Inside a mortuary refrigerator: what you are actually buying

Most purchase decisions look at a mortuary refrigerator from the outside: door count and size. But what sets its operating life is inside a mortuary refrigerator — the steel grade, the cell build, the tray and the insulation density. These items separate a unit that lasts ten years from one that degrades in three. This guide explains what is inside Preservus units and what should be written explicitly into the specification.

Internal material: why AISI 304 specifically

The cabinet is AISI 304 stainless steel inside and out. This is a specification choice, not cosmetics: the grade withstands repeated chemical disinfection without pitting or staining, whereas coated or lower-grade steel degrades within a few years in a mortuary.

So the grade should be written by its figure — AISI 304 — not as a generic 'stainless steel', because the difference between grades is large in both cost and life, and many low bids rely on an unstated lower grade.

Cell and tray: the internal dimension that matters

A two-handle stainless steel tray slides into each cell, carrying the body and pulling out on entry and removal. The internal cell dimensions of the single-cell MLM-01E are 550 × 700 mm, customisable at manufacture.

The internal dimension is what matters in practice, not the external one alone, because it sets what the cell actually holds. Ask for the internal dimension and the tray load to be stated explicitly in the offer, not left implicit.

Insulation: the item that governs stability

Insulation density is recorded at 40 kg/m³, the item that governs temperature stability and recovery after a door opening. Weaker insulation means more fluctuation, higher energy use and more strain on the cooling unit.

Because doors are opened dozens of times a week, insulation quality and door seal show up in the electricity bill and the compressor's life, not only on day one. This item deserves to be written by its figure in the specification.

External dimensions: before the room

Configurations are compared by external dimensions, not cell count alone: single-cell 2250 × 1000 × 1350 mm, three-cell 2200 × 1000 × 2400 mm, six-cell 2200 × 1900 × 2400 mm and the nine-cell modular system 2800 × 2200 × 2400 mm.

Measuring clear ceiling height and the access route, door and lift before choosing prevents the most common installation problems. Much delivery delay traces to one external dimension not checked against the access route before shipping.

Frequently asked questions

What is a mortuary refrigerator made of inside?

Inside and out it is AISI 304 stainless steel, which withstands repeated chemical disinfection without pitting. A two-handle tray of the same steel slides into each cell. The grade should be stated by its figure in the specification, not as a generic term.

What are the internal cell dimensions?

In the single-cell MLM-01E the internal cell dimensions are 550 × 700 mm, customisable at manufacture. The internal dimension sets what the cell actually holds, so ask for it and the tray load to be stated explicitly in the offer.

Why does insulation density matter?

Insulation density is recorded at 40 kg/m³ and governs temperature stability and recovery after a door opening. Weaker insulation means fluctuation, higher energy use and more strain on the compressor, showing in the electricity bill and unit life.

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