ARES Cool 1 cu. ft. Solid Door Countertop Freestanding Refrigerator

Description

ARES Cool 1 cu. ft. Solid Door Countertop Freestanding Refrigerator – Product Highlights

• ARES Cool proprietary cold storage line: This unit is part of ARES Cool, ARES Scientific’s exclusive laboratory and medical-grade cold storage brand, distributed with full warranty support and technical service.
• Compact countertop footprint: 17.25 in. × 19.25 in. × 21.25 in. exterior dimensions fit on standard laboratory benches, pharmacy stations, and clinical workstations where floor space is unavailable for full-size undercounter or upright units.
• Point-of-use cold storage placement: Benchtop positioning eliminates walks across the laboratory or clinic to access frequently used reagents, vaccines, or medications — reducing door-open time on larger central laboratory refrigerators and minimizing temperature excursions.
• Microprocessor temperature control: Digital temperature display with 1°C to 10°C adjustable setpoint delivers precise control and forced-draft air circulation for tight temperature uniformity across the 1 cu. ft. interior.
• Audible and visual high/low temperature alarms: Onboard alarm package paired with remote alarm contacts allows integration with facility-wide temperature monitoring infrastructure for compliance documentation.
• Solid door configuration with keyed lock: The solid door supports light-sensitive storage and medication security, and a keyed door lock restricts access to authorized personnel in pharmacy and nursing environments and clinical workstations.
• HFC-free R600a hydrocarbon refrigerant: Natural refrigerant with a global warming potential of 3 supports institutional sustainability procurement and ENERGY STAR efficiency targets.
• External probe access port: 3/4 in. port accepts third-party validation and calibration probes for temperature mapping and NIST-traceable monitoring documentation.
• UL, C-UL, and ENERGY STAR certified: Listed for U.S. and Canadian healthcare and laboratory use on standard 115VAC/60Hz/1PH power at 0.9 rated amps — plug-and-play installation without dedicated electrical service.
• Two-year parts and labor, five-year compressor warranty: Backed by ARES Scientific’s distribution and service network for long-term operational reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions – ARES Cool 1 cu. ft. Solid Door Countertop Freestanding Refrigerator

What is a countertop laboratory refrigerator used for?

A countertop laboratory refrigerator is a compact, benchtop-sized cold storage unit designed for point-of-use placement at individual workstations rather than centralized cold storage. The ARS-HC-UCFS-0104 delivers 1 cu. ft. of capacity for working reagent storage, daily-access medication staging, sample retention, and small-volume specimen holding — typical applications include single-researcher workbenches, clinical exam rooms, satellite pharmacy stations, and cannabis testing benches.

Does the ARS-HC-UCFS-0104 require special installation clearance?

Yes. As a freestanding (UCFS) unit, this model requires approximately 4 in. of clearance on the back and both sides for proper ventilation. Unlike built-in (UCBI) units with front-breathing ventilation, freestanding countertop models exhaust through the rear and sides — improper clearance voids the warranty and can cause temperature maintenance failures, compressor overheating, and reduced equipment service life.

Is the unit suitable for vaccine storage?

The 1°C to 10°C microprocessor-controlled temperature range with audible and visual alarms and a keyed door lock supports working vaccine storage at point-of-care locations. For Vaccines for Children (VFC) program participation and other regulated vaccine storage programs, facilities should verify capacity requirements, monitoring procedures, and documentation protocols against program guidelines — the 1 cu. ft. capacity is best suited to working inventory rather than primary vaccine reserves. See the ARES Scientific guide to medical refrigerators for vaccine storage for selection criteria.

How does a countertop refrigerator compare to an undercounter unit?

Countertop (UCFS) refrigerators sit on top of work surfaces at benchtop height, putting frequently used contents at convenient working level without occupying floor or undercounter cabinet space. Undercounter (UCBI/UCFS-floor) refrigerators install beneath counters and provide 4–6 cu. ft. of capacity — better suited to facility-level or shared cold storage. Choose countertop for individual workstation point-of-use storage, and built-in undercounter for integrated counter installations.

What refrigerant does the unit use?

The Plus Series Countertop Refrigerator uses R600a, an HFC-free hydrocarbon refrigerant with a global warming potential of 3. This natural refrigerant supports institutional sustainability procurement criteria and ENERGY STAR efficiency targets, replacing legacy HFC refrigerants used in older benchtop cold storage equipment.

Does the solid door configuration affect storage suitability?

The solid door blocks ambient light, making the unit appropriate for storing light-sensitive reagents, photoactive compounds, and pharmaceuticals requiring dark storage. The solid configuration also provides additional medication security in clinical and pharmacy environments where contents should not be visible from the workspace.