium Touchscreen Series Top-tier units including glass door (VWR-HC-PLD-TS) and solid door (VWR-HC-SPLD-TS) configurations in 23, 49, and 72 cu. ft. capacities, built with variable speed compressors and natural refrigerants such as R600a and R290. These pair touchscreen control with the brand’s most advanced compressor technology.
Premium Series Glass door (VWR-HC-PL) and solid door (VWR-HC-SPL) laboratory refrigerators in 23 and 49 cu. ft., including double door layouts, with variable speed compressors and ENERGY STAR qualification.
Performance Series Touchscreen display units with data logging, offered in glass door (VWR-HC-TS) and solid door (VWR-HC-S-TS) configurations across 26, 36, 49, and 72 cu. ft. capacities. Data logging capability matters for labs that need documented temperature history rather than just current-state monitoring.
Plus Series Digital display and alarm module units spanning compact 10.5 cu. ft. models (VWR-HC-10PG glass, VWR-HC-10PS solid) through 72 cu. ft. specialty refrigerators, in both glass and solid door configurations.
Flammable Material Storage Purpose-built refrigerators for storing flammable materials, available in Performance Series touchscreen versions (VWR-HC-FRP-TS) and Plus Series digital display versions (VWR-HC-FRP-P) in 14, 17, and 20 cu. ft. capacities, plus a flammable storage refrigerator-freezer combo unit (VWR-HC-FRFC10) at 10 cu. ft.
Hazardous Location and Explosion Proof Class 1 Div II rated units with ATEX spark-free construction, including the VWR-HC-ERP-04 undercounter refrigerator at 5 cu. ft. and the VWR-HC-ERFC10 refrigerator-freezer combo at 9 cu. ft., alongside Standard Series explosion proof refrigerators (VWR-HC-ERP-14, ERP-17, ERP-20) in 14, 17, and 20 cu. ft.
Chromatography Refrigerators Plus Series glass door chromatography units (VWR-HCCP) in 47, 49, 69, and 72 cu. ft. capacities with digital display and alarm modules, designed for chromatography system storage.
Refrigerator and Freezer Combination Units Combo units including the VWR-HC-RFC-16A with variable speed compressor at 16 cu. ft., Plus Series combos in 7, 9, and 12 cu. ft. (including stainless steel and glass door variants), and the Standard Series VWR-HC-RFC20A with mechanical thermostat at 20 cu. ft.
Series Comparison at a Glance
| Series | Control Type | Compressor | Typical Capacities | Best-Fit Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Touchscreen | Touchscreen | Variable speed, R600a/R290 | 23, 49, 72 cu. ft. | Labs wanting top-tier control and natural refrigerants |
| Premium | Digital, ENERGY STAR | Variable speed | 23, 49 cu. ft. | Energy-conscious general lab storage |
| Performance | Touchscreen with data logging | Standard | 26, 36, 49, 72 cu. ft. | Labs needing documented temperature history |
| Plus | Digital display and alarms | Standard | 10.5 to 72 cu. ft. | Broad general-purpose lab storage |
| Standard | Mechanical or basic digital | Standard | 20, 30 cu. ft. | Budget-conscious basic cold storage |
Narrowing Down Your Specification
With this many configurations available, working through a few decisions in order makes the selection manageable.
- Application first. Flammable materials require a flammable storage unit, hazardous locations require Class 1 Div II explosion proof construction, and chromatography systems require a chromatography-specific model. These are not interchangeable with general lab refrigerators.
- Temperature range. This collection spans multiple ranges, including 2°C to 8°C, 1°C to 10°C, 2°C to 15°C, and freezer ranges such as -25°C to -15°C. Match the range to what your samples or reagents actually require.
- Capacity and footprint. Options run from 1 to 3.99 cu. ft. through 31+ cu. ft. Size to your current volume plus reasonable growth, and confirm the unit fits your available floor space.
- Glass versus solid door. Glass doors let staff identify contents without opening the unit, which reduces temperature excursions from browsing. Solid doors offer better insulation and light protection for light-sensitive materials.
- Door quantity and hinge. Single, double, and triple door layouts are available. Confirm hinge orientation (right on most units, left on a small number) against your room layout before ordering.
- Monitoring and documentation needs. If your lab needs temperature history for audits or quality systems, prioritize a Performance Series unit with data logging over a digital display alone.
- Refrigerant preference. Some Premium Touchscreen units use natural refrigerants such as R600a and R290, which may align with facility sustainability targets.
Technical Details to Confirm
VWR laboratory cold storage in this collection spans a wide range of specifications by series and application. Documented details available on the collection page include:
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity range | Under 4 cu. ft. through 31+ cu. ft. |
| Door type | Glass or solid |
| Door quantity | Single, double, or triple |
| Door hinge | Right (most models) or left (select models) |
| Temperature ranges | Includes 2°C to 8°C, 1°C to 10°C, 2°C to 15°C, -25°C to -15°C, and others |
| Refrigerants | Includes R600a and R290 on select Premium Touchscreen models |
| Hazardous location rating | Class 1 Div II, ATEX spark-free (select models) |
Buyers should confirm current certifications, electrical requirements, alarm specifications, and hazardous location ratings directly on each product page before ordering, since these vary considerably across series and models. MediDepot does not represent that any unit satisfies a specific facility’s regulatory, accreditation, or fire code requirements; laboratory and safety managers should verify equipment against their own institutional standards before purchase.
Planning a Cold Storage Investment
Laboratory refrigeration typically stays in service for many years and often gets purchased alongside facility renovations or program expansions, which makes upfront planning worthwhile.
- Match series to documentation requirements. Labs operating under quality systems that require temperature records benefit from data logging capability at purchase rather than adding external monitoring later.
- Plan for growth in capacity. Sample and reagent volumes tend to increase, and consolidating into a properly sized unit is easier than managing overflow across mismatched equipment.
- Never substitute on safety applications. Flammable material and hazardous location units exist because standard refrigerators pose real ignition risks in those environments, so these specifications should not be value-engineered.
- Standardize across the facility where practical, so staff work with consistent controls and alarm behavior, and maintenance teams stock fewer distinct parts.
- Verify facility infrastructure early, including electrical capacity, ventilation, and floor loading, particularly for larger 49 and 72 cu. ft. units.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Performance Series and the Plus Series?
Performance Series units feature a touchscreen display with data logging, capturing temperature history over time. Plus Series units use a digital display with alarms, showing current conditions and alerting on excursions, but without the same built-in logging capability. Labs with documentation or audit requirements typically choose Performance Series.
Can I store flammable solvents in a standard laboratory refrigerator?
No. Standard refrigerators contain electrical components that can ignite flammable vapors. This collection includes purpose-built flammable material storage refrigerators in 14, 17, and 20 cu. ft. capacities, along with a flammable storage refrigerator-freezer combo, designed specifically for that application.
What does Class 1 Div II with ATEX spark-free construction mean?
That designation refers to units built for hazardous locations where flammable vapors may be present under abnormal conditions. Models such as the VWR-HC-ERP-04 undercounter refrigerator and VWR-HC-ERFC10 combo unit carry this construction. Confirm your facility’s specific classification requirements before selecting a unit.
Should I choose a glass door or a solid door refrigerator?
Glass doors let staff see contents without opening the unit, reducing temperature excursions from repeated browsing. Solid doors provide better insulation and protect light-sensitive materials from exposure. Both are available across most series in this collection.
What is a chromatography refrigerator and how is it different?
Chromatography refrigerators, such as the VWR-HCCP Plus Series in 47, 49, 69, and 72 cu. ft. capacities, are configured to accommodate chromatography systems and their associated tubing and connections, rather than general sample storage in shelved compartments.
How do I know what temperature range I need?
Match the range to your stored materials’ documented requirements. This collection includes units in ranges such as 2°C to 8°C for vaccine-type storage, 1°C to 10°C and 2°C to 15°C for general laboratory use, and freezer ranges including -25°C to -15°C. Confirm the specific range on each product page.
Specify the Right Unit for Your Lab
With more than 200 configurations across capacity, door type, temperature range, and application, comparing options side by side before ordering saves time and prevents costly respecification. MediDepot offers Medical Equipment Financing to help spread the cost of laboratory cold storage, along with a Price Match Guarantee so you can order with confidence. Extended Warranty coverage is available on eligible equipment for labs that want protection beyond standard manufacturer terms, and a Military Discount is available for qualifying buyers. Browse the full VWR collection above, or contact the MediDepot team for help specifying the right unit for your application.
