What is a Climate Class Rating?

If you’re thinking about buying a new fridge freezer, understanding the climate class rating system is really important. This small specification will determine how energy efficient your fridge is, and if it’s going to fulfil its lifespan. New fridge freezers offer many fantastic features and colours, but getting to know the details of your appliance will prevent you serious problems in the long run.

What is a climate class?

A climate class is a rating assigned by the manufacturer to let you know what temperature range your fridge freezer will work optimally in. Climate classes are an international standard, ranging from +10°C to +43°C. This allows everyone from every climate to have a fridge or freezer that works to the best of its ability, whatever the weather. Knowing where your appliance is going to be located, whether it’s a cold garage or a hot restaurant kitchen, is going to directly affect how well your fridge freezer runs.

Climate class ratings

Fridge freezers are assigned between one and four climate classes. Although most fridge freezers in the UK are assigned SN (subnormal), it’s always best to double check your rating and make sure your chosen location is within the appropriate temperature range.

It’s important to note that some climate classes will be a combination of two, such as SN-T. The first class indicates the minimum temperature, and the final class indicates the maximum temperature. Therefore SN-T would have a range of +10°C to +43°C.

Its common for people to plan to have a freezer in their garage. However, if your garage is uninsulated or if there is an unforseen cold spell, the temperature could lower signifcantly and put strain on the internal components of your freezer. The lowest recommended temperature rating is +10°C, however there are particular models which can survive at +5°C.

See below for the climate class ratings, alongside their minimum and maximum temperature.

• SN: Subnormal units can operate between +10°C and +32°C.
• N: Normal units can operate between +16°C and +32°C.
• ST: Subtropical units can operate between +16°C and +38°C.
• T: Tropical units can operate between +16°C and +43°C.

Why is the climate class rating important to me?

Climate class is important as it allows for your fridges and freezers to work to the best of their ability. If your fridge freezer is not in its designated ambient temperature range you may get the following issues:

• Your fridge freezer will consume more energy.
• It won’t store your food correctly, causing more condensation and causing food to perish quicker.
• Keeping it in the wrong environment will place strain on the internal components, leading to breakdowns.
• The lifespan will potentially decrease.
• Manufacturers won’t repair broken fridge freezers that are kept in temperature ranges outside of their climate class.

Where can I find my climate class rating?

The climate class rating is usually located on the rating plate, which can be found inside your fridge. The rating plate is a small silver or white sticker that contains things such as your model number, serial number and wattage. If you can’t find it there, it’s best to look in your user manual and it will direct you on where to find the rating. It may be under headings such as ‘Installation Location’ or ‘Room Temperature’.

Still not sure about climate classes? If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us or your manufacturer to find out about how climate classes will affect your purchase.