Walk-In Coolers and Freezers
Department of Energy
Manufacturers have been required to comply with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) energy conservation standards for Walk-in coolers and freezers since 2009. Walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers (walk-ins or WICFs) are enclosed storage spaces that can be walked into. WICFs temporarily store refrigerated or frozen food or other perishable goods and are used primarily in the food service and food sales industry. Walk-in coolers operate above 32°F and at or below 55°F, and walk-in freezers operate at or below 32°F. WICFs covered by the regulations have a total chilled storage area of less than 3,000 square feet, and do not include products designed and marketed exclusively for medical, scientific, or research purposes.
Alternative Efficiency Determination Methods and Alternate Rating Methods
Summary: DOE is conducting a rulemaking for Alternative Efficiency Determination Methods and Alternate Rating Methods. Findings will be included into various products test procedures.
Type of Regulation: Test Procedure
Rulemaking Link: N/A
Docket ID: EERE-2011-BT-TP-0024
UPDATES:
- Posted: October 6, 2014 — Notice of public meeting.
Comment Period Close Date: Closed
Where to Comment: EERE-2011-BT-TP-0024
AHRI Comments to Previous Stages of Rulemaking:
- 2014-10-27 — AHRI comment response to the published SNOPR
- 2014-03-24 — AHRI comment response to the published SNOPR
- 2013-11-21 — AHRI comment response to the published SNOPR
- 2012-06-05 — Public Meeting Transcript
Staff Contact: Laura Petrillo–Groh
Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-in Cooler and Freezer Refrigeration Systems
Summary: The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 ("EPCA"), as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including walk-in coolers and freezers. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") to periodically determine whether more-stringent, amended standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. DOE proposes prescribing energy conservation standards for certain categories of walk-in cooler and freezer refrigeration systems.
Type of Regulation: Energy conservation
Rulemaking Link: Rulemaking webpage
Docket ID: EERE–2015–BT–STD–0016
Updates:
- Posted: December 28, 2016 — Pre-publication of final rule
- Posted: September 9, 2016 — NOPR for energy conversion
- Posted: August 30, 2016 — Pre-publication of NOPR for energy conservation
- Posted: September 10, 2015 — Notice of meetings for WICF working group
- Posted: August 5, 2015 — Notice of intent and public meeting
Comment period close date: Closed
Where to comment: EERE–2015–BT–STD–0016
Staff contact: Laura Petrillo–Groh
Walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 10 CFR 431.302 on or after January 1, 2009 must be assembled from components that meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations, 10 CFR 431.306.
Amended Standard
Walk-in coolers and walk-in freezer panels, doors, and refrigeration systems manufactured on or after three years after the date of publication in the Federal Register shall comply with the following standards:
|
Table 1. Standards for Doors Efective August 4, 2014 |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Equipment Category |
Internal Rating Temp. (°F) |
External Rating Temp. (°F) |
Operating Temp. (°F) |
Equipment Class Designation* |
Maximum Daily Energy Consumption (kWh/day)** |
|
Display Door |
35 (M) |
75 |
≥ 32 |
DD.M |
0.04 x Add + 0.41 |
|
-10 (L) |
75 |
≤ 32 |
DD.L |
0.15 x Add + 0.29 |
|
|
Passage Door |
35 (M) |
75 |
≥ 32 |
PD.M |
0.05 x And + 1.7 |
|
-10 (L) |
75 |
≤ 32 |
PD.L |
0.14 x And + 4.8 |
|
|
Freight Door |
35 (M) |
75 |
≥ 32 |
FD.M |
0.04 x And + 1.9 |
|
-10 (L) |
75 |
≤ 32 |
FD.L |
0.12 x And + 5.6 |
|
*The meaning of the letters in this column is indicated in the columns to the left.
**Add represents the surface area of the display door; And represents the surface area of the non-display door.
|
Table 2. Standards for Refrigeration Systems Effective August 4, 2014 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Condensing Type |
Internal Rating Temp. (°F) |
Operating Temp. (°F) |
Condensing Location |
Capacity Range (Btu/h) |
Equipment Class Designation |
Minimum AWEF (Btu/W-h) |
|
Dedicated Condensing |
35 (M) |
≥ 32 |
Indoor (I) |
< 9,000 |
DC.M.II, < 9,000 |
5.61 |
|
> 9,000 |
DC.M.I, = 9,000 |
5.61 |
||||
|
Outdoor (O) |
≤ 9,000 |
DC.M.O, < 9,000 |
7.60 |
|||
|
< 9,000 |
DC.M.O, = 9,000 |
7.60 |
||||
|
-10 (L) |
≤ 32 |
Indoor (I) |
< 9,000 |
DC.L.I, < 9,000 |
5.93 x 10-5 x Q + 2.33 |
|
|
> 9,000 |
DC.L.I, = 9,000 |
3.10 |
||||
|
Outdoor (O) |
< 9,000 |
DC.L.O, < 9,000 |
2.30 x 10-4 x Q + 2.73 |
|||
|
< 9,000 |
DC.L.O, = 9,000 |
4.79 |
||||
|
Multiplex Condensing |
35 (M) |
≥ 32 |
N/A |
N/A |
MC.M |
10.89 |
|
-10 (L) |
≤ 32 |
N/A |
N/A |
MC.L |
6.57 |
|
*The meaning of the letters in this column is indicated in the columns to the left.
**Q represents the system gross capacity as calculated by the test procedure.
Links:
- Final rule; technical amendment, Federal Register, 80 FR 69838 (November 12, 2015)
- Final rule; correction, Federal Register, 80 FR 12078 (March 6, 2015)
- Technical Support Document
- Docket No. EERE-2008-BT-STD-0015 contains notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.
- Final Rule, Federal Register, 79 FR 32049 (June 3, 2014)
- Technical Support Document
- Docket No. EERE-2008-BT-STD-0015 contains notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.
- Final Rule: Standards, Federal Register, 74 FR 12058 (March 23, 2009)
- Technical Support Document
- Docket No. EERE-2009-BT-STD-0010 contains notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.
To submit questions related to the implementation of the current standard, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.
After a regulatory action has been completed, Executive Order 12866 requires agencies to identify the substantive changes between the draft submitted to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review and the action subsequently announced, and to identify those changes made at the suggestion or recommendation of OIRA.
To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 431.304 for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. These are also in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
- Test Procedure Correction, Federal Register, 76 FR 33631 (June 9, 2011)
- Test Procedure Correction, Federal Register, 76 FR 31795 (June 2, 2011)
- Test Procedure Final Rule, Federal Register, 76 FR 21580 (April 15, 2011)
- Docket No. EERE-2008-BT-TP-0014 contains notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents for the test procedure rulemaking
On October 21, 2011, DOE published a notice clarifying the test procedure compliance date, as well as other matters.
- Compliance Date for the Final Rule: Test Procedures, Federal Register, 76 FR 65362 (October 21, 2011).
- Docket No. EERE-2011-BT-CE-0050 contains notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents for the compliance date rulemaking.
Amended Test Procedure:
DOE published a final rule regarding alternative efficiency determination methods and test procedures for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers.
- Final Rule: Test Procedure, Federal Register, 79 FR 27387 (May 13, 2014)
- Docket No. EERE-2011-BT-TP-0024 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.
The May 2014 final rule revised and expanded DOE’s existing regulations governing the use of alternative efficiency determination methods (AEDMs) for covered WICF products as alternatives to testing for the purpose of certifying compliance. The final rule also amended the test procedures published in April 2011.
- Final Rule: Test Procedure, Federal Register, 81 FR 95758 (December 28, 2016)
- Docket No. EERE-2016-BT-TP-0030 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.
The December 2016 final rule modified the test procedure for Walk-in Coolers and Freezers (WICF), with the intention of improving the procedure’s clarity by updating related certification and enforcement provisions to address the performance-based energy conservation standards for walk-in cooler and freezer equipment, and establishing labeling requirements.
To submit questions related to the implementation of the WICF test procedure, visit the Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions page.
EPA ENERGY STAR
Not currently an Energy Star certified product.
Current Product Specifications:
N/A
In Development:
N/A
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 AHRICert_EnergyStar@ahrinet.org for more information.
More Information:
N/A