Medical refrigerators come in a variety of sizes and configurations. No matter the size, there is one distinguishing feature to consider: glass door or solid door? There are a few things to consider when choosing your door type. Following is a short guide to explain the pros and cons of solid door medical refrigerators and glass door medical refrigerators.
Advantages of Glass Doors
At K2 Scientific, we sell far more glass door lab, pharmacy refrigerators than solid door units. Some customers like the ease of use, while others make this choice based on aesthetics. Practically speaking, glass door lab refrigerators have a few advantages.
Glass door medical refrigerators allow staff to see the vaccines and medicines inside without opening the door. Locating the right product before opening the door means the door is open for a shorter time. The longer the door is open, the greater the opportunity for temperature instability. Additionally, frequent door openings also contribute to inconsistent cabinet temperature.
A glass door medical refrigerator allows staff to take a quick visual inventory. Staff can scan the shelves through the door and always be aware of supply levels.
Disadvantages of Glass Doors
Some glass door refrigerators are not as well insulated as solid door units. Glass door refrigerators are often double-pane and gas-filled. Still, the insulation can be less efficient than solid doors. A glass door unit will have to work slightly harder to maintain temperature than a solid door unit. In the event of a loss of power, the glass door unit may warm up quicker than a solid door unit.
Glass doors can present privacy issues. If you are storing valuable medicines, you might not want anyone to see what is inside the refrigerator, which may encourage theft. Further, some products and vaccines are light-sensitive, making a glass door unit inappropriate. However, when vaccines are stored in their original packaging, this may not be a problem, but it is still worth considering.
Advantages of Solid Doors
Solid door medical refrigeration units have slightly better insulation than glass doors. Higher insulation values allow them to use less power. In the event of a loss of power, added insulation helps keep the payload cooler longer.
The dark interior may be more suitable for medicines and vaccinations that are light-sensitive. However, as stated earlier, refrigerated products in their original packaging eliminate this issue.
Solid doors offer more privacy, whether you store expensive medicines in your fridge or you simply want to keep them out of sight.
Disadvantages of Solid Doors
The main disadvantage of solid doors is that you cannot see inside to locate the products you need without opening the door. There may be a tendency to keep solid door refrigerators open longer while searching for products or doing inventory. Having the door open longer makes the refrigerator work harder to maintain correct temperatures and causes wear and tear on the cooling system.
What About the Price?
One of the main factors to consider when choosing a medical refrigerator is the price. Glass door medical refrigerators can be slightly more expensive—a range of factors, including the manufacturer and quality of the components that impact pricing.
If you are considering purchasing a medical, lab, or pharmacy refrigerator or freezer, the sales team at K2 Scientific would be glad to assist you. They can help you find the right glass or solid door medical grade unit for your application.