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

Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards

Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers

This page presents information on test procedures, energy conservation standards, and rulemaking activities for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers.

Walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers (walk-ins or WICF) are large, insulated refrigerated spaces with access door(s) large enough for people to enter, with a total chilled storage area of less than 3,000 square feet. Walk-ins are used to store temporarily refrigerated or frozen food or other perishable materials. The two major classes of walk-ins are coolers (above 32°F) and freezers (32°F and below). Although walk-ins can be used in a wide variety of applications, they are used primarily in food service and sales.

Prescribed Energy Conservation Standards

• Standards prescribed in EISA 2007

Rulemakings in Progress

DOE is conducting a rulemaking for the WICF energy conservation standards.

Energy Conservation Standard Rulemaking

• Notice of Correction and Date Change, Federal Register, 75 FR 19297, April 14, 2010
• Notice of Public Meeting and Availability of the Preliminary Technical Support Document, Federal Register, 75 FR 17080, April 5, 2010
• Preliminary Technical Support Document, Federal Register, 75 FR 17080, April 5, 2010
• Preliminary Analytical Spreadsheets, Federal Register, 75 FR 17080, April 5, 2010
• Framework document, Federal Register, 74 FR 411, January 9, 2009

Test Procedure Rulemaking

• Energy Conservation Program: Compliance Date Regarding the Test Procedures for Walk-In Coolers and Freezers and the Certification for Metal Halide Lamp Ballasts and Fixtures, Federal Register, 76 FR 65362, October 21, 2011
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) regarding the Compliance Date for Walk-In Coolers and Freezers Test Procedures, Federal Register, 76 FR 48745, August 9, 2011
• Test Procedures for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers; Correction, Federal Register 76 FR 33631, June 9, 2011
• Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-in Coolers and Freezers; Correction, Federal Register 76 FR 31795, June 2, 2011
• Test Procedures for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers; Final Rule Federal Register, 76 FR 21580, April 15, 2011
• Test Procedures for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers; Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNOPR), Federal Register, 75 FR 55068, September 09, 2010
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) Public Meeting, Federal Register, 75 FR 9120, March 1, 2010
• Test procedures rulemaking webpage overview

Public Meetings and Meeting Materials

• Standards Preliminary Analysis Public comment period extended (July 15, 2010)
• Standards Preliminary Analysis Public Meeting (May 19, 2010)
• NOPR Test Procedure Public Meeting (March 24, 2010)
• Standards Framework Public Meeting (February 4, 2009)

Frequently Asked Questions

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has prepared answers to frequently asked questions about the provisions in EISA related to walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers.

Statutory Authority

The National Energy Conservation Policy Act (NECPA), Pub. L. 95-619, amended the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) to add part C of title III (42 U.S.C. 6311-6317), which established an energy conservation program for certain industrial equipment including WICF. In addition, section 312 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) amended section 342 of EPCA by adding subsection 342(f)(3) (42 U.S.C. 6313(f)(3)), to establish prescriptive requirements, mandated by Congress, for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers with transparent reach-in doors manufactured on or after January 1, 2009, as set forth in EISA. Download Adobe Reader.

Contact Information

Charles Llenza
Project Manager
202-586-2192