Refrigeration - Commercial

Commercial refrigeration covers a wide range of refrigerated appliances and is responsible for roughly the same amount of electricity as the combined total of all residential lighting and domestic refrigeration in Australia and New Zealand. 

Commercial refrigeration accounts for about 4% of emissions from Australia’s energy sector and 6% of emissions in New Zealand. Regulation of refrigerated display cabinets (RDCs) for performance standards has been in place in Australia since 2012.

The Australian and New Zealand governments recently revised the regulations to improve the average efficiency of refrigerator cabinets and extended the range of cabinets covered by the regulations.

For registrations in New Zealand, please contact the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) for details on transition arrangements in New Zealand.

Refrigerated Display Cabinets

Refrigerated Display Cabinets (RCs) are designed to store and display for sale chilled and/or frozen food items contained in the cabinet in a retail environment. This includes refrigerated drink cabinets that are designed to store non-perishable drinks only. They are not scooping cabinets or ice cream freezer cabinets.

RCs allow the stored products to be either directly viewed through an opening in the cabinet or through transparent doors, lids or covers. The doors are normally kept closed but enable users to access any of the contents without stepping inside the refrigerated space. They are typically used in retail applications such as supermarkets, petrol stations, liquor outlets and smaller food and beverage vendors such as corner stores, dairies and delicatessens.

Refrigerated Storage Cabinets

Refrigerated Storage Cabinets (RSCs) are designed to store, but not to display for sale, chilled and/or frozen food items. They predominantly have solid faced doors, lids or drawers that are generally kept closed, but allow access to the contents without having to step inside the refrigerated space. RSCs are typically used in catering applications and non-retail areas of supermarkets, butcheries, restaurants, hotels, cafes, professional kitchens and institutional facilities where they are used mainly for storage.

Ice Cream Freezer Cabinets

Ice Cream Freezer Cabinets are specifically designed to store and display pre-packaged frozen ice cream. They allow access by consumers to the pre-packaged ice cream by opening a solid or transparent lid. Ice cream freezer cabinets are typically used in convenience stores and petrol stations.

Small ice cream freezer cabinets of less than 500 litres capacity are covered under the new 2020 Determination.

Scooping Cabinets

Scooping Cabinets are specifically designed for the storage, display and scooping of containerised frozen gelato or ice cream. Scooping cabinets are typically used in gelato and ice cream shops.

Scooping Cabinets are covered under the new 2020 Determination.

The Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Refrigerated Display Cabinets) Determination 2012 (2012 Determination) was introduced on 25 October 2012 and remains active until 30 April 2021.

From 1 May 2021, the 2012 Determination will be replaced with the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Refrigerated Cabinets) Determination 2020 (2020 Determination).

The product scope in the 2020 Determination builds on the existing products and expands the product classes to include refrigerated storage cabinets, small ice cream freezer cabinets and scooping cabinets.

The 2020 Determination requires in scope refrigerated cabinets, refrigerated storage cabinets and freezers, small ice cream freezer cabinets and scooping cabinets to be registered for energy efficiency in the Energy Rating Registration system before they can be supplied or sold in Australia or New Zealand.

The 2020 Determination also changes how the performance of refrigerated cabinets are assessed, using the more stringent Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) instead of the traditional MEPS. Each product will be assessed against a maximum level on the EEI scale. If it exceeds the maximum level, it will not be able to be supplied in Australia or New Zealand.

The new Determination also aligns our regulations with international standards and European efficiency levels. This promotes harmonisation and reduces trade barriers with Australia and New Zealand’s major trading partners.

The 2020 Determination increases the number of models in a family from 10 to 25.

Transition Period

A transition period applies from 15 August 2020 to 30 April 2021, during which time suppliers may register their models under either the 2012 Determination or the 2020 Determination. Suppliers may also renew existing registrations under the 2012 Determination until 30 April 2021. The 2012 Determination covers remote and self-contained RDCs and commercial refrigerators and freezers. The 2020 Determination expands the product classes to include refrigerated storage cabinets, small ice cream freezer cabinets, and scooping cabinets.

On 1 April 2020, all existing registrations will be revalidated against the energy efficiency requirements of the 2020 Determination, and any registrations that do not meet these requirements will be superseded on 1 May 2020. Registrants will be informed by the Energy Rating Product Registration system email on 1 April if their products have been superseded. This means that registrants with superseded products will no longer be able to import these models into Australia, but may continue to sell off any remaining stock until the supply is exhausted.

Products that are registered to the 2012 Determination that are revalidated and comply with the 2020 Determination may be supplied for the duration of their registration.

Please contact the Energy Rating Team if you have any enquiries regarding the registration of any of the commercial refrigeration products.

For registrations in New Zealand, please contact the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) for details on transition arrangements in New Zealand.

Energy Efficiency Requirements - 2020 Determination

The Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) included in the 2012 Determination are replaced by the Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) in the 2020 Determination.

Each refrigerated cabinet is assessed against a maximum level on the EEI scale. If it exceeds the maximum level, it will not be able to be supplied in Australia or New Zealand.

The specific EEI levels that a refrigerated cabinet must meet are outlined in Section 23 of the 2020 Determination. Section 24 outlines how the EEI is calculated.

The test standards that apply under the 2020 Determination are outlined in the table below. These have been modified to meet local requirements:

MEPS Levels - 2012 Determination

MEPS for regulated refrigerated display cabinets are set out in the 2012 Determination. The Determination calls up the levels specified in AS 1731.14-2003, and also sets the test methods by reference to AS 1731.14-2003 (which itself refers to other parts of AS 1731).

When measured in accordance with AS 1731.9 and AS 1731.12 the energy consumption of a remote or self-contained refrigerated cabinet shall not exceed that specified below (as applicable). For the purpose of testing compliance, tests are conducted under climate Class 3 conditions, with lighting and anti-sweat heaters running for the duration of the test period, unless controlled by a time-clock, smart sensor or similar automatic device. Where night-covers are supplied as a permanent fixture of the cabinet, the test is conducted as described in AS 1731.9, Section 4. Reference should be made to the relevant parts of AS 1731 for detailed conditions and test methods.

MEPS: MAXIMUM ENERGY CONSUMPTION – REMOTE CABINETS

MEPS: MAXIMUM ENERGY CONSUMPTION – SELF-CONTAINED CABINETS

High Efficiency Levels

High Efficiency levels for regulated refrigerated display cabinets are set out in the 2012 Determination. The Determination calls up the levels specified in AS 1731.14-2003, and also sets the test methods by reference to AS 1731.14-2003 (which itself refers to other parts of AS 1731).

A remote or self-contained refrigerated display cabinet may be designated ‘high efficiency’ only if its energy consumption, measured in accordance with AS 1731.9 and AS 1731.12 does not exceed that value specified below. For the purpose of testing compliance, tests are conducted under climate Class 3 conditions, with lighting and anti-sweat heaters running for the duration of test period, unless controlled by a time-clock, smart sensor or similar automatic device. Where night-covers are supplied as a permanent fixture of the cabinet, the test is conducted as described in AS 1731.9, Section 4. Reference should be made to the relevant parts of AS 1731 for detailed conditions and test methods.

MAXIMUM ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR ‘HIGH EFFICIENCY’ REMOTE DISPLAY CABINETS

MAXIMUM ENERGY CONSUMPTION FOR ‘HIGH EFFICIENCY’ SELF-CONTAINED DISPLAY CABINETS