ASHRAE refrigeration commissioning guide released

ASHRAE's guide on refrigeration commissioning is designed to help facilities achieve cost-effective and cost-efficient refrigeration systems for new projects as well as existing systems.

By ASHRAE January 7, 2014

“Refrigeration Commissioning Guide for Commercial and Industrial Systems” by ASHRAE provides guidance for commissioning of custom-engineered refrigeration systems in commercial and industrial facilities. The book was funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy through the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is available for free download.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that supermarkets typically use approximately 3,000,000 kWh of electricity per year, with 60% of that energy use attributed to refrigeration (EPA 2007). Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. (PECI) predicts that commissioning in existing grocery stores would result in 7% to 25% energy savings per year (PECI 2010). 

The guide is designed to help achieve cost-effective and cost-efficient refrigeration systems for new projects, expansions, remodels and existing systems that simply need a tune-up. For commercial facility owners and managers, this means improved profitability through lower operating and service costs as well as reduced product loss. Also included in the Guide is information on commissioning during planning and design; construction and installation; and system start-up and first-year operation.