ISO 23953-2-2023 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO 23953-2-2023 — Refrigerated display cabinets — Part 2: Classification, requirements and test conditions. This part of ISO 23953 specifies performance requirements, construction characteristics that affect performance, classification, marking and the test conditions and methods used to verify compliance for refrigerated display cabinets used for the sale and display of foodstuffs.

Abstract

The standard defines required performance characteristics and test methods for refrigerated display cabinets intended for retail sale and display of food. It sets out cabinet classification, the list of manufacturer-declared characteristics, marking requirements and the conditions under which tests are carried out to demonstrate compliance. It excludes refrigerated vending machines, commercial beverage coolers (covered by ISO 22044), ice-cream freezers (covered by ISO 22043), cabinets intended primarily for storage or non‑retail applications, and does not address health & safety or ergonomic principles nor specify food storage temperatures.

General information

• Status: Published
• Publication date: 24 November 2023
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 97.130.20
• Edition / version: Edition 3 (2023)
• Number of pages: 111

Key bibliographic details above are taken from the ISO publication record and national standards cataloguing information.

Scope

Specifies classification, construction characteristics, performance requirements and test conditions/methods for refrigerated display cabinets used for the sale and display of foodstuffs in retail environments. The document provides test procedures to verify declared characteristics and performance claims made by manufacturers. It explicitly excludes refrigerated vending machines, commercial beverage coolers and ice‑cream freezers (covered by other ISO standards), cabinets intended primarily for storage or non‑retail/catering applications, and does not set storage temperatures or cover health and safety/ergonomic requirements.

Key topics and requirements

• Classification scheme for refrigerated display cabinets (types and intended use categories).
• Performance requirements and tolerance criteria for temperature and humidity conditions affecting product display and preservation.
• Standardized test conditions and methods to measure cabinet thermal performance, temperature distribution and declared characteristics.
• Requirements for marking, labelling and the list of characteristics manufacturers must declare.
• Construction features affecting performance (e.g., open vs. closed fronts, lighting, air curtain arrangements) and how they are addressed in tests.
• Explicit exclusions (vending machines, beverage coolers, ice‑cream freezers, storage-only cabinets) and non‑coverage of health/safety and ergonomic principles.

These topics reflect the standard's emphasis on repeatable test methods and clear manufacturer declarations for use in procurement, compliance and comparative performance assessment.

Typical use and users

Used by manufacturers of refrigerated display cabinets to design and declare product performance, by test laboratories and conformity assessment bodies to verify performance claims, and by retailers, specifiers and procurement teams to compare and select display cabinets for food retail environments. Standards committees and regulators may also reference the document when aligning national/regional rules with international practice.

Related standards

Part of the ISO 23953 series (see ISO 23953‑1:2023 — Vocabulary). Related/adjacent standards include ISO 22044 (commercial beverage coolers) and ISO 22043 (ice‑cream freezers). ISO 23953‑2:2023 supersedes the 2015 edition (ISO 23953‑2:2015).

Keywords

Refrigerated display cabinets; display cabinets; retail refrigeration; classification; test methods; performance requirements; manufacturer declaration; labelling; ISO 23953; thermal performance; cabinet testing.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 23953‑2:2023 is an international standard that defines classification, performance requirements and test conditions/methods for refrigerated display cabinets used to sell and display foodstuffs in retail settings.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers construction characteristics that affect performance, required declared characteristics, marking and labelling, and standardized test methods to verify performance. It does not cover vending machines, beverage coolers, ice‑cream freezers, storage‑only cabinets, nor health & safety or ergonomic design principles.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Manufacturers, test laboratories, conformity assessment bodies, retailers, procurement/specification teams, and standards/regulatory bodies involved with commercial refrigeration and retail display equipment.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: Current — ISO 23953‑2:2023 (Edition 3) was published in November 2023 and supersedes ISO 23953‑2:2015. Users replacing or updating equipment should reference the 2023 edition.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ISO 23953 series on refrigerated display cabinets; Part 1 covers vocabulary and Part 2 covers classification, requirements and test conditions.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Refrigerated display cabinets, classification, test methods, performance requirements, manufacturer declaration, retail refrigeration, ISO 23953.