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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

AHAM Refrigerator, 

Refrigerator-Freezer and 

Freezer Ice Making Energy Test 

Procedure 

Revision 1.0 - 12/14/11

DRAFT 
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

PREFACE 

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers develops standards in accordance with AHAM’s 

“Policy and Procedures Governing Technical Standards” which states: 

“AHAM Standards shall be in the best interest, mutually, of consumers who use 

appliances, the industries which provide and service appliances, and other 

interested parties. They shall relate to actual use conditions and be technically 

and scientifically sound. ” 

Use or observance of AHAM standards is voluntary. 

This standard contains: 

Test procedures that may be applied to any brand or model of refrigerator, 

refrigerator-freezer and freezer. Results of tests in accordance with this 

standard may be publicly stated. 

Recommended levels of performance which are considered important to 

include but which, necessarily, are recommendations only. 

With regard to safety, AHAM recommends that all appliance products -- both major and portable -- 

manufactured or marketed in the United States be submitted to a Nationally Recognized Testing 

Laboratory (NRTL1

) for inspection and listing in conformance with the safety standards and procedures 

followed by such laboratories. The relevant standards for refrigerator, refrigerator-freezer and freezers 

are UL250 and IEC60335-2-24 latest edition. 

AHAM welcomes comments and suggestions regarding this standard. Any standard may be reviewed 

and improved as needed. All standards must be updated or reconfirmed at least every five years. Any 

interested party, at any time, may request a change in an AHAM standard. Such request should be 

addressed to AHAM’s president, and should be accompanied by a statement of reason for the request 

and a suggested alternate proposal. 

 

 

1 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognizes laboratories that have the necessary 

qualifications to perform safety testing and certification of specific products covered within a scope of recognition as 

Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL). 
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

Copyright © 20xx by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) 

All rights reserved. 

The hard copy print version of this document shall be for individual use only. 

The electronic file version of this document shall be for storage on one computer for purposes of 

viewing and/or printing one copy for individual use only. 

This document shall not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, and shall not be transmitted 

electronically or otherwise to a third person without the prior written permission of AHAM. 
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Section Page

1. PURPOSE ................................................................................................................. 4 

2. SCOPE ...................................................................................................................... 4 

3. DEFINITIONS ............................................................................................................ 4 

4. TEST PROCEDURE .................................................................................................. 5 
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1. PURPOSE 

This standard establishes uniform, repeatable procedures or standard methods for measuring specified 

product characteristics of refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers. 

The standard methods provide means to compare and evaluate different brands and models of 

refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers regarding characteristics significant to product use. 

The standard methods and the recommended levels of performance are not intended to inhibit 

improvement and innovation in product testing, design or performance. 

The purpose of the Test Procedure is to measure the incremental energy to make ice by means of an 

automatic ice maker installed in a refrigerator, refrigerator-freezer, or freezer. 

The principles of interpretation stated in 10 CFR 430.23 (a)(10) and 10 CFR 430.23 (b)(7) apply to 

this test procedure. 

2. SCOPE 

2.1. This standard only applies to refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers and freezers, as defined by 

the Department of Energy 10 CFR 430.2, with one automatic icemaker (including models 

equipped with the option to install one automatic icemaker). 

2.2. This standard includes definitions and methods for testing and evaluating refrigerator, 

refrigerator-freezer and freezer automatic ice making energy consumption. 

3. DEFINITIONS 

3.1. Automatic Icemaker - A device, connected to a water supply, which automatically produces, 

harvests, and stores ice in a storage bin, with means to automatically interrupt the harvesting 

operation when the bin is filled to a pre-determined amount. 

3.2. Harvest - The process of freeing or removing ice pieces from an icemaker. 

3.3. Compressor Cycle - a compressor cycle is a complete "on" and a complete "off" period of the 

motor. 

3.4. Ice Storage Bin - A container in which ice can be stored. 

4. TEST PROCEDURE – Incremental Ice Making Energy Consumption 

4.1. Overview: 
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

4.1.1. The refrigerator is to be set up per the DOE Energy Test (per 4.2.1 and 4.2.2) except 

the controls are to be set to obtain a fresh food temperature of 39 +/- 2 degrees F and a 

freezer temperature of 0 +/-2 degrees F. 

4.1.2. The DOE Energy Test 10 CFR 430 Subpart B Appendix A targets for, the fresh food 

compartment interpolation a temperature of 39 degrees F and for the freezer 

compartment a temperature of 0 degrees F. 10 CFR 430 Subpart B Appendix B targets 0 

degrees for freezer compartment interpolation. This incremental ice making energy test 

focuses on those target temperatures in the baseline test to simplify the burden of 

measuring ice making energy. 

4.1.3. When the ice maker is enabled for the second portion of the ice making energy test, 

the controls are not to be adjusted. The compartment temperatures may move outside 

the target of 39/0 +/- 2 degrees F due to ice making. This is recognized and accepted 

since the customer is not expected to adjust the control settings for ice making vs non-ice 

making. 

4.2. References 

4.2.1. 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix A: Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Electric Refrigerator and Electric Refrigerator-Freezers. 

4.2.2. 10 CFR Part 430, Subpart B, Appendix B: Uniform Test Method for Measuring the 

Energy Consumption of Freezers. 

4.2.3. AHAM HRF-1-2008 

4.3. Test Equipment and Conditions 

4.3.1. Test setup per DOE Energy Test. 

4.3.2. Inlet Water Temperature – 90 +/-2 degrees F 

4.3.3. Inlet Water Pressure – 60 +/- 30 psig 

4.4. Ice Making Incremental Energy Test 

4.4.1. 

Calculate baseline average wattage based on the test results at the control setting that 

achieves the target of 39 +/- 2 degrees F for the fresh food compartment and 0 +/- 2 

degrees F for the freezer compartment with the ice maker on, harvesting disabled, and 

bin empty. If the product under test cannot simultaneously achieve both target 

temperatures, then the baseline will be conducted at the 0 +/- 2 degrees F freezer 

temperature. 

4.4.1. Ensure stability has been obtained for the baseline test. For a cycling unit, stability is 

calculated by comparing two periods that each consist of a the fewest number of whole 

compressor cycles exceeding two hours in duration that are separated by the fewest 

number of whole compressor cycles exceeding three hours in duration. In order to be 

considered stable, the temperatures of the two two-hour periods must not differ by more 

than 0.042 °F/hour. For an example of this calculation, see Examples 2 and 3 in the 

Appendix. 

 

For a non-cycling unit, stability is calculated by comparing two periods of exactly two 

hours separated by exactly three hours. These two two-hour periods must not differ by 
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

more than 0.042 °F/hr. From the middle of the first period to the middle of the second 

period is five hours. The stability criterion is that the two periods’ averages must not 

differ by more than 0.21 °F (5 * 0.042 = 0.21). 

4.4.2. Calculate baseline average wattage per 

ൌ 	 ࡸ࡮ࢀࡱ

ሺࡸ࡮ࡼࡱ૙૙૙૚ ∗ ሻ

ቀ

ࡸ࡮ࢀ

૟૙ ቁ

Where: 

EPBL = Baseline energy, energy consumed during the entire stability test period (kWh) 

1000 = conversion factor from kWh to Wh 

TBL = Baseline time period, time duration of the entire stability test period (minutes) 

60 = conversion factor from minutes to hours 

ETBL= Average wattage of the baseline test (Watts) 

4.4.3. Initiation of Ice Making Test Procedure 

4.4.3.1. For units that can complete the baseline and ice making test without 

encountering a freezer defrost initiate ice making during a compressor on cycle by 

enabling the ice maker, ensuring that water is available and that the ice storage bin 

is empty. This would also apply to units where the freezer defrost can be disabled 

or bypassed by the tester. Operate the refrigerator making ice until the ice storage 

bin becomes full and stops the ice maker, or the first ice maker harvest after 24 

hours have passed from the first ice maker harvest, or the next freezer defrost cycle 

occurs. 

4.4.3.2. For units that cannot complete the baseline and ice making test without 

encountering a freezer defrost, initiate ice making after the unit has recovered from 

a freezer defrost per the 2014 DOE Standard [will need to add appropriate 

references] during a compressor on-cycle. Operate the refrigerator making ice until 

the ice storage bin becomes full and stops the ice maker, or the first ice maker 

harvest after 24 hours have passed from the first ice maker harvest, or the next 

freezer defrost cycle occurs. 

4.4.4. Calculate average wattage while making ice per 
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

ࡹࡵࢀࡱ ൌ ሺࡹࡵࡼࡱ૙૙૙૚ ∗ ሻ

ቀ

ࡹࡵࢀ

૟૙ ቁ

Where: 

EPIM = Energy consumed over ice making period(s) (kWh) 

1000 = conversion factor from kWh to Wh 

TIM = time duration of the ice making period(s) (minutes) 

60 = conversion factor from minutes to hours 

ETIM = Average wattage of the ice making period(s) (Watts) 

Note: TIM begins at the initiation of the first ice making harvest after enabling the ice maker 

and ends at the initiation of the last ice making harvest based on Section 4.4.4. TIM shall 

not include any freezer defrost as defined in 10 CFR 430 Subpart B Appendix A and B. 

4.4.5. Calculate the average wattage increase per 

ࡸ࡮ࢀࡱ	 െ ࡹࡵࢀࡱ ൌ ࢉ࢔ࡵࢀࡱ

where ܧܶூ௡௖ is the incremental increase in average wattage to make ice. 

4.4.6. Determine the amount of ice made MICE during the ice making period ܶூெ (in pounds)

by weighing the ice storage bin when it contains the ice made during time period ܶூெ and 

the subtracting the weight of the empty ice storage bin. 

4.4.6.1. The value for MICE must not include the ice harvested prior to the intitation of the 

first harvest cycle or the ice harvested after the initiation of the last harvest cycle. If 

the product’s design makes this exclusion difficult, then this harvest can be included 

in the measurement but must then be subtracted later to determine MICE. 

4.4.7. Calculate the annual incremental energy consumption to make the typical amount of 

ice used in one year: 

ൌ 	 ࢋࢉࡵࡼࡱ

ࡹࡵࢀ ∗ ࢉ࢔ࡵࢀࡱቀ

૟૙ ∗ ૟૞ૠቁ

૙૙૙૚ ∗ ࡱ࡯ࡵࡹ
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

Where: 

EPIce = Energy calculated to produce a typical annual quantity of ice (kWh/yr) 

60 = conversion factor from minutes to hours 

1000 = conversion factor from kWh to Wh 

657 = typical consumption of ice assumed by DOE per year (lbm/year) 

 MICE = amount of ice harvested during time period TIM (lbm)

 

 
p 9 

Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

1. Appendix 

EXAMPLES OF CALCULATIONS INVOLVED IN DETERMINING ICE MAKING ENERGY

1. SCOPE 

The data is gathered via a data acquisition system (DAQ) that is capable of capturing timestamps,

temperatures, watts, and watt‐hours.  It is preferable for the DAQ to be able to capture events such as

compressor‐on and off events and ice maker harvests.  The examples in this Appendix are based on a DAQ that

captures these events.

2. TEMPERATURES AND STABILITY FOR PART 1

Per 4.1.1 the fresh food temperature is 39 ± 2 °F and the freezer temperature is 0 ± 2 °F prior to the ice making

portion of the test.

Example 1:  The following data is obtained during Part 1 of the test:

   Time FF Avg FZ Avg

Cycle 1 8/17/2011 20:23:33 37.60  ‐2.68

Cycle 2 8/17/2011 22:16:03 37.65  ‐2.67

Cycle 3 8/18/2011 0:08:32 37.61  ‐2.66

Cycle 4 8/18/2011 2:00:32 37.53  ‐2.65

Cycle 5 8/18/2011 3:52:24 37.49  ‐2.65

Cycle 6 8/18/2011 5:45:06 37.51  ‐2.66

Cycle 7 8/18/2011 7:37:48       

Table 1.  Compressor Cycle Times and Compartment Temperatures for Example 1.

The fresh food temperatures meet the 39 ± 2 °F specification; however, the freezer falls outside of the 0 ± 2 °F

specification.  The unit’s controls must be adjusted to meet the specifications before the ice making portion of

the test begins.

Example 2:  The following data is obtained during Part 1 of the test:

   Time FF Avg FZ Avg

Cycle 1 8/17/2011 20:23:33 37.60  ‐1.68

Cycle 2 8/17/2011 22:16:03 38.12  ‐1.22

Cycle 3 8/18/2011 0:08:32 38.44  ‐0.98

Cycle 4 8/18/2011 2:00:32 39.01  ‐0.65

Cycle 5 8/18/2011 3:52:24 39.57  ‐0.01

Cycle 6 8/18/2011 5:45:06 40.23 0.23

Cycle 7 8/18/2011 7:37:48       

Table 2.  Compressor Cycle Times and Compartment Temperatures for Example 2.
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

The compartment temperatures meet the 39 ± 2 °F and the 0 ± 2 °F specifications.  For a cycling unit, stability

is calculated by comparing two periods that each consist of a whole number of cycles of at least two hours in

duration that are separated by a whole number of cycles of at least three hours in duration.  In order to be

considered stable, the two periods’ temperatures must not differ by more than 0.042 °F/hour.  The cycles’

durations are listed below:

  

Cycle Duration

(minutes)

Cycle 1 112.5

Cycle 2 112.5

Cycle 3 112.0

Cycle 4 111.9

Cycle 5 112.7

Cycle 6 112.7

Table 3.  Compressor Cycle Durations for Example 2.

Cycles 1 and 2 are the first two‐hour period.  Cycles 3 and 4 are the three‐hour period.  Cycles 5 and 6 are the

second two‐hour period.  The time duration for stability is from the middle of the first period to the middle of

the second period.

Stability Criterion = 

൤

ሺ112.5 ൅ 112.5ሻ

2 ൅ 112.0 ൅ 111.9 ൅ ሺ112.7 ൅ 112.7ሻ

2 ൨ minutes

60	 min

hr ൗ

ൈ 0.042	 Ԭ

hr ൗ

Stability Criterion = 0.31 °F 

FF	Temperature	Difference	ൌ	|37.76 െ 39.90|	°F		

FF	Temperature	Difference	ൌ	2.14	Ԭ	

FZ	Temperature	Difference	ൌ	|ሺെ1.45ሻ െ ሺ0.11ሻ|Ԭ	

FZ	Temperature	Difference	ൌ	1.56	Ԭ	

Both compartments’ temperature differences exceed the 0.31 °F stability criterion.  Therefore, this unit is not

stable.  It must be allowed to stabilize before the unit begins the ice making portion of the test.

   
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

Example 3:  The following data is obtained during Part 1 of the test:

   Time FF Avg FZ Avg

Cycle 1 8/17/2011 20:23:33 39.60  ‐0.68

Cycle 2 8/17/2011 22:16:03 39.65  ‐0.67

Cycle 3 8/18/2011 0:08:32 39.61  ‐0.66

Cycle 4 8/18/2011 2:00:32 39.53  ‐0.65

Cycle 5 8/18/2011 3:52:24 39.49  ‐0.65

Cycle 6 8/18/2011 5:45:06 39.51  ‐0.66

Table 4.  Compressor Cycle Times and Compartment Temperatures for Example 3.

The compartment temperatures meet the 39 ± 2 °F and the 0 ± 2 °F specifications.  Stability is checked per

Example 2 above.

Stability Criterion = 

൤

ሺ112.5 ൅ 112.5ሻ

2 ൅ 112.0 ൅ 111.9 ൅ ሺ112.7 ൅ 112.7ሻ

2 ൨ minutes

60	 min

hr ൗ

ൈ 0.042	 Ԭ

hr ൗ

Stability Criterion = 0.31 °F 

FF	Temperature	Difference	ൌ	|39.63 െ 39.50|	°F		

FF	Temperature	Difference	ൌ	0.13	Ԭ	

FZ	Temperature	Difference	ൌ	|ሺെ0.68ሻ െ ሺെ0.66ሻ|Ԭ	

FZ	Temperature	Difference	ൌ	0.02	Ԭ	

Both temperature differences are below the 0.31 °F stability criterion.  Part 1 of the test is complete and the

ice making portion may be initiated.

 
p 12 

Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

3. ICE MAKING ENERGY

The data below is from an ice making energy test:

  

Time Watt‐hour

Counter

Start of Cycle 1 8/17/2011 20:23:33 51

Start of Cycle 2 8/17/2011 22:16:03 194

Start of Cycle 3 8/18/2011 0:08:32 338

Start of Cycle 4 8/18/2011 2:00:32 481

Start of Cycle 5 8/18/2011 3:52:24 624

Start of Cycle 6 8/18/2011 5:45:06 768

Start of Cycle 7 8/18/2011 7:37:48 911

Table 5.  Data from Part 1 for Example 4.

Harvest Time Watt‐hour

Counter

8/18/2011 8:36:55 1036

8/19/2011 17:24:29 4541

Table 6.  Data from Watt Trace of Figure 1.

Weight of Ice + bin after final harvest:  8.12 lbm

Weight of bin:  0.49 lbm

4.

Figure 1.  Watt Trace for a Cycling Unit with Ice Maker Harvest Cycles.

Example 4:  Calculate incremental ice making energy, EPIce

Watts
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

Step 1.  Calculate baseline average wattage per 4.4.4

ൌ 	 ࡸ࡮ࢀࡱ

ሺࡸ࡮ࡼࡱ૙૙૙૚ ∗ ሻ

ቀ

ࡸ࡮ࢀ

૟૙ ቁ

EP୆୐ ൌ ሺଽଵଵିହଵሻ

ଵ଴଴଴

	kWh	

EPBL	ൌ	0.860	kWh	

TBL	ൌ	ሺ8/18/2011	7:37:48	‐	8/17/2011	20:23:33ሻ	minutes	

TBL	ൌ	674.25	minutes	

ET୆୐ ൌ 0.860 ൈ 1000

ቀ

674.25

60 ቁ

	watts	

ET୆୐ ൌ 76.53	watts	

Step 2. Calculate average wattage while making ice per 4.4.5

ET୍୑ ൌ ሺEP୍୑ ∗ 1000ሻ

ቀ

T୍୑

60 ቁ

EP୍୑ ൌ ሺ4541 െ 1036ሻ

1000 	kWh

EPIM	ൌ	3.505	kWh	

TIM	ൌ	ሺ8/19/2011	17:24:29	‐	8/18/2011	8:36:55	ሻ	minutes	

TIM	ൌ	1967.57	minutes	

ET୍୑ ൌ ሺ3.505 ൈ 1000ሻ

ቀ

1967.57

60 ቁ

	watts

ETIM	ൌ	106.88	watts	

   
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Revision 1.0 – 12/14/11 

Step 3.  Calculate the average wattage increase per 4.4.6

ࡸ࡮ࢀࡱ	 െ ࡹࡵࢀࡱ ൌ ࢉ࢔ࡵࢀࡱ

ETInc	ൌ	ሺ106.88	–	76.53ሻ	watts	

ETinc	ൌ	30.35	watts	

Step 4.  Calculate amount of ice made, Mice, during TIM.

Weight	of	ice	൅	bin	ൌ	8.12	lbm

Weight	of	bin	ൌ	0.49	lbm

Total	Ice	Made	ൌ	ሺ8.12	–	0.49ሻ	lbm

Total	Ice	Made	ൌ	7.63	lbm

Number	of	Harvests	ൌ	34	

lbm/harvest	ൌ	7.63/34	

lbm/harvest	ൌ	0.22	lbm/harvest	

Since we are not to include the last harvest per 4.4.6.1, Mice will be calculated by subtracting one harvest

cycle’s ice from the total ice harvested.

MICE	ൌ	ሺ7.63	–	0.22ሻ	lbm

MICE	ൌ	7.41	lbm

Step 5.  Calculate the annual incremental energy consumption per 4.4.7:

ൌ 	 ܍܋۷۾۳

ۻ۷܂ ∗ ܋ܖ۷܂۳ቀ

૟૙ ∗ ૟૞ૠቁ

૙૙૙૚ ∗ ۷۱۳ۻ

EP୍େ୉ ൌ

ሺ30.35ሻ ቀ

1967.57

60 ቁ ሺ657ሻ

ሺ7.41ሻሺ1000ሻ 	kWh/yr

EPICE	ൌ	88.2	kWh/yr