Vacuum storage compartment construction in a cooling apparatus body

A cooling apparatus body (11), for example, for a refrigerator (10), has a first compartment (15) intended for storage of items at atmospheric pressure and a second compartment (16) for storage of items at subatmospheric pressure, the two compartments: being surrounded by surrounds formed by a thermal insulation element (13). The second compartment (16) is lined within the associated surround by a separately constructed hermetic liner (23) bonded to that surround. The liner (23) can be an integrally formed box-shaped component produced by, for example, injection moulding or blow moulding from plastics material. The resistance of the liner (23) to the internal load of subatmospheric pressure is provided primarily by the thermal insulation lining surround and the bond therewith, so that the liner, whilst providing a hermetic barrier relative to the surround, can be of inexpensive lightweight construction.