Not automatically. Singapore’s Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS) and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) have covered commercial storage refrigerators since 1 April 2025, but the National Environment Agency (NEA) describes these as appliance-type units rated under ISO 22041, not site-built walk-in cold rooms. A custom cold room is engineered and assembled on site, so it has no single tick label. Its efficiency still depends on the same things the label rewards: insulation, compressor and coil selection, and how well the system is controlled.
If you run a restaurant, central kitchen or retail outlet, you will probably have both: reach-in storage refrigerators that must meet MEPS, and a walk-in cold room that does not carry a label. Treat the label as a useful benchmark for the first and a design brief for the second.
What the 2025 rules actually require
According to NEA, MELS and MEPS for commercial storage refrigerators and household water heaters took effect on 1 April 2025. Commercial storage refrigerators are rated on an Energy Efficiency Index (EEI), calculated as annual energy consumption divided by a standard annual energy consumption, multiplied by 100 and tested to ISO 22041. A lower EEI means a more efficient unit.
The label uses five ticks. A 5-tick model has an EEI below 20, while a 1-tick model sits between 80 and 95. The minimum standard is set at the 1-tick level, so models that fall below it can no longer be supplied for use in Singapore.
NEA’s own example puts numbers on the gap: moving from a 1-tick to a 5-tick commercial storage refrigerator can save up to S$700 a year at an electricity tariff of $0.27 per kWh, and NEA says the higher upfront price can generally be recovered within one to two years. Those are NEA’s estimates for a single appliance, not a promise for your site.
Why a walk-in cold room is different
A reach-in refrigerator is a factory-built product: the cabinet, compressor and controls are tested together as one unit, which is what makes a standard test and a label possible. A walk-in cold room is the opposite. Panel thickness, door type, evaporator, condensing unit and refrigerant are chosen for your product, your load and your site, then installed and commissioned on location.
The NEA page does not list walk-in cold rooms among the regulated goods, and we would not read a label requirement into it. If a supplier or a tender document says otherwise, ask for the specific regulation reference, or check with NEA directly before committing.
How to get label-level thinking into a cold room purchase
Without a tick rating, you can still compare quotes on the factors that drive running cost:
Insulation and envelope. Thicker, well-sealed PU or PIR panels and tight door gaskets cut the heat the system must remove every hour. Ask for the panel thickness and U-value, not just the brand.
Equipment sizing. An oversized condensing unit short-cycles and wastes energy; an undersized one runs flat out. Ask for the load calculation behind the quote.
Controls and defrost. Electronic expansion valves, variable-speed fans and demand-based defrost reduce wasted run time, especially in humid conditions.
Running-cost estimate. Ask each bidder for estimated daily kWh at your design conditions. Multiply by your tariff and compare over five years, not just the purchase price.
Resource SY Engineering, a BCA ME01 (L1)-registered contractor, can walk through these trade-offs for your site. Call +65 6762 6651 or WhatsApp +65 8282 6894.
Frequently asked questions
Does MEPS apply to my walk-in cold room?
Based on NEA’s published description, the 2025 requirements apply to commercial storage refrigerators tested to ISO 22041, and walk-in cold rooms are not mentioned. Confirm with NEA if a tender or supplier says otherwise.
What does the tick rating on a commercial refrigerator mean?
It is a one-to-five tick scale based on the Energy Efficiency Index. More ticks mean lower energy use: 5 ticks is an EEI below 20, and 1 tick is 80 to 95.
Can I still use an old, inefficient reach-in refrigerator?
The MEPS rules concern which models can be supplied. Check NEA’s guidance on whether your existing unit is affected. Even if it is allowed, a 1-tick unit can cost noticeably more to run than a 5-tick one.
How do I compare the energy use of two cold room quotes?
Ask both contractors for the heat load calculation, panel thickness, equipment model numbers and an estimated daily kWh at your design temperature, then compare five-year running cost at your tariff.
Source: National Environment Agency, “Energy efficiency requirements for household water heaters and commercial storage refrigerators from 2025”. This article is general information, not legal advice.