Automatic Commercial Ice Makers

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.

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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.

_{*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.

_{*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

• Final Rule, Federal Register, 80 FR 4646 (January 28, 2015)
• Technical Support Document
• Document No. EERE-2010-BT-STD-0037 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents

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.

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

References:

• Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 71 FR 71340 (December 8, 2006)
• Docket No. EERE-2006-TP-0121 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.
• Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 77 FR 1591; 1613-14 (January 11, 2012)
• Docket No. EERE-2010-BT-TP-0036 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.
• Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 87 FR 65856 (November 1, 2022)
• Docket No. EERE-2017-BT-TP-0006 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

AHRI Comments to Previous Rulemaking Stages:

• 2019-04-16 — AHRI comment response to the published RFI
• 2022-02-02 — AHRI comment response to the published NOPR

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