Supermarkets and other food stores open to the public are subject to very strict regulations concerning temperature compliance. This obligation ensures that the cold chain is respected, and that foodstuffs are kept in complete safety for the consumer. Frozen products must be kept at a maximum of -18 degrees Celsius, while certain fresh products must not exceed 4 degrees Celsius. However, these constraints bring with them a problem: electricity consumption, which is particularly high for this type of building. Fortunately, there are ways of reducing energy consumption in commercial buildings.
What obligations do supermarkets have?
In France, supermarkets have two major obligations when it comes to managing their temperature standards.
Firstly, they must comply with the HACCP standard by controlling product temperatures on receipt, during cold storage on the retail premises and, finally, during storage in the store.
The second obligation concerns the choice of storage equipment (display cases, refrigerated containers, etc.), which is governed by standard NF EN 441. Thus, all refrigerated units installed on the sales floor are subject to regulation.
💡 Explore the regulations you need to know about for your commercial buildings
What temperature standards must supermarkets comply with?
Temperature standards specific to the food industry are therefore applicable to supermarkets. Expected temperatures differ from one food category to another:
- Frozen products, including ice cream, fish products and meat preparations: maximum -18 degrees Celsius.
- Perishable foodstuffs: 8 degrees Celsius maximum.
- Meat preparations and perishable plant products: 4 degrees Celsius maximum.
- Minced meats: 2 degrees Celsius maximum.
How can I control a supermarket's energy consumption?
These temperature standards are imperative to guarantee consumer health and safety. On the other hand, they lead to high energy consumption, which has both an environmental and a financial impact for the professional.
To balance the scales, energy savings can be sought in the rest of the store, and particularly in the ambient zones. In hot weather, for example, it may be worthwhile to find an alternative to air-conditioning to reduce air-conditioning costs, without having too great an impact on indoor temperatures.
The challenge for public-access buildings is to strike the right balance between economy and visitor comfort. With this in mind, the best choice for a commercial building may be to opt for a cool roof solution. This will effectively reduce heat, while limiting the use of air-conditioning. Discover Covalba's CovaTherm reflective paint.
Finally, to go further in controlling energy expenditure, it's essential to rely on a structuring regulatory framework such as CEE standards.
👉 F ind out more about CEE ONU standards and solutions tailored to professionals to benefit from grants and optimize your energy investments.
