Automatic Commercial Ice Makers

On May 11, 2023, DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), in which DOE proposed new and amended energy conservation standards for automatic commercial ice makers. On September 25, 2023, DOE published a Federal Register notification of data availability (NODA), updating its analysis for automatic commercial ice makers based on information it received related to harvest rate cutoffs in response to the May 11, 2023 NOPR. 

Type of Regulation: Energy Conservation Standard

Rulemaking Link: Rulemaking Webpage

Docket ID: EERE-2017-BT-STD-0022

Updates:

• Posted: September 29, 2020 — Request for information; Early Assessment Review
• Posted: March 25, 2022 — Notification of Webinar and Availability of Preliminary Technical Support Document  
• Posted: April 6, 2022 — Notification of rescheduled public meeting
• Posted: May 26, 2022 — Notification of Availability of preliminary technical support document; reopening of comment period
• Posted: May 11, 2023 — Notification of Proposed Rulemaking
• Posted: September 25, 2023 — Notification of Data Availability

Comment Period Close Date: Closed

Where to Comment: N/A

AHRI Comments to Previous Stages of Rulemaking:

• 2020-12-11 — AHRI comment response to RFI
• 2022-05-16 — AHRI Extension Request for Notice of preliminary technical support document
• 2022-06-07 — AHRI comment response to the reopened comment period
• 2022-06-07 — AHRI and NAFEM Request for Extension of Comment Period
• 2023-07-11 — AHRI ACIM Comment response to the published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and announcement of public meeting

Next Steps: Final Rule from DOE anticipated August 2024.

Staff Contact: Nicole Colantonio

There are no future rulemakings anticipated at this time.

Subject to the 7-year look-back provision in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)(42 U.S.C. 6314(a)(1)(A)).

Subject to 42 U.S.C. 6313(d)(3)(B).

Automatic commercial icemakers manufactured and distributed in commerce, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 6291(16), must meet the energy conservation standards specified in the Code of Federal Regulations at 10 CFR 431.136.

On November 1, 2022, DOE published a Federal Register final rule amending the test procedure for automatic commercial ice makers to update incorporated references to the latest version of the industry standards; establish a relative humidity test condition; provide additional detail regarding certain test conditions, settings, setup requirements, and calculations; include a voluntary measurement of potable water use; clarify certification and reporting requirements; and add enforcement provisions. This final rule also provides additional detail to the DOE test procedure to improve the representativeness and repeatability of the current test procedure.

• The effective date of this rule is December 1, 2022.
• The final rule changes were mandatory for equipment testing starting October 27, 2023. 
• As of December 1, 2022, the Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this rule.

The automatic commercial ice makers test procedure rulemaking docket is located here: EERE-2017-BT-TP-0006. All notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents pertaining to this rulemaking can be found on the docket.

To determine compliance with DOE standards, manufacturers must follow the test procedures specified at 10 CFR 431.134 for automatic commercial ice makers manufactured or distributed into commerce.

Amended Test Procedure

All manufacturers were to comply with the latest test procedure rule for commercial automatic icemakers beginning October 27, 2023.

Updates:

• Posted: March 19, 2019 — Request for Information
• Posted: December 21, 2021 — Notice of Proposed Rule
• Posted: November 1, 2022 — Final Rule
• Docket No. EERE-2017-BT-TP-0006
  • contains all notices, public comments, public meeting transcripts, and supporting documents.

AHRI Comments to Previous Rulemaking Stages:

• 2019-04-19 — AHRI Comment response to the published Request for information
• 2022-02-23 — AHRI Comment response to the published Notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comment

For further guidance or to submit questions related to the implementation of these test procedures, visit DOE's Appliance Standards Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions.