U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards

Automatic Commercial Ice Makers

This page describes rulemaking activities and regulations for automatic commercial ice makers. DOE is conducting a rulemaking for automatic commercial ice maker energy conservation standards, and recently completed a rulemaking for automatic ice maker test procedures.

Section 136(a)(4) of EPACT 2005 amends section 340 of EPCA (42 U.S.C. 6311) to define "automatic commercial ice maker":

• As a factory-made assembly (not necessarily shipped in one package) that –
  • Consists of a condensing unit and ice-making section operating as an integrated unit, with means for making and harvesting ice; and
  • May include means for storing ice, dispensing ice, or storing and dispensing ice.

The current standards for automatic commercial ice makers were established by EPACT 2005 and can be found in Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 431, section 136.

Energy Conservation Standards and Rulemaking Activities

Preliminary Analyses

• Notice of Extension of Public Comment Period, Federal Register, 77 FR 13026, March 5, 2012
• Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of the Preliminary Technical Support Document, Federal Register, 77 FR 3404, January 24, 2012
• Preliminary Technical Support Document 
• Preliminary Analytical Spreadsheets 

Framework

• Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of the Framework Document, Federal Register, 75 FR 70852, November 19, 2010
• Rulemaking Framework Document for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers (November 4, 2010)

Test Procedures and Rulemaking Activities

Final Rule

• Test Procedure for Automatic Commercial Ice Makers; Final Rule , Federal Register, 77 FR 1591, January 11, 2012

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR)

• Automatic Commercial Ice Maker Test Procedure Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR), Federal Register, 76 FR 18428, April 4, 2011.

Certification, Compliance, and Enforcement

Additional details regarding DOE's certification, compliance, and enforcement regulations for consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment can be found on the Certification and Enforcement Web page. Submit certification reports using DOE's Compliance and Certification Management System.

Statutory Authority

The EPACT 2005 amendments to EPCA also require DOE to conduct two cycles of rulemakings to determine whether to amend the standards for automatic commercial ice makers, both those prescribed by EPACT 2005 and those prescribed by DOE. (42 U.S.C. 6313(d)) In the first cycle, the subject of this rulemaking, DOE must publish a final rule establishing such amended standards by January 1, 2015, if DOE determines to amend the standards. (42 U.S.C. 6313(d)(3)(A))

Public Meetings

• Energy Conservation Standards – Preliminary Analysis (February 16, 2012)
• Test Procedure – Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) (April 29, 2011)
• Energy Conservation Standards - Framework Document (December 16, 2010)