One of London’s most famous landmarks, the O2 Arena, has chosen Blastcool for the provision of cold drinks to customers who have achieved the climb to the top. Whilst on the viewing deck, a glass of champagne is chosen by many to celebrate a special occasion or just to enjoy whilst taking in the spectacular 360 degree view of London.
A glass of Lanson is best served chilled so the O2 management selected a Blastcool outdoor fridge because of the exposed location, but getting it to the top was a challenge all of its own. The XP1 weighs 64 kilos but, unlike the enthusiastic guests, it proved very reluctant to leave the ground! Three specially trained staff carefully hauled the cabinet up the 28 degree incline, 1250 feet to the viewing platform. Electricians arranged for a safe, IP rated power supply to the cabinet and the unit itself was anchored to the deck.
The Blastcool XP 1 is ideal for the location because it has been designed to be operated outdoors in searing 43 degree heat as well as being able to withstand a cold British winter. The XP1 surface material is marine grade AISI 316 grade stainless steel, so it will retain its professional good looks without deterioration. Blastcool’s Managing Director, Edward Jonas commented:
“The location on top of the O2 is not only spectacular but it also showcases the ability of the Blastcool range to withstand whatever the elements are likely to throw at it. The exposed location is a great test of the weatherproof design and the power of the refrigeration.”
Gone are the days when a black plastic bin could be re-deployed as a makeshift beer cooler. According to outdoor cooling specialists Blastcool, things have moved on and we have all come to expect the same high service standards that are achieved by top quality bars, hotels and restaurants. Nowadays it seems, no outdoor entertaining area is complete without a purpose built outdoor refrigerator.
So what makes an outdoor refrigerator so special and different from an ordinary, run-of-the mill indoor one?
“Well for one thing they are safe to be rained on and splashed with water” says Blastcool MD Edward Jonas.
“All our appliances have been designed and independently tested by leading international test house SGS. They put the cabinet in test chamber and spray it with water from various directions and it will only pass if it stays electrically safe throughout. It’s what’s known as an IP rating and SGS rated our range with a 4 on the water ingress scale, which is more than sufficient for outdoor use. Other ratings such as 5 or 6 relate to deluges, power washing and submersion, none of which are necessary for our customers. We believe it’s crucial that the rating is backed up by independent testing so that our customers can have confidence that the Approval is secure and genuine.
Another factor in outdoor cooling is the outside heat and also, but less commonly thought about, the cold. The XP series can withstand heat of up to 43C and still provide ice cold drinks and, during the winter, the appliance can be left in cold conditions of -25C without its components suffering damage. An indoor cooler simply wouldn’t make the grade, even if it wasn’t lethally unsafe deployed outside.”
Add to this the fact that the glass door has a heater to keep it clear of condensation on high humidity days, that the metalwork is marine grade stainless steel to prevent rusting even in salt spray environments, and it’s easy to see why Blastcool claim they have developed the ultimate outdoor refrigerator.
A Blastcool model GSP0 was on display at Chelsea Flower Show courtesy of Silverland Stone (www.silverlandstone.co.uk). High quality natural stone paviours enhance the appearance of any outside space and Silverland have a magnificent range of options from which to choose.
A highlight of their display was the Blastcool Outdoor refrigerator model GSP0 which at just 500mm wide, is the narrowest cabinet in the range. Fully approved for outdoor use, the GSP0 is a popular model for those with more compact spaces such as roof terraces and urban gardens.
