Standard for Commercial Refrigerated Display Cases

ARI Standard 1200-2002: Standard for Commercial Refrigerated Display Cases

For engineers and designers in the commercial refrigeration sector, ensuring consistent performance and energy efficiency in display cases is paramount. ARI Standard 1200-2002 provides an essential framework for achieving these goals, setting forth clear methodologies for testing and rating these critical retail and food service fixtures. This authoritative document is key to understanding the energy consumption and performance characteristics of a wide range of refrigerated display units.

What is ARI Standard 1200-2002?

ARI Standard 1200-2002, published by the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), establishes definitions, test requirements, and rating criteria specifically for commercial refrigerated display cases. Its primary purpose is to provide a standardized method for evaluating and comparing the energy performance of these units, enabling manufacturers to report consistent data and end-users to make informed decisions regarding energy consumption and operational efficiency.

Scope & Purpose

This comprehensive standard governs the testing and rating of manufacturers' standard catalog commercial refrigerated display cases. It applies to both self-contained and remote units, as well as open and closed configurations, designed for direct expansion refrigeration systems. The standard specifically excludes certain specialized units like those forming part of walk-in cooler walls, miter transition sections, floral merchandisers, storage refrigerators, vending machines, ice makers, and ice cream dipping cabinets. The intent is to focus on display cases intended for the primary purpose of merchandising chilled or frozen food products.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Refrigeration Engineers, Product Designers, Test Technicians, Quality Assurance Managers, and Installation Specialists.
• • Industries affected: Commercial Refrigeration Manufacturing, Retail Operations, Food Service Management, and HVAC/R Consulting.
• • Compliance nature: While primarily a voluntary industry standard, compliance is often a de facto requirement for product certification, competitive benchmarking, and meeting customer specifications.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically verified through independent third-party testing and certification programs, and by adhering to the published rating requirements for product literature.

Key Requirements Overview

ARI Standard 1200-2002 outlines several core requirements for manufacturers:

• • The standard mandates proven testing procedures to determine energy consumption metrics such as Compressor Energy Consumption (CEC), Fan Energy Consumption (FEC), and Lighting Energy Consumption (LEC).
• • Professionals must ensure that published ratings for energy efficiency are derived using the specified test conditions and methodologies, allowing for direct comparison between products.
• • Key provisions include standardized definitions for terms like Coefficient of Performance (COP) and Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) relevant to display case performance.
• • The standard requires specific data to be presented on product nameplates and in published literature, including information on anti-condensate energy consumption and calculated daily energy consumption.
• • Conformance conditions are detailed to ensure that tests are conducted under consistent and representative operating environments.

Related Standards & References

This industry-leading standard often works in conjunction with other relevant industry documents. For example, definitions related to refrigeration terminology are typically aligned with ASHRAE standards, such as the ASHRAE Terminology of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. Additionally, standards related to refrigeration system components or specific