Before comparing quoted costs per square metre, check the denominator. Is it net cold-room floor area or total building area? Panels, the machinery room, and loading space may be treated differently in each quote.
Design inputs that affect cost include target room temperature, clear internal height, panel and floor insulation, door size and count, racking, and refrigeration capacity. Electrical supply, drainage, fire works, installation, and commissioning may also be included or excluded depending on the quote.
Align quotes with a one-page specification: internal dimensions and net floor area, target temperature, product and daily incoming load, number of doors, whether racking is included, and the required redundancy. Ask each bidder to list included and excluded work separately.
For comparison, divide the installed total by the same net floor area; a per-square-metre figure with unmatched scope can mislead. Then assess estimated annual electricity use on a separate line. Do not treat capital cost and operating cost as one price.
Ask each quote to include the heat-load calculation, equipment selection, and basic operating assumptions. If the assumptions differ, a lower square-metre price does not show that you are buying the same work and performance.
