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This is a draft document and does not represent a definitive view of the agency on the questions 

addressed.

This and other guidance documents are accessible on the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency 

& Renewable Energy web site at: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/guidance/default.aspx?pid=2&spid=1. 

Guidance Type: Test Procedure 

Category: Residential Products 

Product: Refrigerators and freezers

Guidance Version: DRAFT

Issued: July 9, 2012

Comment Period Closes: August 8, 2012

Q: Which components are included (or not included) in the volume calculations for refrigeration 

products tested using the new DOE test procedures, which are mandatory for rating products starting 

September 15, 2014?

A: The following is a draft U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) guidance document regarding residential 

refrigerator, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers. This draft guidance document represents the 

Department’s interpretation of its existing regulations and is exempt from the notice and comment 

requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act. See 5 U.S.C. § 553(b)(A). Nevertheless, given that the 

Department has not previously expressed its views on this issue, we are interested in receiving feedback 

from the public. Therefore, the Department is accepting comments and suggestions from the public 

until August 8, 2012. Comments and suggestions should be provided in WordPerfect, Microsoft Word, 

PDF, or text file format by sending an email to RefrigFreezerGuidance2012TP0025@ee.doe.gov. Please 

also include the docket number EERE-2012-BT-TP-0025. At the end of the comment period, this draft 

guidance document may be adopted, revised or withdrawn. Specific issues on which DOE seeks 

comments are described in the paragraph following the draft guidance.

The Department has established new test procedures for residential refrigeration products that will be 

mandatory for rating products beginning on the compliance date of the new energy conservation 

standards, which is September 15, 2014. See 76 FR 57516 (Sept. 15, 2011) and 76 FR 70865 (Nov. 16, 

2011). These new test procedures are set forth at 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A, “Uniform 

Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Electric Refrigerators and Electric RefrigeratorFreezers,” and Appendix B, “Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Freezers.” 

Section 5.3 of both Appendices A and B require volume calculations to be made as described in section 4 

of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) standard HRF-1-2008 (HRF-1-2008). 

The volume calculation methods of the new test procedures differ somewhat from the currently 

required methods, which specify that volume calculations must be made as described in AHAM standard 

HRF-1-1979 (see, for example, 10 CFR part 430, subpart B, appendix A1, section 5.3). HRF-1-2008 is less 

explicit than HRF-1-1979 as to which components of a refrigeration product are to be included as part of 

the measured volume. Since the publishing of the test procedure final rule, DOE has received questions 

regarding how to treat certain components when calculating the relevant volume measurements under 

the new test procedure that manufacturers will need to use starting in 2014 -- i.e. 10 CFR Part 430, 

Appendices A and B. . Table 1 below summarizes DOE’s proposed guidance regarding several particular 

components.
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Table 1: Proposed Guidance for Refrigeration Product Components

Component

Treatment of 

Volume in 

Measurements

Discussion

Icemaker Compartment 

Insulation (e.g., insulation 

isolating the icemaking 

compartment from the fresh 

food compartment of a product 

with a bottom-mounted freezer

with through-the-door ice 

service)

Not Included

HRF-1-2008 section 4.2.2 indicates that removable 

partitions shall be treated as not being in place for 

the volume calculation. Thus, the space occupied

by removable partitions is included in the volume 

calculation. However, the icemaker compartment 

insulation is not removable, thus the space 

occupied by this insulation should be deducted in 

the volume calculation. 

Icemaker Auger Motor Included

If housed inside the insulated space of the 

cabinet, this component is considered part of the 

icemaker or ice storage bin, and is therefore 

included per section 5.3 of Appendices A and B, 

which state that “the volume occupied by the 

automatic icemaker, including its ice storage bin, 

is to be included in the volume measurement.”

Ice Maker Kit

Included Included per section 5.3 of Appendices A and B.

Ice Storage Bin

Fountain Recess

Not Included Not included per section 4.2.2 of HRF-1-2008.

Dispenser Insulation

Ice Chute

Included

Included up to the dispenser flap if there is no 

plug, cover, or cap over the ice chute, per figure 4-

3 of HRF-1-2008.

Not Included

Not included if there is a plug, cover, or cap over 

the ice chute per figure 4-2 of HRF-1-2008.

DOE notes that the volume calculation of several of the components listed above is either currently 

addressed by the DOE test procedure that manufacturers will need to use starting in 2014 or by related 

provisions contained in HRF-1-2008. However, given the recent requests for guidance, and in order to 

ensure that manufacturers have clarity regarding the DOE’s views regarding each of these specific 

components, DOE is providing manufacturers with notice of its views and an opportunity to comment. 

As for questions that may arise in the future regarding other components that are not already addressed 
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by either the above chart or the applicable DOE test procedure, DOE will address those issues as 

appropriate.

Issues on which DOE seeks comment: Based upon review of the volume measurement procedure in 

section 4 of AHAM HRF-1-2008, DOE believes that the interpretations described in the table above 

represent the appropriate treatment of each component in measurements of total volume. However, 

DOE is interested in receiving comments on these interpretations, particularly with respect to treatment 

of the icemaker compartment insulation and the icemaker auger motor.