top of page

Climate Class for Commercial Refrigerators: How to Choose the Right One for Your Business




Commercial refrigerators are common refrigeration equipment used in commercial kitchens, supermarkets, hotels, food processing plants, and other places for storing and preserving various foods and beverages. Climate class is one of the important factors to consider when choosing a commercial refrigerator to ensure its normal operation and service life.


Definition of Climate Class for Commercial Refrigerators


Climate class refers to the range of environmental temperatures suitable for refrigerators, usually represented by a single letter, including N, SN, ST, and T. The corresponding environmental temperature ranges are as follows:



N class: suitable for normal temperature areas (16°C to 32°C). This type of refrigerator is suitable for use in indoor environments, such as ordinary households or commercial places.


SN class: suitable for colder areas (10°C to 32°C). This type of refrigerator is suitable for use in colder environments, such as basements or cold rooms.


ST class: suitable for warmer areas (16°C to 38°C). This type of refrigerator is suitable for use in hotter environments, such as tropical regions or areas with high temperatures in summer.


T class: suitable for extremely hot areas (16°C to 43°C). This type of refrigerator is suitable for use in extremely high-temperature environments, such as desert regions or areas with very high temperatures in winter.


Importance of Climate Class for Commercial Refrigerators


Choosing the correct Climate class is crucial for the normal operation and service life of commercial refrigerators. Selecting the wrong Climate class may cause refrigerators to malfunction in high or low-temperature environments, leading to food or beverage spoilage and affecting commercial operations and user experience. Therefore, when purchasing commercial refrigerators, it is necessary to choose the appropriate Climate class based on local climate conditions and refrigerator types.


Five Key Factors to Consider When Purchasing Refrigerators in Different Climate Conditions


  • Cooling System: The cooling system in refrigerators usually includes a compressor, condenser, evaporator, and refrigerant. Different Climate classes require different cooling systems to adapt to different environmental temperatures and humidity.

  • Insulation Materials: The insulation materials in refrigerators help to maintain the internal temperature and humidity. Different insulation materials are required for different climate conditions to ensure the efficiency and performance of refrigerators.

  • Control System: The control system in refrigerators can regulate temperature and humidity parameters to ensure the internal conditions meet the requirements. Different Climate classes require different control systems to ensure the performance and reliability of refrigerators.

  • Outer Shell Materials: The outer shell materials of refrigerators can affect their durability and insulation performance. Different outer shell materials are needed for refrigerators to function correctly in harsh environments.

  • Accessories: Accessories in refrigerators, such as doors, handles, and wheels, also need to be selected and designed according to different climate conditions to ensure the performance and reliability of refrigerators.


Refrigerator selection for different Climate classes should consider the above five key factors to ensure the normal operation and service life of commercial refrigerators.


How to Choose the Correct Climate Class for Refrigerators


When selecting the Climate class for commercial refrigerators, several aspects should be considered, including:


  • Geographical location: The local climate conditions should be the primary consideration in selecting the appropriate Climate class. For example, ST or T class refrigerators are suitable for Southern regions, while N or SN class refrigerators are suitable for Northern regions.

  • Application scenarios: The application scenarios of commercial refrigerators can also influence the choice of Climate class. For example, larger-capacity refrigerators are required in supermarkets, while smaller refrigerators are suitable for hotels. Therefore, different Climate classes should be chosen based on different application scenarios.

  • Refrigerator types: Different types of commercial refrigerators require different Climate classes. For example, display cabinets and storage cabinets may have different Climate classes because of their different usage environments and requirements.


In summary, the N climate class is the standard climate class, suitable for the temperature range of 16°C to 32°C. The SN climate class is suitable for low-temperature environments, with a temperature range of 10°C to 32°C. The ST climate class is suitable for higher temperature environments, with a temperature range of 16°C to 38°C. The T climate class is suitable for tropical environments, with a temperature range of 16°C to 43°C.


bottom of page