Commonalities between forensic engineering and the refrigerator?
Preservation… of food or evidence!
While refrigerating food is a safe daily practice today, it wasn’t always the case! Traditional methods of preservation such as dehydration, cooking, adding food additives, or canning have limitations, leading many researchers in the 19th century to explore new technology. James Harrison, a journalist, printer, politician, and even an inventor (he must have been bored!), was ultimately the first to obtain a patent for his refrigeration system in 1855.
Refrigerator 101: What you need to know!
- The capacity of a refrigerator is measured in liters or cubic feet.
- The volume allocated to the freezer section corresponds to one-third or one-fourth of the total volume in a refrigerator-freezer. These values should be considered with caution as they can vary widely between brands.
- The ideal temperature for proper food preservation? In simple terms, it is recommended to set the temperature of the refrigerator compartment between 3 and 5 °C and the freezer compartment at -18 °C.
However, some refrigerators must adhere to specific external temperature parameters to function properly and preserve the taste of your foods. These parameters can be challenging to control when the appliance is placed in a less conventional space, such as a garage.
The impact of refrigeration on a global scale?
Most people don’t realize how significant it is…
Modern domestic refrigerators
While the industrial use of refrigerators began in the mid-19th century, domestic refrigeration only entered households in the 1920s. Over time, it became more affordable and paved the way for new dietary habits, including longer preservation times for all types of foods, and, most importantly, a decrease in health risks. Generally, better-preserved food means easier digestion!
The evolution of dietary habits
Storing food in cold conditions at home has undoubtedly led to a significant improvement in the dietary habits of the North American population!
Journalist Nicola Twilley stated, ” When you look at statistics overall, people do eat more fresh fruit now than they did [before refrigeration].” Twilley said. “People eat more meat than they did, and dairy.”
Safety
If you were asked what is most important in a kitchen for preserving food, the refrigerator would undoubtedly be your first guess. Who hasn’t panicked during a power outage or appliance malfunction? Any interruption or breakdown jeopardizes the edibility of our food… and the safety of our digestive system. And if there’s one thing we have in common with bacteria, it’s that we don’t like the cold!
FRIDGE NOTES
One of the world’s largest refrigerators
2800 Polar Way. This refrigerated warehouse located in Richland, Washington, USA, holds two records: one for the largest refrigerated warehouse in terms of volume and the other for the largest automated freezer on… the planet. With a total area of 505,139 sq ft (46,928.9 m2), it can store approximately 350 million pounds (160 kilotons) of frozen food.
Almost 100% of Americans own a refrigerator
When comparing this percentage to that of 1956 (80%), one can see how the refrigerator has become a popular and essential appliance.
Albert Einstein is a co-inventor of the refrigerator
When you think of Einstein, you think theory of relativity! But you can also associate him with the refrigerator, since the scientist and one of his former students filed a patent application for this appliance in 1930.
Refrigerators are among the most durable household appliances
A basic refrigerator can last up to 13 years, or more if properly maintained. Compared to televisions, you might be surprised to learn the average lifespan of is about four years.
As you can see,
the safety of the food we consume, and our health depend greatly on the operation and reliability of refrigerators. This applies not only at home but also in all agrifood businesses. If we broaden our perspective, pharmaceutical industries also rely on their refrigeration systems. Imagine the losses and risks that a failure could entail!
Indeed, no one is immune to a power outage, and the losses or damages caused by the failure of a piece of electrical equipment can be significant.
Our experienced, meticulous and dedicated team of forensic experts ensures that you receive outstanding investigative services. We guarantee comprehensive answers to your inquiries, helping you better prepare for the aftermath of any incident.