Overview
EN ISO 23953-2:2023 (ISO 23953-2:2023) is the harmonized European adoption of an international standard for refrigerated display cabinets. It defines the classification, requirements and test conditions used to verify performance and declared characteristics of cabinets intended for retail sale and display of foodstuffs. The document covers construction elements that affect thermal and operational performance, required test methods, marking and the manufacturer’s list of declared characteristics. It does not cover vending machines, commercial beverage coolers (ISO 22044), ice-cream freezers (ISO 22043), storage-only cabinets, catering/non‑retail applications, health & safety or ergonomic principles, nor does it set storage temperatures for food.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & classification: Classification of cabinets according to temperature classes and intended display function.
- Construction requirements: Materials, thermal insulation, refrigerating system interfaces and electrical components that impact performance.
- Operating characteristics: Requirements for defrosting, control and display of temperature, absence of odour/taste transfer, water vapour condensation behavior.
- Energy performance: Test methods to measure energy consumption and specific energy consumption for direct-sales refrigerated appliances.
- Test conditions & methods: Prescribed laboratory conditions and procedures for both tests inside and outside the test room (e.g., seal tests, dimensional checks, preparation of cabinet and loading conditions).
- Marking and declared data: Manufacturer marking and list of declared characteristics to support conformity assessment and product information.
- Regulatory alignment: Informative annexes relate the standard to EU ecodesign (Regulation (EU) No 2019/2024) and energy labelling (Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2019/2018) requirements - compliance with the normative clauses can provide a presumption of conformity where cited in the OJ.
Practical applications
- Ensures consistent, repeatable performance testing of refrigerated display cabinets for design validation and quality control.
- Supports energy labelling and ecodesign compliance for manufacturers selling in EU/EFTA markets.
- Guides procurement teams and spec writers in defining technical and performance requirements for retail refrigeration.
- Provides test laboratories and certification bodies with standardized methods to verify manufacturer claims.
Who should use this standard
- Refrigerated display cabinet manufacturers and R&D teams
- Independent test laboratories and certification bodies
- Retail equipment specifiers, store designers and facilities managers
- Energy compliance officers and regulators assessing ecodesign/energy‑labelling claims
Related standards and references
- ISO 23953 series (other parts addressing performance, test methods)
- ISO 22044 (commercial beverage coolers) - excluded from scope
- ISO 22043 (ice-cream freezers) - excluded from scope
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 2019/2024 and Delegated Regulation (EU) No 2019/2018 - energy/ecodesign context
Keywords: refrigerated display cabinets standard, ISO 23953-2, refrigerated cabinet testing, classification requirements, test conditions, energy labelling, ecodesign, commercial refrigerating appliances.