Mexico Issues Standard on Energy Efficiency of Refrigerators and Freezers

On June 28, 2018, the Mexican National Commission for Energy Efficiency (CONUEE) and the National Consultative Committee of Standards for the Preservation and Rational Use of Energy Resources (CCNNPURRE) published Standard NOM-015-ENER-2018 on Energy Efficiency of Refrigerators and Freezers.

This standard sets out the maximum power consumption limits for refrigerators, freezers and household freezers. It applies to freezer/refrigerators for domestic use up to 1104 L and domestic freezers up to 850 L operated by hermetic compressor marketed in the national territory.

The following equipment is excluded from the scope:

Products included in Official Mexican Standard NOM-022-ENER/SCFI-2014 on Energy Efficiency and User Safety Requirements for Self-Contained Commercial Refrigeration Appliances.Wine coolers, wine cellars, water coolers, and water dispensers.

It establishes the maximum energy consumption limits for refrigerators and freezers operated by hermetic compressors, the test methods for determining such energy consumption and calculates the total refrigerated volume.

It also specifies the labeling requirements. The Energy Efficiency Label must be affixed to all household refrigerators and freezers marketed in Mexico and must provide information on the energy consumption of the product in comparison with other similar products of the same type, capacity, and defrosting system.

This standard will come into force on June 24, 2019 for refrigerators and freezers with capacities equal to or greater than 550 L.

From June 18, 2020, the Standard will come into force for refrigerators and freezers with capacities equal to or greater than 400L.

From June 13, 2021, the Standard will come into force for all refrigerators and freezers and Standard NOM-015-ENER-2012 will be completely superseded by Standard NOM-015-ENER-2018.