State MVPE committee clarifies when refrigerated space triggers energy-code rules, tables second question

The MVPE committee of the State Building Code Council on Feb. 17 approved written opinions clarifying when refrigerated walk‑in coolers and freezers are considered refrigerated warehouses subject to the commercial energy‑code provisions and voted to table a related question for further refinement.

Committee members said the threshold in the current code that separates a walk‑in cooler or freezer from a refrigerated warehouse is square footage‑based and that the distinction, not the presence of refrigeration equipment alone, drives which sections of the energy code apply.

"In looking at the code there, I think there's a differentiation between refrigerated warehouses and warehouses that have refrigeration units within them," committee member Kjell said during the discussion. "Adding coolers or or freezers to a warehouse doesn't make it a refrigerated warehouse. But if you're building a new warehouse and it is in the entire thing or a large portion of it is cool, then it is a new refrigerated warehouse and requires compliance with the relevant sections of code."

Why it matters

The committee's clarification matters for grocery stores, distribution centers and food‑processing facilities that may add cooled areas inside larger non‑refrigerated buildings. Different energy‑code sections (notably C406 and related commercial energy provisions) apply to whole refrigerated…