52 EGGS IN COLD STORAGE. 



posure and poor insulation this air leakage is consid- 

 erable, but in the big- refrigerators of several hundred 

 thousand cubic feet capacity, and with thorough insu- 

 lation, it is reduced to practically nothing. The loss 

 of refrigeration caused by air leakage, while of some 

 importance, is of small moment beside the bad effects 

 resulting from the moisture and impurities brought 

 in by the warm air from the outside. The value of 

 prime, tight insulation, as a conserver of refrigera- 

 tion, aside from a matter of keeping out the warm, 

 moist air, is well enough understood not to need re- 

 peating here, but a word about windows and doors is 

 properly in line with the present discussion. 

 use of windows Rather than consider what might be a good way 



for eg-g- rooms. -" 



of placing windows in a cold storage building, their 

 use should be discouraged. Even with four or five 

 separate glass, divided by air spaces, and with all 

 joints set in white lead, the loss of refrigeration is 

 large. It is also very difficult to fit insulation around 

 the window frame so as to make a good job; and even if 

 a passable job were practicable, the expense of putting 

 in windows is sufficient to condemn their use. The 

 increased fire exposure is of some consequence, too, 

 and with the low cost of electric light, windows should 

 not be thought of for cold storage work. Barring the 

 small amount of heat given off, the incandescent elec- 

 tric lamp is an ideal device for lighting cold storage 

 rooms, as the air is not vitiated as when using gas, 

 kerosene or candles. 



Doors which will shut tight, forming a nearly per- 

 fect air seal, with a small amount of pressure, have 

 long been wanted for cold storage rooms. Most of the 

 ordinary bevel doors, either with or without packing 

 on the bevel, will not shut even approximately tight; 

 and in operation nine out of every ten stick and re- 

 fuse to open except after many persuasive kicks and 

 surges we all know how it is. While having no in- 

 terest in furthering the sale of the Stevenson door, 



