Commercial refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers

Energy Efficiency Regulations

Regulatory definition

Commercial refrigerator, a refrigerator that is self-contained or remote-condensing, that uses or is designed to be used with a vapour-compression refrigeration system and whose compartments are all designed for the display or storage of food, beverages or flowers at temperatures at or above 0°C. It does not include a household refrigerator, refrigerated buffet table, refrigerated preparation table or walk-in cooler.

Commercial refrigerator-freezer,a refrigerator-freezer that is self-contained or remote-condensing, that uses or is designed to be used with a vapour-compression refrigeration system and that has two or more compartments, at least one of which is designed for the display or storage of food and beverages at temperatures at or above 0°C and at least one of which is designed for the freezing and display or storage of food and beverages at temperatures below 0°C. It does not include a household refrigerator-freezer, walk-in freezer or walk-in cooler.

Commercial freezer, a freezer that is self-contained or remote-condensing, that uses or is designed to be used with a vapour-compression refrigeration system and whose compartments are all designed for the freezing and display or storage of food, beverages or ice at temperatures below 0°C. It does not include a household freezer or walk-in freezer.

Ice cream freezer, a commercial freezer that is designed to operate at temperatures at or below −21°C ± 1.1°C and that is designed or marketed for the storage, display or dispensing of ice cream.

Compliance date

Manufactured on or after March 27, 2017

For models manufactured prior, refer to the Regulations

Compliant product models

Commercial refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers as listed on NRCan’s searchable database.

Testing standard

CSA C657-2015, Test Procedure B

Energy efficiency regulations by province

Some provinces have their own energy efficiency regulations for many of the federally regulated products – find out which ones!

Energy efficiency standard

Energy performance standard for commercial refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers

Product type	Equipment Configuration	Rating Temperature	Edaily
Remote condensing commercial refrigerators and commercial freezers	Vertical open (VOP)	Medium	6.8889 × TDA + 4.07
		Low	23.6806 × TDA + 6.85
	Semi-vertical open (SVO)	Medium	7.1042 × TDA + 3.18
		Low	23.6806 × TDA + 6.85
	Horizontal open (HZO)	Medium	3.7674 × TDA + 2.88
		Low	5.9202 × TDA + 6.88
	Vertical closed transparent (VCT)	Medium	1.6146 × TDA + 1.95
		Low	5.2743 × TDA + 2.61
	Horizontal closed transparent (HCT)	Medium	1.7222 × TDA + 0.13
		Low	3.6597 × TDA + 0.26
	Vertical closed solid (VCS)	Medium	3.531 × V + 0.26
		Low	7.416 × V + 0.54
	Horizontal closed solid (HCS)	Medium	3.531 × V + 0.26
		Low	7.416 × V + 0.54
	Service over counter (SOC)	Medium	4.7361 × TDA + 0.11
		Low	10.0104 × TDA + 0.22
Self-contained commercial refrigerators and commercial freezers without doors	Vertical open (VOP)	Medium	18.191 × TDA + 4.71
		Low	45.7466 × TDA + 11.82
	Semi-vertical open (SVO)	Medium	18.2986 × TDA + 4.59
		Low	45.8543 × TDA + 11.51
	Horizontal open (HZO)	Medium	7.75 × TDA + 5.55
		Low	20.4514 × TDA + 7.08
Self-contained commercial refrigerators and commercial freezers with doors	Vertical closed transparent (VCT)	Medium	3.531 × V + 0.86
		Low	10.241 × V + 2.95
	Vertical closed solid (VCS)	Medium	1.766 × V + 1.36
		Low	7.769 × V + 1.38
	Horizontal closed transparent (HCT)	Medium	2.119 × V + 0.37
		Low	2.825 × V + 1.23
	Horizontal closed solid (HCS)	Medium	1.766 × V + 0.91
		Low	2.119 × V + 1.12
	Service over counter (SOC)	Medium	5.5972 × TDA + 1
		Low	11.8403 × TDA + 2.1
Self-contained commercial refrigerators with transparent doors for pull- down temperature applications	Pull-down (PD)	Medium	3.885 × V + 0.81
Remote condensing commercial ice- cream freezers	Vertical open (VOP)	Ice-cream	30.031 × TDA + 8.7
	Semi-vertical open (SVO)	Ice-cream	30.031 × TDA + 8.7
	Horizontal open (HZO)	Ice-cream	7.5347 × TDA + 8.74
	Vertical closed transparent (VCT)	Ice-cream	6.2431 × TDA + 3.05
	Horizontal closed transparent (HCT)	Ice-cream	4.3056 × TDA + 0.31
	Vertical closed solid (VCS)	Ice-cream	8.829 × V + 0.63
	Horizontal closed solid (HCS)	Ice-cream	8.829 × V + 0.63
	Service over counter (SOC)	Ice-cream	11.7327 × TDA + 0.26
Self contained commercial ice- cream freezers	Vertical open (VOP)	Ice-cream	58.1251 × TDA + 15.02
	Semi-vertical open (SVO)	Ice-cream	58.2327 × TDA + 14.63
	Horizontal open (HZO)	Ice-cream	26.0487 × TDA + 9
	Vertical closed transparent (VCT)	Ice-cream	6.6736 × TDA + 3.29
	Horizontal closed transparent (HCT)	Ice-cream	6.0278 × TDA + 0.43
	Vertical closed solid (VCS)	Ice-cream	12.007 × V + 0.88
	Horizontal closed solid (HCS)	Ice-cream	12.007 × V + 0.88
	Service over counter (SOC)	Ice-cream	16.4688 × TDA + 0.36

E_daily -  daily energy consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWh)

TDA - total display area in square meter (m²) 

V - volume in cubic meter (m³)

Energy efficiency report requirements

• name of product
• brand name
• model number
• manufacturer
• name of the certification body or province whose verification mark will be on the product or its package
• whether a mathematical model as defined in the Regulations was used to generate any of the information provided below
• E_daily
• for each of its compartments:
  • its equipment class designation and its TDA (total display area), V or AV, as applicable
  • if it is tested at its lowest temperature  setting, the integrated average temperature, expressed in degrees Celsius, at the lowest temperature setting

Download the energy efficiency reporting template.

This document does not constitute part of the Energy Efficiency Act (Act) or its associated regulations. This document is an administrative document that is intended to facilitate compliance by the regulated party with the Act and its associated regulations. This document is not intended to provide legal advice regarding the interpretation of the Act or its associated regulations. If a regulated party has questions about their legal obligations or responsibilities under the Act or its associated regulations, they should seek the advice of legal counsel.