Ice Lined Refrigerator – WHO Approved ILR for Vaccine Storage

An “Ice lined refrigerator” refers to a types of vaccine refrigerator designed for use in areas with unfavorable or no electricity supply zone. We manufacture and supply Ice Lined Refrigerators, along with another laboratory refrigerators too. which are commonly used in developing countries like India, South Africa, UK, US, UAE or remote areas where maintaining a consistent cold chain for vaccines is challenging.

Ice Lined Refrigerators (ILRs) play important role in healthcare industries and vaccination programs. These ILR’s are built to maintain temperature stability in areas where electricity are inconsistent, Ice Lined Refrigerators are very useful for storing vaccines, medicines, and biologicals at required temperatures.

This guide covers everything you need to know about ILRs, what they are and how they work and key features and practical uses, and pricing of ILR in India.

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What Is an Ice Lined Refrigerator?

An Ice Lined Refrigerator (ILR) is a cold storage device designed to store vaccines and medical supplies which requires temperature between +2°C to +8°C. It contains ice packs or ice linings along its internal walls. These linings help maintain temperature for extended periods during power outages.

Ice Lined Refrigerators (ILRs) offer temperature stability and better insulation. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended several Ice Line Refrigerators models, making them suitable for use in immunization programs like BCG, OPV, DPT, Hepatitis B, and COVID-19 Vaccines.

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WHO-Approved Ice Lined Refrigerators (ILR): Ensuring Vaccine Safety and Cold Chain Integrity

In the world of immunization and global health, the maintenance of “Cold Chain” is the difference between a life saving vaccine and an ineffective vial of liquid. and at that stage Ice Line Refrigerator(ILR) comes is picture.

An ILR is specifically made and modifed to maintain a stable temperature range of 2°C to 8°C. even during long power cuts also.

What are the WHO Guidelines for ILRs?

The World Health Organization (WHO) doesn’t just “approve” equipment; they certify it through their PQS (Performance, Quality, and Safety) process. For a refrigerator to be used in international immunization programs, it must meet their rigorous standards, Few of them are mentioned below:

1. Hold-over Time: The ILR unit must keep vaccines within the safe 2°C to 8°C range for a minimum of 20 hours (and often up to 70+ hours) during a total power failure at an consotant temperature of 43°C.
2. Anti-Freeze Protection: The ILR Machines must ensure that vaccines never drop below 0°C, as freezing can permanently damage many vital vaccines (like HepatitisB or DTaP).
3. CFC Free Insulation: The ILR Machine must use environmental friendly high density polyurethane insulation.

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The Technical Working: How an ILR Operates

The “Ice Lined” aspect isnt just a name; its a sophisticated thermal engineering solution. Lets see deeply around it:

• The Lining: Interior walls of the refrigerator are lined with tubes or containers filled with ice packs.
• The Cooling Cycle: While electricity is available, the compressor runs to freeze the water in these linings.
• The Passive Phase: When the power is absent, the ice lining acts as a “cold bank”. It absorbs the heat entering the cabinet, maintaining a steady internal environment through thermal inertia.
• Top-Opening Design: Most ILRs are chest style (top opening). Since cold air is heavier than warm air, it stays at the bottom when the lid is opened, and preventing the “temperature spikes” common in upright fridges.

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ILR’s Used in Hospitals and Laboratories

ILRs are essential across the modern healthcare spectrum:

• Mass Vaccination Centers: Used in managing high volume storage of COVID-19, Polio, and Influenza vaccines.
• Research Laboratories: Used in storing sensitive biological samples and reagents that require zero fluctuation environments.
• Blood Banks: Used in maintaining the integrity of plasma and whole blood components.
• Remote Healthcare Posts: Used in serving as the primary storage solution in regions with unstable power availabilities.

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How Do Ice Lined Refrigerators Work?

Ice Lined Refrigerator (ILR) work by storing thermal energy in the form of frozen ice linings. During regular operation, the refrigerator cools the chamber and freezes the ice linings. When electricity cuts off, the frozen linings release cold gradually, maintaining the internal temperature.

The compressor cycles on and off during power availability. In regions with unreliable electricity, solar-powered ILRs or battery-supported models can also be used.

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WHO Prequalification (PQS) — What It Means for Ice Lined Refrigerators

The World Health Organization’s Performance, Quality and Safety (WHO PQS) programme is an independent certification system that evaluate Lab Refrigerators like ILR’s used in national immunization programmes. A WHO PQS certificate confirms that a refrigerator has been tested under real world conditions, including high ambient temperatures, power fluctuations and extended outages & that Lab Refrigerators meets the safety standards required for storing live vaccines.

How to verify WHO PQS certification?

You can confirm any ILR model’s certification status directly on the WHO PQS online catalogue. Search by product category “E003 – Ice-lined refrigerators” and filter by manufacturer. Certified models carry a unique PQS reference number and list tested holdover times, temperature performance data, and approved ambient temperature ranges.

Bionics Scientific manufactures ILRs built to WHO PQS performance standards. Contact our team to discuss certification requirements specific to your procurement or project needs. Bionics Scientific is a WHO prequalified ILR manufacturer with installations in 15+ countries worldwide.

Key Features of Ice Lined Refrigerators

Here are the main features to look for in ILRs:

• Temperature Range: +2°C to +8°C: Maintains the safe range for storing vaccines and medicines.
• Holdover Time: 10–24 Hours: The time unit maintain internal temperature of refrigerator in case of power failure, It depending on model and insulation.
• WHO Prequalification: Many ILRs are WHO PQS (Performance, Quality and Safety) certified, That ensure compliance with international immunization standards.
• Digital Temperature Display: Our ILRs consists of digital display with temperature recording for better monitoring.
• Alarm System: Includes high/low temperature alarms to alert the user if the temperature drifts outside the safe range.
• Eco-friendly Refrigerant: We use non-CFC refrigerants like R134a or R600a, which are less harmful to the environment.
• Capacity Range: Available in small (30–60 liters), medium (100–150 liters), and large (200+ liters) capacities.

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Uses of Ice Lined Refrigerators

• Immunization Programs: Primary use of ILRs is to store vaccines such as BCG, OPV, DPT, Hepatitis B, and COVID-19 vaccines under controlled temperatures.
• Health Clinics and Hospitals: Used in primary health centers, district hospitals, and urban clinics to preserve temperature-sensitive medical products.
• Mobile Vaccine Storage: Some portable ILRs support vaccine outreach programs in rural and hard-to-reach locations.
• Research and Laboratories: Used for storing biological samples, culture media, and reagents requiring stable temperatures.

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ILR Refrigerator Price in India (updated with 2026 prices)

ILR prices vary depending on capacity, build quality, and certification status.

Capacity	Price Range (INR)	Notes
50 – 100 Liters	₹25,000 – ₹35,000	Suitable for small clinics
100 – 150 Liters	₹40,000 – ₹70,000	For health centers and labs
200+ Liters	₹70,000 – ₹1,20,000	Used in large hospitals
Solar ILRs	₹90,000 – ₹1,50,000	For off-grid rural areas

Note: These prices are variable and depends upon features and customizations or Quantity.

Wrap Up to Conclusion

Ice Lined Refrigerators are essential for healthcare cold chains, especially in environments where power reliability is a concern. Their ability to maintain stable temperatures during outages makes them crucial in safeguarding vaccine potency and public health. Connect for Ice Lined Refrigerators Pricing

Whether you’re equipping a rural clinic or a research lab, choose an ILR model that matches your capacity needs, complies with WHO standards, and offers proven performance.

Frequently Aksed Questions about ILR’s