Technical Guides & Manuals

GCCA Core Partners publish technical guides and manuals that provide members with indispensable guidance on building, operating, and improving temperature-controlled facilities. Most guides are available to members free of charge online. Technical guides and manuals may be purchased by nonmembers or members in the online store

GCCA Africa Crisis Management Manual

The GCCA Risk Management committee was established in July 2021 to study and review items related to risk management in cold storage facilities at all levels of operations, with a goal of improving performance and minimizing the risk of members and the industry at large. Members of the committee in conjunction with Andrew Perks from A. Perks Enterprises worked on this manual to get it published with South African possible crises and regulations.

Commodity Storage Manual

This is the cold chain industry’s chief resource for scientific information on the storage and handling of perishable goods with information on storing almost 300 different temperature-controlled products. 

Guide to Effective Warehouse Administration

Get everything you need to know to run a successful refrigerated warehousing and logistics business, including chapters on warehouse law, insurance, IT systems, human resources, and government affairs. 

Crisis Management Manual

Be prepared for the unexpected and learn how to cope with any crisis in this manual, which covers emergency response plans, ammonia spills, and media relations. 

Guide to Effective Warehouse Design, Maintenance, and Modernization

Dive into the physical structure of the warehouse, refrigeration engineering, material handling, and more with this brand new manual, newly revised in 2017. 

Guide to Effective Warehouse Operations

Learn about best practices in warehouse supply chain logistics and operations with sections on safety, sanitation, costs, and policies. 

IARW Reporting Requirements Compliance Overview Guide

Compliance Overview of the most common reporting requirements faced by cold storage operators in the United States. 

Solas Container Weight Verification Guidelines

A guide for industry to help cold storage operators understand SOLAS requirements.

IRTA Refrigerated Transportation Best Practices Guide

Learn how carriers, loaders and receivers can comply with the FDA FSMA Sanitary Transportation of Food rule with this guide, which includes food safety plans,  a summary of sanitary procedures,  and checklists for trailer inspections. 

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Compliance Guide

Cold storage operators can use this guide to understand major FSMA requirements. 

Job Safety Analysis Guide

Create a customized job safety analysis to minimize workplace hazards. 

IARW Injury & Illness Prevention Program Reference Guide

Understand state requirements for injury and illness prevention programs, workers' compensation premiums, drug free workplace polices, and drug testing. 

USGBC LEED Energy Modeling Guidelines

Formal guidance document, approved by the USGBC, that designers of cold storage and refrigerated facilities can use to certify buildings under the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED rating system. 

Food Industry Return on Investment (ROI) Toolkit

The Return on Investment (ROI) Kit was developed to assist companies in evaluating their temperature-controlled storage needs and whether those needs can best be met through construction of a distribution center, (referred to in this kit as “private warehouse space”), or through use of one of the many public facilities available worldwide. The ROI Kit helps to organize factors to be considered in the capital expenditure decision, and provides worksheets to document your calculation of two commonly used methods. 

Solar Photovoltaic System Guidelines for Cold Storage Warehouses

Identify requirements, weigh the pros and cons of solar systems, and review different types of solar technologies and mounting systems. 

Guidelines for the Design, Construction, Specification and Fire Management of Insulated Envelopes for Temperature Controlled Environments

Published by the European Division of the Controlled Environment Building Association (CEBA), these guidelines provide contractors and operators with a comprehensive overview of design and installation of insulated envelopes in accordance with the latest UK and European standards. Copies of the guide are available for sale. Contact the European Division of CEBA for more information.

Industrial Refrigeration Best Practices Guide

IARW and Cascade Energy, Inc. collaborated to publish this special edition of Cascade Energy’s popular Industrial Refrigeration Best Practices Guide. The guide provides an overview of refrigeration best practices, refrigeration system basics, and strategies to decrease your energy usage. Available only in hard copy. Warehouse members are entitled to one complimentary copy. Copies of the guide are available for sale in the Online Store.

WFLO Successful Refrigerated Warehousing

The official textbook for the WFLO Institute, Successful Refrigerated Warehousing is developed for managers who want to advance their career in public refrigerated warehousing and logistics. The textbook includes chapters on facilities management, finance, food safety, human resources, logistics management, risk management, and warehouse technology. It also includes a dictionary for common industry terms. Available only in hard copy. WFLO Institute students receive a complimentary electronic copy.