ANSI ASHRAE Standard 72-2018 PDF

Full title and description

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 72-2018 — Method of Testing Open and Closed Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers. Prescribes a uniform laboratory method for testing and rating open and closed commercial refrigerators and freezers (horizontal, semi‑vertical and vertical; remote and self‑contained) so comparative evaluations can be made of energy consumption, product‑temperature performance, refrigeration load, suction pressures and other performance factors. The 2018 revision adds provisions for energy‑management devices and drawer openings and clarifies test probe locations, door/drawer opening methods, which electrical loads must be on during tests, air‑current measurements in the test room, and measurement of internal volumes.

Abstract

Standard 72-2018 provides detailed test conditions, apparatus, instrumentation and procedures for measuring the performance of commercial refrigerated display and storage equipment. Its intent is to create repeatable, comparable laboratory test results for open and closed merchandisers and storage cabinets, with explicit rules for fixture loading, test room conditions, probe placement, door/drawer operation and treatment of on‑board energy management functions. The 2018 edition introduced clarifications on drawer openings and energy‑management devices.

General information

• Status: ANSI approved (historical edition; later revised by ASHRAE 72-2022).
• Publication date: 2018 (published/ANSI‑approved January 2018, current edition at time).
• Publisher: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air‑Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
• ICS / categories: Refrigeration and related machinery (examples: 23.140 Compressors and pneumatic machines; 27.200 Refrigerating technology).
• Edition / version: 2018 edition (ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 72‑2018). Revised by ANSI/ASHRAE 72‑2022.
• Number of pages: 24 pages (2018 PDF/product).

Scope

Applies to testing open and closed commercial refrigerators and freezers used to display or hold products requiring or benefiting from refrigeration. Covers horizontal, semi‑vertical and vertical cabinets, and both self‑contained and remote condensing units. The standard defines which product types are included and excludes equipment such as walk‑in coolers; it specifies laboratory conditions, instrumentation, test sequences and data reporting required for published ratings. The 2018 revision explicitly added guidance for drawer‑type units and on‑board energy‑management controls.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and equipment classifications for open vs. closed and for horizontal/semi‑vertical/vertical cabinets.
• Detailed test room environmental conditions and instrumentation accuracy requirements.
• Procedures for determining refrigeration load, energy consumption (kW·h/day), and product temperature performance.
• Requirements for probe/test‑thermometer placement, including special rules for units wider than 1220 mm (4 ft).
• Rules for door and drawer opening methods and cadence during tests; treatment of drawer openings for drawer‑type merchandisers.
• How to treat energy‑management devices (when they must be enabled/disabled and how they affect ratings).
• Procedures for measuring internal volume and for reporting test results and tolerances.

Typical use and users

Used by manufacturers for product development and published ratings, independent test laboratories for compliance testing, certification bodies, energy program administrators, retailers evaluating case performance, code officials and consulting engineers. It is commonly used alongside industry performance standards (AHRI) and safety standards when defining product test and rating practices.

Related standards

Standards commonly referenced with ASHRAE 72 include AHRI/ANSI performance rating standards for commercial refrigerated display merchandisers and storage cabinets (AHRI 1200 / 1201 series), national/regional energy efficiency test standards and safety standards such as UL 471. ASHRAE 72‑2018 itself was later revised by ASHRAE 72‑2022 (the 2022 edition contains additional clarifications and new provisions). For walk‑in coolers/freezers and other product families, AHRI and ISO standards (for example AHRI 1250, ISO 23953 series) are typical complementary documents.

Keywords

commercial refrigeration, refrigerated display merchandiser, freezer, refrigerator, test method, energy consumption, product temperature, display case, probe placement, door/drawer opening, energy management device, ASHRAE, ANSI.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 72‑2018 is a laboratory method of test standard that prescribes how to measure and report the performance (energy use, temperatures, refrigeration load, etc.) of open and closed commercial refrigerators and freezers used for display or storage.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers test conditions, apparatus and instrumentation, probe locations, test sequences (including door/drawer operation), measurement and reporting of internal volume, and how to treat on‑board energy‑management devices during tests. The 2018 revision added explicit guidance for drawer openings and energy‑management device handling.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, independent test labs, certification and compliance programs, energy program administrators, retailers, consulting engineers and code/regulatory bodies use the standard for product ratings, comparative testing and to support energy and code compliance documentation.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2018 edition is an official ANSI/ASHRAE standard but has been revised by ASHRAE 72‑2022; users should consult the 2022 edition for the most recent requirements and any changes after 2018.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ASHRAE maintains a family of equipment testing and measurement standards; Standard 72 is the ASHRAE method for commercial refrigerators/freezers and is often used in conjunction with AHRI equipment performance standards (e.g., AHRI 1200/1201) and other ASHRAE/ISO/AHRI test standards that cover related refrigeration equipment.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Commercial refrigeration, display merchandiser, freezer, refrigerator, test method, energy management, drawer opening, probe placement, test room, ASHRAE, ANSI.