Councils & Government (Australia): A Ready-to-Use Spec for GEMS-Compliant Refrigerated Cabinets — EEI, Climate Class & Verification
Search intent: commercial investigation → transactional. This page gives procurement teams a copy-ready specification for refrigerated cabinets that meets Australia’s GEMS 2024 requirements, aligns with climate-class reality (Class 4 / heavy-duty Class 5), and embeds refrigerant/GWP disclosure, installation and commissioning steps.
- Refrigerated cabinets supplied in Australia must be registered under GEMS 2024; efficiency is assessed via EEI (Energy Efficiency Index). Request registration ID and EEI on all quotes.[1]
- Match climate class to site conditions: Class 4 (~30 °C/55% RH) for most service areas; heavy-duty validation at Class 5 (~40 °C/40% RH) where heat/door-opens are extreme.[2]
- Specify refrigerant & GWP (AR4 basis). Prefer low-GWP (e.g., R290) where suitable.[3] [4]
1) Scope & definitions (copy-ready)
This specification applies to commercial refrigerated cabinets (display and storage) used in public venues, aquatic/leisure centres, libraries, galleries, civic cafés and staff facilities. It excludes medical cold-chain, domestic fridges and ice machines. Terms follow GEMS 2024 and the climate-class framework used for commercial cabinets (Class 3/4/5).[1] [2]
2) Mandatory compliance clauses (paste as RFT Part C)
| # | Clause text | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | The offered model is registered under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) program for Refrigerated Cabinets. Supplier must state the GEMS registration ID and EEI value in the response. | Registration is a legal precondition to supply; EEI enables apples-to-apples efficiency comparisons.[1] |
| 2.2 | Supplier must declare the cabinet test climate class and, where required by site conditions, provide heavy-duty validation at Class 5 (~40 °C/40% RH). | Ensures stability at real ambients/door-opens and avoids warm-shelf complaints.[2] |
| 2.3 | Supplier must state refrigerant & GWP (AR4 basis), and preference will be given to low-GWP options (e.g., R290) where suitable. | Aligns with sustainability policies and modern equipment design.[3] [4] |
| 2.4 | Supplier must provide kWh/24 h at the declared climate class and note any energy modes used (e.g., night blinds). | Supports transparent running-cost modelling. |
| 2.5 | Supplier must list installation clearances, ventilation path and ambient operating limits; provide a commissioning checklist and first-service schedule. | Prevents nuisance faults and heat-recirculation issues. |
3) CSV field map (attach to your tender form)
Use these column headers in an uploadable CSV so suppliers can respond consistently and your team can filter/score quickly.
| Field | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Make / Model | Brand X — ABC123 | Exact catalogue name |
| GEMS registration ID | RC-2024-000123 | Mandatory[1] |
| EEI | 18.9 | Numeric to 1 decimal |
| Product category | Drink merchandiser | Per GEMS category |
| Test climate class | Class 4 | Class 3/4/5 |
| Heavy-duty validation | Yes/No + evidence | For hot installs (Class 5) |
| kWh/24 h @ declared class | 3.1 | Do not mix classes |
| Refrigerant | R290 | State charge if requested |
| GWP (AR4) | ≈ 3 | AR4 reference[3] [4] |
| Ambient operating limit | +40 °C | As per manual |
| Install clearances (mm) | Rear 100 / Sides 50 | From manual |
| Warranty | Parts & labour — 24 months | State on-site terms |
4) Evaluation matrix (weightings you can adopt)
| Criterion | Weight | Scoring guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance (registration, category fit) | 30% | Pass/fail on registration; category must match use |
| Performance (climate class, Class 5 validation) | 25% | Evidence of stability at declared class; validation where needed |
| Energy (EEI, kWh/24 h) | 20% | Lower EEI/kWh better, at same class |
| Sustainability (refrigerant & GWP) | 10% | Low-GWP preference (R290 etc.) |
| Lifecycle service (install, commissioning, warranty) | 15% | Clearances, checklists, on-site support |
5) Climate class chooser (embed in your spec)
| Your site reality | Recommended class | Why | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool back-of-house; low door-opens | Class 3 | Light duty; easy ≤ 5 °C | EEI/kWh at Class 3; registration ID |
| Civic cafés, foyers ~30 °C; browsing | Class 4 | Closer to service reality | EEI at Class 4; door-open stability data[2] |
| Hot pools, event bars, sun-exposed line-ups | Heavy-duty validated (Class 5) | Stress-tested ~40 °C/40% RH | Proof of Class 5 validation[2] |
6) Verification workflow (one-page flowchart for probity)
1) Request
Ask all bidders for GEMS ID, EEI, declared climate class, and kWh/24 h.
2) Confirm
Cross-check the registration number and category on the Energy Rating resources.[1]
3) Assess
Filter by climate class first; compare EEI/kWh within the same class only.
4) Review site
Check ambient, sun exposure, door-open patterns; require Class 5 validation if needed.
5) Award
Include install clearances, ventilation path and commissioning checklist in the PO.
6) Commission
Witness commissioning; record top/front product temps at peak; log warranty and service intervals.
7) Copy-ready RFQ wording (drop-in block)
RFQ — Refrigerated Cabinets (GEMS 2024 compliant)
- Offer only models registered under GEMS (Refrigerated Cabinets). Include registration ID, EEI, and declared climate class in your response.[1]
- For hot or high-traffic locations, provide Class 5 heavy-duty validation evidence.[2]
- State kWh/24 h at the declared class; list any energy modes (night blinds, eco).
- Disclose refrigerant & GWP (AR4). Preference may be given to low-GWP (e.g., R290) where suitable.[3] [4]
- Provide installation clearances, ventilation path, ambient operating limits and a commissioning checklist.
8) Case study: “One spec, fewer variations”
A metropolitan council operates a leisure centre kiosk, a library café and a civic-hall bar. Past purchases mixed light-duty cabinets into hot locations, leading to warm-shelf complaints and service calls.
Before
- Quotes lacked GEMS IDs; inconsistent climate-class claims.
- Cabinets boxed-in without rear clearances; top-shelf 7–9 °C at rush.
- Service variations post-install; cost/time blowouts.
After adopting this spec
- Registration ID/EEI mandatory on quotes; heavy-duty validation forced for hot bays.
- Commissioning checklist required; ventilation fixes included in PO.
- Top-shelf temps ≤ 5 °C at peak; call-outs drop; energy kWh/24 h becomes trackable.
Figures are method-based; insert your tariff and model data for exact savings.
9) Helpful categories (internal links for buyers)
Front-of-house
Back-of-house storage
10) FAQs — straight answers for probity
1) Do we have to purchase only registered cabinets?
Yes. Under GEMS 2024, relevant refrigerated cabinets must be registered before supply. Request the registration ID and EEI on every quote.[1]
2) Why demand climate-class disclosure?
Performance/energy are measured at specific test rooms. Class 4 suits most service ambients; Class 5 heavy-duty validation proves stability in harsher conditions. You can’t compare EEI across different classes fairly.[2]
3) What refrigerant/GWP should we ask for?
Disclose refrigerant and GWP (AR4). Where suitable, prefer low-GWP options like R290 used widely in modern cabinets.[3] [4]
4) How do we avoid warm-shelf complaints post-install?
Make installation clearances, ventilation path and commissioning checks contractual. Probe top/front product temps during witness tests; require remediation before acceptance.
5) Can we evaluate on EEI alone?
No. Filter by climate class first, then compare EEI/kWh within the same class. Include reliability (Class 5 validation) and lifecycle support in the score.
Download the editable spec pack (DOCX + CSV) or request a council-ready quote
Want this spec as a Word template and a supplier CSV? We can prepare them with your council logo and field names, plus a commissioning checklist. Or send us a plan/photo of each site and we’ll shortlist registered models that fit your climate class and install constraints.
11) Official sources (footnotes)
- Energy Rating — “Refrigerated cabinets” (GEMS 2024 program overview: registration, EEI; commencement 5 Oct 2024). energyrating.gov.au
- Energy Rating — Implementation/decision notes: efficiency context at Class 4 (~30 °C/55% RH) and heavy-duty validation at Class 5 (~40 °C/40% RH). Implementation Update ; Decision RIS
- DCCEEW — GWP values page (policy uses IPCC AR4 basis for refrigerant reporting). dcceew.gov.au
- DCCEEW — Cold Hard Facts 4 (sector context incl. low-GWP hydrocarbons such as R290 ≈ GWP 3). dcceew.gov.au
Last updated: . Confirm registration and climate-class fit before purchase; keep commissioning records with your asset file.
