Proposed requirements for commercial refrigerators and freezers were discussed in Consultation Forum in April 2010.

During 2006-2007, the Commission (DG TREN) conducted a preparatory study related to commercial refrigerators and freezers. The study focuses on commercial plug-in,remote refrigerated display cabinets, and refrigerated vending machines.

In the proposed working document, the term commercial refrigerating display appliance is defined as; "any refrigeration appliance that is designed for use by commercial, institutional or industrial facilities for the purpose of storing and merchandising perishable materials at specified temperatures".

Scope

A refrigerating appliance is defined as any mechanical appliance for the storage and preservation of perishable materials. This applies both to temperatures above 0°C (such as chiller cabinets for fresh meat and sandwiches) and appliances for frozen foods.

Examples of commercial display refrigerators within the scope of this lot are:

• Remote refrigerated display cabinets
• Plug-in refrigerated cabinets for supermarkets
• Beverage coolers
• Plug-in freezers for sales of frozen products.

Many of these appliances are used non-stop (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Proposals

Some of the proposals in the working document are:

• Mandate should be addressed to the European Standardisation Bodies for translation of EN ISO 23953 into a harmonised standard for the purpose of this product group.
• Inclusion of requirements for the fitment of either doors/night curtains or air curtains to improve energy efficiency. This refers in particular to hours when the retailer is closed but is when the refrigeration is still in use.
• Minimum performance requirements should encourage the use of specific, low GWP, refrigerants by offering a premium in the energy efficiency requirements for appliances using such refrigerants.

Saving potentials

According to data from the preparatory study, energy consumption for this product group could be reduced to 55 TWh/year by 2015 and 47 TWh/year by 2020 (compared to a business-as-usual scenario of 69 TWh/year by 2015 and 73 TWh/year by 2020). This corresponds savings of 26 TWh/year by 2020.

Related lots

Household refrigerators and freezers (Lot 13) are regulated in Regulation (EC) No 643/2009 and another study, commissioned by DG ENTR (ENTR Lot 1) focuses on other refrigerating and freezing equipment, such as service cabinets, walk-in cold rooms, chillers, ice makers, ice cream and milk-shake machines.

Products & status