A commercial ice bath is not simply a larger version of a home unit. It must run for many hours a day, accommodate multiple users in succession, and maintain a consistent temperature and water quality. This guide explains what to look for when purchasing one for a gym, hotel, spa, or rehabilitation center.
Temperature is the first criterion
Most commercial units on the market maintain temperatures between 3 °C and 12 °C. That’s sufficient for a standard session, but it limits what you can offer. Swedish Cold’s ice baths cool down to 0 °C and maintain that temperature consistently, even when users enter one right after another.
This is important for two reasons. First, the product offering: You can sell more advanced programs for athletes and teams. Second, the margin: A unit that can handle 0 °C operates comfortably at 4 °C, while one with a minimum of 3 °C is constantly running at its limit.
Year-Round Outdoor Operations
Many businesses want to set up a cold zone on their patio, in their garden, or on their rooftop. There’s a technical issue here that’s rarely mentioned: Virtually no built-in ice bath is designed for use at sub-zero temperatures.
Our units continue to operate with circulating water even when the outside temperature drops to -10 °C. For locations in Germany, this means: no need to dismantle or drain the units over the winter, and no loss of revenue during the cold season—precisely when saunas and ice baths are most appealing.
Filtering: The Difference Between Personal and Commercial Use
In a single-user setting, the water lasts for days. With twenty users a day, body oils, cream residue, hair, and skin cells accumulate within hours. A commercial unit requires:
- Continuous filtration instead of programmed cycles
- Ozone or UV light for disinfection between users
- A surface skimmer that removes the grease film before it settles
- A filter that is easy to access, because it needs to be replaced frequently during intensive use
Otherwise, the actual costs aren't associated with the equipment, but with the staff who empty and refill the pool every two days.
Material: Why Stainless Steel
Acrylic and polyethylene are more affordable and perfectly adequate for residential use. In commercial settings, however, they get scratched, yellow due to chlorine and ozone, and ultimately become an image problem in an area that guests pay to use.
Stainless steel withstands harsh disinfectants, does not absorb odors, can be cleaned in seconds, and still looks good even after years of use. For this reason, it is used in professional kitchens and medical facilities.
The Real Costs Beyond the Purchase Price
- Power consumption: A well-insulated appliance with a thermal lid uses only a fraction of the power because the compressor starts up less often
- Consumables: Filters and Water Treatment
- Working hours: Minutes per day, not hours
- Installation: Power Connection and Drainage
Sauna and cold therapy in one area
Most facilities want to offer this alternation between heat and cold. Our saunas reach 100 °C and are set up right next to the ice bath as a cohesive recovery area—indoors or outdoors.
Next Step
Please let us know how many users you expect per day, where the device will be located, and how much space is available. We will send you a catalog, prices, energy consumption figures, and delivery times.
Section:
Professional Cold Plunges: A Guide for Gyms, Hotels, and Spas
Professional Cold Plunges: A Guide for Gyms, Hotels, and Spas