Commercial Refrigeration Equipment

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As defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), “Commercial refrigerator, freezer, and refrigerator-freezer” (collectively referred to as “commercial refrigeration equipment) means refrigeration equipment that:

(1) Is not a consumer product (as defined in §430.2 of part 430);

(2) Is not designed and marketed exclusively for medical, scientific, or research purposes;

(3) Operates at a chilled, frozen, combination chilled and frozen, or variable temperature;

(4) Displays or stores merchandise and other perishable materials horizontally, semi-vertically, or vertically;

(5) Has transparent or solid doors, sliding or hinged doors, a combination of hinged, sliding, transparent, or solid doors, or no doors;

(6) Is designed for pull-down temperature applications or holding temperature applications; and

(7) Is connected to a self-contained condensing unit or to a remote condensing unit.  10 CFR 431.62

Current Standard | Current Test Procedure | Ongoing Rulemaking for Standards | Ongoing Rulemaking for Test Procedure | Helpful Links


Recent and Ongoing Activities

DOE has published a Federal Register notice amending the test procedures for commercial refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers (CRE) to reference the latest versions of the applicable industry standards. DOE also establishes definitions and test procedures for new equipment categories, adopts test procedures consistent with recently published waivers and interim waivers, establishes product-specific enforcement provisions, allows for volume determinations based on computer-aided designs, specifies a sampling plan for volume and total display area, and adopts additional clarifying amendments.

  • The effective date of this rule is October 26, 2023.
  • The amendments will be mandatory for equipment testing starting September 20, 2024.
  • The incorporation by reference of certain material listed in the rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register on October 26, 2023.

For the latest information on the planned timing of future DOE regulatory milestones, see the current Office of Management and Budget Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. All planned dates are preliminary and subject to change.

Standards

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
  • Federal Register 88FR70196 (October 10, 2023)
Notice of Availability of Preliminary Technical Support Document and Request for Comment
Request for Information
  • Federal Register, 86FR37708 (July 16, 2021)

The commercial refrigeration equipment energy conservation standard rulemaking docket EERE-2017-BT-STD-0007 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking.

Public Meeting Information:

There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.

Submitting Public Comments

The comment period is closed.

Test Procedure

Final Rule
  • Federal Register 88FR66152 (September 26, 2023)
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
  • Federal Register, 87FR39164 (June 30, 2022)
Request for Information
  • Federal Register, 86FR31182 (July 11, 2021)

The commercial refrigeration equipment test procedure rulemaking docket EERE-2017-BT-TP-0008 contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking. 

Public Meeting Information

There is no public meeting scheduled at this time.

Submitting Public Comments

The comment period is closed.


Current Standard

Commercial refrigeration equipment 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 431.66.


Current Test Procedure

To determine that commercial refrigeration equipment that is currently manufactured or distributed into commerce is in compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedure methods specified at 10 CFR 431.64.


Helpful Links

Compliance

DOE has established regulations on certification, compliance, and enforcement in the CFR at 10 CFR Part 429.  These regulations cover statistical sampling plans, certified ratings, certification reports, record retention, and enforcement.  More information on these regulations is available here.

Waivers

For information on current test procedure waivers, see DOE’s Waivers webpage

For information about obtaining test procedure waivers, see 10 CFR 430.27.

Exceptions

DOE's Office of Hearings and Appeals has not authorized exception relief for commercial refrigeration equipment.

For information about obtaining exception relief, see 10 CFR part 1003.

Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions

For information on further guidance and answers to Frequently Asked Questions on all covered products, see DOE’s Further Guidance database

State Exemptions to Federal Pre-emption

DOE has not exempted any state from this energy conservation standard. States may petition DOE to exempt a state regulation from preemption by the Federal energy conservation standard. States may also petition DOE to withdraw such exemptions. For details, see 10 CFR part 430, subpart D.

Contact information

For more information related to this product, please email:
ApplianceStandardsQuestions@ee.doe.gov


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