Mexico has advanced a new Norma Oficial Mexicana (NOM), jointly issued by the Ministry of Energy (SENER) and the Ministry of Economy, setting stricter energy efficiency and safety requirements for commercial refrigeration equipment.
The standard covers coolers, freezers, display cases, and ice storage units sold, manufactured, or imported in Mexico, including medical-grade refrigeration units. It introduces maximum energy consumption limits, defined temperature pull-down performance requirements, and updated safety rules covering insulation, flammable refrigerants, and electrical protection. For manufacturers and importers, the standard brings new testing, labeling, and certification obligations before products can reach the Mexican market.
What Refrigeration Equipment Falls Under the New NOM
The standard applies to new, used, and rebuilt commercial self-contained refrigeration equipment, including:
- Vertical and horizontal coolers (minimum 25 to 50 liters)
- Vertical and horizontal freezers (minimum 50 liters)
- Closed display cases and vitrinas (minimum 100 liters)
- Ice bag storage units (minimum 100 liters)
Beverage dispensers, remote condensing systems, open-air coolers, wine coolers, and ultra-low-temperature freezers operating below -50°C fall outside the standard’s scope.
New Energy Consumption Limits for Commercial Refrigeration
The NOM sets maximum allowable energy consumption, measured in watt-hours per liter (Wh/L) over a 24-hour period, and the limit varies by equipment type and storage capacity. For example, vertical coolers with forced-air circulation and glass doors are subject to a sliding scale of limits that tightens as capacity increases, with the largest units (over 1,200 liters) capped at 8.0 Wh/L.
Beyond energy consumption, the standard sets performance benchmarks for how quickly equipment must cool a test load. Forced-air coolers must bring a defined test load down to the required temperature range within 17 to 19 hours, depending on the equipment category.
Updated Safety Requirements for Flammable Refrigerants
As manufacturers shift toward lower-GWP refrigerants, the standard adds safety requirements specific to flammable refrigerant classes:
- A maximum refrigerant charge of 150 grams for A3 (highly flammable) refrigerants
- No charge limit specified for A2L (mildly flammable) refrigerants
- Thermal cutouts required for heater elements used with flammable refrigerants
- Sealed electrical components required in systems using flammable refrigerants
- Red marking required at refrigerant service connection points
- Double or reinforced insulation required for Class II equipment, along with defined electrical shock protection measures
Testing and Certification Obligations for Manufacturers and Importers
To demonstrate compliance, equipment must be evaluated in a laboratory against a defined testing protocol covering:
- Energy consumption measurement
- Temperature pull-down performance
- Electrical safety, including leakage current, dielectric strength, and insulation resistance
- Thermal performance and mechanical stability
- General construction quality
For this article’s source information and any product certification guidance, please contact Global Validity.
Quick Country Facts
Mexico
Certification Body:
- Current Name: Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT)
- Previous Name: Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFETEL)
Certification Type: Mandatory
License Validity: Indefinite
Application Language: Spanish
Legal License Holder: Importer
In-Country Testing Requirement: In-Country Testing
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