Automatic Commercial Ice Makers

Department of Energy

Manufacturers have been required to comply with the Department of Energy's (DOE) energy conservation standards for certain automatic commercial ice makers since 2010. Automatic commercial ice makers make and harvest cube, flake, tube, and nugget ice. Ice makers are used in hotels, hospitals, schools, office buildings, supermarkets, and other facilities where foods and beverages are served or sold. The DOE provides public updates regarding automatic commercial ice makers via Appliance Standards Rulemakings and Notices and the Current Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions.

    Energy Conservation Standards for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers

    Summary: The Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating an effort to determine whether to amend DOE's test procedure for automatic commercial ice makers (“ACIM” or “ice makers”). No later than 5 years after the previous compliance date for automatic commercial ice makers, DOE shall issue a final rule to determine whether amending the previously established standards is technologically feasible and economically justified and will result in significant energy savings. As a result of this effort, DOE may adopt more stringent standards or issue a determination that no amendments to the current standards are required.

    Type of Regulation: Energy Conservation Standard

    Rulemaking Link: Rulemaking Webpage

    Docket ID: EERE-2017-BT-STD-0022

    Updates:

    • Posted: September 29, 2020 — Request for information; Early Assessment Review
    • Posted: March 25, 2022 — Notification of Webinar and Availability of Preliminary Technical Support Document  
    • Posted: April 6, 2022 — Notification of rescheduled public meeting
    • Posted: May 26, 2022 — Notification of Availability of preliminary technical support document; reopening of comment period

    Comment Period Close Date: Closed

    Where to Comment: EERE-2017-BT-STD-0022

    AHRI Comments to Previous Stages of Rulemaking:

    • 2020-12-11 — AHRI comment response to RFI
    • 2022-05-16 — AHRI Extension Request for Notice of preliminary technical support document
    • 2022-06-07 — AHRI comment response to the reopened comment period

    Next Steps: DOE expects to release a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) in May 2023.

    Staff Contact: Helen Walter-Terrinoni.

    .

    There are no future rulemakings anticipated at this time.

    Automatic commercial icemakers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 431.136.

    Beginning in January 2018, automatic commercial ice-making equipment producing cube ice with harvest rates between 50 and 2,500 lb of ice per day shall meet the amended energy consumption standards shown on Table 2. Standards shown on Table 2 for batch type ice makers represent amendments to existing standards set for cube type ice makers, and new standards for cube type ice makers with expanded harvest capacities up to 4,000 pounds of ice per 24 hour period (lb ice/24 hours) and an explicit coverage of other types of batch machines, such as tube type ice makers.

    Table 2. Energy Conservation Standards for Batch Type Automatic Commercial Ice Makers Effective January 2018

      Equipment Type

    Type of Cooling

    Harvest Rate
    lb ice/24 hours

    Maximum Energy Use
    kWh/100 lb ice*

    Maximum Condenser Water Use
    gal/100 lb ice**

    Ice-Making Head

    Water

    < 300

    6.88 - 0.0055H

    200 - 0.022H

    300 and < 850

    5.80 - 0.00191H

    200 - 0.022H

    850 and < 1,500

    4.42 - 0.00028H

    200 - 0.022H

    1500 and < 2,500

    4.0

    200 - 0.022H

    2,500 and < 4,000

    4.0

    145

    Ice-Making Head

    Air

    < 300

    10 - 0.01233H

    Not Applicable

    300 and < 800

    7.05 - 0.0025H

    Not Applicable

    800 and < 1500

    5.55 - 0.00063H

    Not Applicable

    1500 and < 4,000

    4.61

    Not Applicable

    Remote Condensing (but not Remote Compressor)

    Air

    50 and < 1,000

    7.97 - 0.00342H

    Not Applicable

    1,000 and < 4,000

    4.55

    Not Applicable

    Remote Condensing and Remote Compressor

    Air

    < 942

    7.97 - 0.00342H

    Not Applicable

    942 and < 4,000

    4.75

    Not Applicable

    Self-Contained

    Water

    < 200

    9.5 - 0.019H

    191 - 0.0315H

    200 and < 2,500

    5.7

    191 - 0.0315H

    2,500 and < 4,000

    5.7

    112

    Self-Contained

    Air

    < 110

    14.79 - 0.0469H

    Not Applicable

    110 and < 200

    12.42 - 0.02533H

    Not Applicable

    200 and < 4,000

    7.35

    Not Applicable

    *H = harvest rate in pounds per 24 hours, indicating the water or energy use for a given harvest rate. Source: 42 U.S.C. 6313(d)
    ** Water use is for the condenser only and does not include potable water used to make ice.

     

    The December 2014 Final Rule provided new standards for continuous type ice-making machines, which were not previously currently covered by DOE’s existing standards. Beginning in January 2018, it became required for each automatic commercial ice maker producing flake or nugget ice (and other ice produced by way of continuous processes) to meet the energy consumption standards shown on Table 3.

    Table 3. Energy Conservation Standards for Continuous Type Automatic Commercial Ice Makers Effective January 2018

    Equipment Type

    Type of Cooling

    Harvest Rate
    lb ice/24 hours

    Maximum Energy Use
    kWh/100 lb ice*

    Maximum Condenser Water Use
    gal/100 lb ice**

    Ice-Making Head

    Water

    < 801

    6.48 - 0.00267H

    180 - 0.0198H

    801 and < 2,500

    4.34

    180 - 0.0198H

    2,500 and < 4,000

    4.34

    130.5

    Ice-Making Head

    Air

    < 310

    9.19 - 0.00629H

    Not Applicable

    310 and < 820

    8.23 - 0.0032H

    Not Applicable

    820 and < 4,000

    5.61

    Not Applicable

    Remote Condensing
    (but not Remote Compressor)

    Air

    < 800

    9.7 - 0.0058H

    Not Applicable

    800 and < 4,000

    5.06

    Not Applicable

    Remote Condensing and Remote Compressor

    Air

    < 800

    9.9 - 0.0058H

    Not Applicable

    800 and < 4,000

    5.26

    Not Applicable

    Self-Contained

    Water

    < 900

    7.6 - 0.00302H

    153 - 0.0252H

    900 and < 2,500

    4.88

    153 - 0.0252H

    2,500 and < 4,000

    4.88

    90

    Self-Contained

    Water

    < 200

    14.22 - 0.03H

    Not Applicable

    200 and < 700

    9.47 - 0.00624H

    Not Applicable

    700 and < 4,000

    5.1

    Not Applicable

    *H = harvest rate in pounds per 24 hours, indicating the water or energy use for a given harvest rate. Source: 42 U.S.C. 6313(d)
    ** Water use is for the condenser only and does not include potable water used to make ice.

    References
    AHRI Comments to previous rulemaking stages:
    • 2011-01-18 — AHRI Comment on framework document items including Test Procedures, Equipment Classes, Technology Assessment and Metrics, Standby Mode and Off Mode Standards, Baseline Units, and Engineering Analysis
    • 2012-02-27 — AHRI Request for extension
    • 2012-04-22 — AHRI Comment in Response to Notice of preliminary Technical Support Document (TSD)
    • 2014-05-16— AHRI Comments in Response to ­­­Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Exhibit 3)
    • 2014-10-14— AHRI Comments in Response to Notice of Data Availability (NODA Exhibit)

    To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 431.134 for automatic commercial ice makers manufactured or distributed into commerce.

    Amended Test Procedure

    All manufacturers must comply with the latest test procedure rule for commercial automatic icemakers beginning October 27, 2023. Prior to this date, manufacturers may adopt new test procedures early or use the previous test procedure to meet compliance requirements, as illustrated in the table below.

    Table 4. Test Procedure Requirements for Continuous Type Automatic Commercial Ice Makers

    Category

    Subcategory

    Condition(s)

    DOE test procedure before October 27, 2023

    DOE test procedure on or after October 27, 2023*

    ACIM

    Test Configurations with baffles, etc.

    Rate(s)

    AHRI Standard 810–2007 with Addendum 1

    and

    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 29–2009

    as clarified in

    10 CFR 431.134 (Jan 2022 ed.)

    AHRI Standard 810 (I-P)-2016 with Addendum 1

    and

    ANSI/ASHRAE

    Standard 29–2015

    Except as noted in

    10 CFR 431.134(c)

    ACIM

    Self-contained refrigerated storage

    -

    AHRI Standard 810–2007 with Addendum 1

    and

    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 29–2009

    as clarified in

    10 CFR 431.134 (Jan 2022 ed.)

    AHRI Standard 810 (I-P)-2016 with Addendum 1

    and

    ANSI/ASHRAE

    Standard 29–2015

    Except as noted in

    10 CFR 431.134(k)

    ACIM

    Everything else

    -

    AHRI Standard 810–2007 with Addendum 1

    and

    ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 29–2009

    as clarified in

    DOE 2012 Rule

    AHRI Standard 810 (I-P)-2016 with Addendum 1

    and

    ANSI/ASHRAE

    Standard 29–2015

    as clarified in

    10 CFR 431.134 

    *Manufacturers may apply these test procedures prior to October 27, 2023, to achieve compliance with DOE test procedures.

    References:

    AHRI Comments to Previous Rulemaking Stages:

    For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of these test procedures, visit Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions.

    EPA ENERGY STAR

    Current Product Specifications:

    Commercial Ice Makers Specification Version 3.0

    In Development:

    There are no new versions currently in development.

    Applying for Energy Star:

    To qualify a new product, contact an EPA-recognized Certification Body (CB) to have the product's performance certified. A list of EPA-recognized CBs, as well as an overview of EPA's third-party certification procedures, is available at Third-Party Certification. AHRI is an EPA-recognized CB. Email [email protected] for more information.

    More Information:

    Energy Star Commercial Ice Maker Website