In a 24/7 healthcare environment, equipment failure is a risk to patient safety. While refrigeration and ice machines are often seen as “background” utilities, they play a bigger role than providing ice and water for drinking — they play an important role in infection control and medication efficacy.
For every patient in a clinical setting, it takes an average of 3 to 5lbs of ice to provide comfort and hydration. With an overall facility demand estimated at 10lbs of ice per bed for therapeutic and clinical needs, the refrigeration and ice-making machinery components in a hospital — typically needed on every floor — are critical to the effectiveness of patient care.
Medical refrigeration is specifically designed to maintain stable 2–8°C cabinet temperatures with tight uniformity, forced-air circulation, rapid temperature recovery, and integrated alarm monitoring. Standard consumer refrigeration products do not meet the criteria to support medical products such as vaccines and pharmaceuticals, which must be kept in a stable and controlled environment for greatest efficacy.
Decoding the NSF/ANSI 456 Mandate
The NSF/ANSI 456 standard was developed in 2021 to ensure a mandated level of refrigeration for performance in vaccine storage. This includes ensuring consistency no matter how much or little is kept in the refrigerator, or how often the door is opened. It also means that doors must be self-closing, and there must be audible and visual alarms for temperatures outside acceptable parameters.
The standards set by BSF/ANSI 456 and CDC-compliancy are the benchmark of medical cooling equipment. Hoshizaki healthcare refrigerators and freezers are both NSF/ANSI 456 and CDC-compliant and are engineered to remain cool even when under pressure.
Using integrated digital monitoring and alarm features to alert staff of deviations in temperature, the Hoshizaki range of medical-grade refrigeration features audio and visual alarms, providing a safety net to prevent loss of important and expensive inventory.
Ice in Patient Care
In clinical applications, ice is essential for therapeutic cooling, specimen transport, and keeping patients hydrated. Capable of producing between 100lbs and over 600lbs of ice per day, Hoshizaki ice machines easily meet the demand of ice per patient and can mass-produce soft “nugget” ice, a type preferred in hospitals as patients find it easier to chew and cools faster for therapeutic use. Of note, Hoshizaki ice machines produce hard, dense ice which melts slowly, helping support consistent hydration for patients, especially when fluid intake is being monitored.
Combating the Invisible Threat
Cross-contamination threats via physical touch and airborne bacteria are common in medical settings. Touchless ice and water dispensers — such as the Hoshizaki OptiServe™ series with infrared sensor activation — eliminate touchpoints, reducing the risk of cross contamination. Hoshizaki’s touchless dispensers, self‑draining storage, and NSF-certified sanitation features promote hygienic ice production.
Since healthcare facilities never close, the refrigeration and cooling equipment procurements must be resilient. Hoshizaki refrigeration and cooling machines are built to manage around-the-clock operation and are strongly reputed for their durability. For instance: instead of nickel-plated copper, Hoshizaki ice machines use a stainless-steel evaporator plate since it is more resistant to corrosion and harsh cleaning chemicals, thus reducing material breakdown. As well, a closed water circuit design reduces scale buildup, limiting exposed spray components and supporting more predictable cleaning and maintenance schedules.
For peace of mind, Hoshizaki Healthcare Series refrigeration products can be connected to backup power systems, ensuring continuous operation even during power interruptions.
Modern healthcare requires more than just “cooling”; it requires a strategic approach to refrigeration management and ice production. Advances in ice-making technologies such as rapid production, energy-efficient systems, touchless dispensing and automated cleaning, allow healthcare facilities to ensure continuous ice availability, improving workflow efficiency and guaranteeing that ice is always there, chilling.
Hoshizaki ENERGY STAR®-certified products reduce energy consumption, lower utility costs, and minimize environmental impact, supporting sustainable operations. They are also backed by a “7-7-7” warranty covering seven years of labour, parts, and compressor protection.
In-efficient refrigeration products compromise the integrity of life-saving medications and biologics. Contact your local Carrier Enterprise Refrigeration Specialist to learn more, or for a free quotation.
Find your Refrigeration Specialist by region:
Ontario: [email protected]
BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan & Manitoba: [email protected]
Quebec: [email protected]
Maritimes: [email protected]
To view the full range of products available, visit Carrier Enterprise at www.cehvac.ca
