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".

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).

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.

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.

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.

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