Review the whole thermal envelope
Heat can enter through panels, joints, the floor, roof, penetrations and air leakage. Two bodies with the same nominal insulation thickness can therefore perform differently after construction. Request the finished-body details rather than judging the insulation from a material figure alone.
Door performance also changes in service as seals compress, hardware moves or surfaces are damaged. Include inspection access and replacement-part identity in the handover. A door that appears closed can still leak through poor contact or a damaged seal.
Connect construction details to the proposed finished-body checks
Drainage, cleanable finishes and water-entry paths need attention alongside heat transfer. Good insulation cannot compensate for uncontrolled doors or cargo blocking airflow, and a panel certificate is not a measured whole-body performance record.
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| Decision | What to establish | Condition or limit |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal envelope | Review surfaces, joints, floor, roof and penetrations together. | Panel thickness alone does not state installed heat transfer. |
| Doors and seals | Specify contact, compression, hardware and replacement identity. | A closed door can still leak air through poor or damaged seals. |
| Moisture and hygiene | Control drainage, cleanable finishes and water-entry paths. | Thermal materials do not automatically satisfy cargo hygiene needs. |
| Verification | Agree visible inspection and any project thermal-test scope before approval. | A material certificate is not a finished-body performance record. |
Agree acceptance criteria for the completed body
Ask the body supplier to identify the joints, door hardware, seals and penetrations in the offered construction, then agree visible checks and any project thermal-test scope. The cargo and destination requirements determine acceptance; this guide supplies no U factor or thermal certification.
Information to prepare for this review
- Required box and ambient design conditions
- Insulation material, thickness and declared thermal properties
- Panel joint, floor, roof and penetration construction
- Door quantity, dimensions, frames, seals and hardware
- Drainage, interior finish and cleaning requirement
- Inspection, repair and replacement-part evidence
Records to request and keep
- Controlled body construction specification
- Insulation and seal material records
- Finished door, joint, drainage and damage inspection
- Project commissioning or thermal-verification record when required
Common mistakes and what to check instead
- Comparing only foam thickness: Compare the complete installed thermal envelope and data basis.
- Treating door seals as a minor spare: Specify geometry, hardware compression, inspection and replacement identity.
- Ignoring penetrations and drains: Review every opening for heat, moisture and cleanability.
Scope of this guide
This page does not calculate a body U factor or certify thermal performance.
Final acceptance criteria must come from the cargo, body supplier and destination requirements.
Do not approve a body with unresolved water entry, damaged insulation, ineffective seals or uncontrolled airflow paths.
Sources and applicability
Controls the project-input, quotation, approval and inspection workflow described in this guide.
Provides public checklists and worksheets; the signed project documents remain controlling.
Defines the relevant product family and published configuration boundaries. Project-specific ratings require the selected OEM documents.
Primary public guidance supporting preconditioning, airflow, door-seal and loading checks. Cargo-owner and destination requirements remain controlling.