Before investing in an ice and water vending machine, it is important to investigate and understand what certifications, if any, the product you are buying has gone through. All manufacturers DO NOT get their machines certified by the agencies that were set up to protect the consumer, so you will need to investigate to make sure that you are protected and that your customers will be protected by that manufacturer. You will want to make sure that the manufacturer you are buying from, has spent the time and money to ensure that their machines are the safest possible and that they meet the latest safety requirements for water, sanitation, and electrical.
In many states, ice and water vending machines must be NAMA-certified to be approved to sell ice and/or water. In addition, many zoning departments require that the entire machine be fully ETL/UL listed against the latest electrical standards to receive permits, not just the ice maker. When buying an ice vending machine, you will need to ask the manufacturer if they meet these safety requirements and you should ask for the NAMA Certification and their ETL Listing as well.
ETL Certification for Ice and Water Vending Machines
ETL (Intertek) – Only ice and water vending machine manufacturers displaying the “ETL Listed” mark can certify that they have independently tested the entire machine against the latest electrical standards for safety and that they have met these applicable published safety standards of product compliance for North America. Authorities accept the ETL Listed mark as proof of product safety and that it is compliant with the latest electrical codes. Make sure the machine you are considering for purchase has been certified against these product safety standards, not just the ice maker, but the entire machine.
ADA Compliance for Ice and Water Vending Machines
Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) authorizes the United States Department of Justice to certify that state laws, local building codes, or similar ordinances meet or exceed the ADA Standards for Accessible Design for new construction and alterations. Make sure the machine you are considering meets these standards.
NAMA Certifications for Ice and Water Vending Machines
The NAMA machine evaluation program requires ice and water vending machine manufacturers to build equipment in conformity with the public health requirements outlined in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Public Health Service Model Food Code. It also provides a means by which customers and public health officials can identify those machines that meet both the FDA food code and NAMA design and construction standards. Any machine that has gone through this rigorous evaluation process will be listed on the NAMA website. Please click here to review the current listings. NAMA Listed Machines
Kooler Ice was among the first to invest in these important certifications. All of our ice and water vending machines are listed by NAMA and ETL to protect you, the owner, as well as your customers. Our machines are randomly audited every quarter by ETL and once a year by NAMA. So before you invest your hard-earned money into an Ice Vending Machine, make sure you have checked to see if the manufacturer has invested in these certifications as well.
