Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) freezers provide reliable storage for preserving research-related materials used in NIH mission critical activities. Well-maintained, energy efficient ULT freezers can play a significant role in reducing NIH cold storage costs and preserving federal dollars for important medical research.
With energy conservation in mind, a new NIH policy on Management of Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) Freezers requires Institutes and Centers (ICs) to purchase energy efficient ULT freezers when acquiring new units. Key requirements of the policy include: (1) selecting energy efficient ULT freezers when acquiring new units and (2) performing regular preventive maintenance on all ULT freezers located within NIH facilities. The Division of Scientific Equipment and Instrumentation Services (DSEIS) can help ICs meet both of these requirements.
The new policy also encourages ICs to use the DSEIS New Equipment Sales and Rental Program for these acquisitions. Anju Vergheese, Chief of the Scientific Equipment Rental & Sales Branch, asserts that “DSEIS is really a one-stop shop for lab equipment needs, including ULT freezers. We can reduce the administrative burden, save staff time, and negotiate low costs. We also offer budget-friendly, rent-to-buy agreements that ensure ICs comply with the new NIH policy.”
ULT Freezer Selection
Optimizing energy conservation begins with selecting energy efficient freezers, based on manufacturer’s technical specifications. See below to view DSEIS recommendations for energy efficient ULT freezers.
- Thermo Scientific TSx
- Stirling Ultracold SU780
- New Brunswick Scientific U700
- Panasonic MDF-U76VC
- Thermo Scientific UxF600
- Thermo Scientific 88500
DSEIS can provide all the listed freezers with maintenance contracts either through the sales program or the rental program.
Note: This table is based on a list of ULT freezers posted on the NIH Office of Research Facilities (ORF) Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) website. These are freezers with energy efficiency ratings in the top 10% of commercially available models. Any freezer with daily energy usage less than or equal to those listed above is considered energy efficient.
ULT Freezer Maintenance
Cleaning and preventive maintenance (PM) also contribute to energy efficiency of ULT freezers. The policy calls for ICs to perform PM on all ULT freezers located within NIH facilities, twice a year, at intervals of approximately six months. According to Jerry Tyus, Chief of Laboratory Equipment Maintenance, inadequately maintained freezers waste energy and perform at a lower standard than normal, sometimes putting important research at risk.
A typical freezer PM visit includes: checking temperature settings and display readings; cleaning condensers, condenser coils and files; inspecting gasket seals; and, ensuring that the freezer’s internal temperature is being held at the set point. If authorized to open the freezer during scheduled maintenance, hardware, gaskets, evaporator coils, fan grills, evaporator pans and lighting should be inspected and gaskets de-iced. If the freezer is empty, the evaporator fan shroud is also removed and cleaned. (To view a complete ULT Freezer Maintenance checklist click here).
Benefits of using DSEIS
- Reduced Administrative Burden: DSEIS handles the acquisitions and provides three justifications.
- Time & Cost Savings: DSEIS has negotiated discounted prices with vendors for popular lab equipment, usually lower than GSA pricing. DSEIS also handles logistics for shipping and delivery timeframe, offers no-cost equipment delivery, and performs equipment installation, testing and calibration.
- Budget-Friendly Rental Agreements
- Budget-Friendly Maintenance Contracts
- Online Maintenance Job Tracking
- Convenient On-Campus Location
For more information, please visit: http://dseis.od.nih.gov, contact Anju Vergheese (sales and rental agreements) at (301) 496-9748, or Jerry Tyus (maintenance and repair) at (301) 451-1753.
