ARES Cool 17 Cu. Ft. Explosion-Proof (Hazardous Location) Laboratory Refrigerator ARS-HC-ERP-17

Description

ARES Cool ARS-HC-ERP-17 – Product Highlights

• 17 cubic foot interior with five adjustable shelves — mid-capacity classified-room refrigeration sized for facilities outgrowing the 14 cu. ft. tier, with shelf adjustability for variable bottle and container heights that fixed-shelf freezer models cannot accommodate.
• Class 1, Division II, Groups A, B, C & D rated — meets NFPA 70 and OSHA hazardous-location guidelines for rooms where flammable vapors, gases, or volatile dusts may be present in the surrounding atmosphere under abnormal conditions.
• ATEX-rated and non-sparking architecture — vapor-proof compressor enclosure, exterior-mounted microprocessor controller, and conduit-only electrical termination eliminate ignition pathways both inside and outside the cabinet across the 1°C to 10°C range.
• Two-probe temperature monitoring — one probe in air and a second probe in a sample bottle simulating actual product temperature, providing a more accurate representation of reagent and sample conditions than air-only sensing on legacy designs.
• Forced-draft air circulation and cycle defrost — internal fan-driven airflow maintains setpoint stability across the cabinet volume; automatic cycle defrost eliminates manual intervention typical of explosion-proof freezer architectures.
• R600a natural hydrocarbon refrigerant — low-GWP isobutane refrigerant paired with EPA-compliant high-density urethane insulation, offering an environmentally responsible alternative to legacy HFC-based explosion-proof refrigerators within the hazardous materials freezers and refrigerators tier.
• Hardwired conduit termination at 115 V, 60 Hz — no power cord included; final connection is hardwired in conduit at the install site to comply with Class 1, Division II practice and local AHJ inspection requirements.
• Microprocessor controller with °C/°F switchable digital display — verifiable digital setpoint, faster recovery after door openings, and bilingual unit display useful for multi-site standardization across the broader ARES cold storage refrigerator catalog.
• State-switching remote alarm contacts, audible and visual high/low alarms — integrates with facility BMS and centralized monitoring infrastructure for 24/7 unattended operation and audit-grade event documentation.
• Two-year parts and labor warranty — ARES Cool is ARES Scientific’s proprietary cold storage line, distributed exclusively by ARES Scientific with full warranty support and U.S.-based customer service for installation guidance, replacement parts, and ongoing service.

Frequently Asked Questions – ARS-HC-ERP-17

Is the ARS-HC-ERP-17 just a refrigerator version of the EFP-17 freezer?

The ERP-17 and EFP-17 share the same Class 1, Division II hazardous-location architecture, exterior footprint, and ATEX/non-sparking design language, but they differ in three meaningful ways. The ERP-17 operates at 1°C to 10°C with cycle (automatic) defrost, five adjustable shelves, and R600a refrigerant; the EFP-17 freezer operates at -15°C to -25°C with manual defrost, six fixed shelves, and R290 refrigerant. The two units are commonly specified together as a paired install in classified rooms needing both refrigerated and frozen hazloc storage.

Can flammable liquids be stored inside an ARS-HC-ERP-17?

Yes, provided containers are properly sealed and the storage is consistent with the facility’s chemical hygiene plan and SDS guidance. The ERP-17’s intrinsic safety design — ATEX components, vapor-proof compressor, no interior ignition sources — means flammable contents inside the cabinet do not pose an ignition risk from the unit itself. The product’s primary purpose, however, is to operate safely in a room where flammable vapors may exist outside the cabinet; the storage of flammables inside is a coincident but secondary use case.

What temperature uniformity should I expect across the 17 cu. ft. interior?

The microprocessor controller and forced-draft air circulation maintain setpoint within the 1°C to 10°C adjustable range. Specific uniformity figures depend on door-opening frequency, ambient room temperature, and load configuration. For applications requiring documented uniformity mapping, ARES Scientific can provide guidance on third-party temperature validation against requirements common in pharma, blood bank, and accredited testing facilities outfitted from the broader refrigerators portfolio.

What is the function of the second temperature probe in a sample bottle?

The two-probe configuration places one sensor in the cabinet air and a second sensor in a fluid-filled sample bottle that simulates actual product temperature. Air temperature responds quickly to door openings and ambient transients, while bottle temperature represents the thermal mass of stored reagents and samples. This dual reading provides a more representative picture of what stored materials are actually experiencing — important for audit documentation and for facilities operating under USP, CAP, or CLIA temperature-monitoring expectations.

Does the ARS-HC-ERP-17 support facility BMS integration and battery backup?

The unit provides state-switching remote alarm contacts that connect to facility building management systems for centralized monitoring of high/low temperature events. The unit itself is not battery-backed; for sites requiring continuous operation through utility interruptions, facility-level UPS or emergency generator power on the 115 V, 60 Hz, 2.5 A circuit is the standard approach. Hazardous-location electrical practice should be reviewed with a qualified electrician familiar with NFPA 70 Article 501 before specifying any auxiliary power source.

How does the ERP-17 compare to a flammable storage refrigerator of similar capacity?

The two product tiers serve fundamentally different installation environments. The ERP-17 is rated for classified rooms where the surrounding atmosphere may be hazardous; a flammable-storage refrigerator within the broader hazardous materials freezers and refrigerators family is rated for ordinary unclassified rooms and protects against ignition of flammable contents stored inside the cabinet. Power connection also differs — the ERP-17 is hardwired in conduit while the flammable-storage tier ships with a NEMA 5-15 plug.