Chill compartment (0 °C drawer, BioFresh, cold storage)
A fridge drawer colder than the rest of the fridge: its target temperature is +2 °C and its storage conditions range from −3 °C to +3 °C, held without you adjusting it. The normal fresh-food part of a fridge targets +4 °C (0 to +8 °C).
The temperature, and where it is defined
+2 °C target temperature, storage conditions from −3 °C to +3 °C
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016, Annex I point 5 and Annex IV Table 3: “‘chill compartment’ means a compartment which is able to control its average temperature within a certain range without user-adjustments of its control, with a target temperature equal to 2 °C, and storage conditions ranging from - 3 °C to 3 °C”
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 — Annex I, Definitions applicable for the Annexes, on legislation.gov.uk Checked 2026-09-27.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 — Annex IV, Measurement methods and calculations (Table 3: storage conditions and target temperature per compartment type), on legislation.gov.uk Checked 2026-09-27.
The temperature is the one the law uses to rate the compartment; your appliance’s own manual and rating plate say which compartment it has. The test methods behind these figures are in the IEC 62552 series of standards, which are paid documents and were not read for this page; the wording above is the regulation’s.
How the makers say to use it
The manuals put fresh meat, fish and sausage here: Bosch calls it ideal “for storing fish, meat and sausage”; Indesit says to store only meat and fish in the coldest drawer.
What it does not mean
It is not for salad and cold-sensitive vegetables — Bosch says the cold storage compartment is not suitable for lettuce and vegetables because temperatures below 0 °C may occur — and it is not a frozen compartment, so it does not freeze food.
The temperature is the one the law uses to rate the compartment; your appliance’s own manual and rating plate say which compartment it has.
- What it looks like
- A separate drawer, usually at the bottom of the fridge section, often named with the maker’s own word for it — BioFresh, cold storage compartment, chiller.
- Names used
- Chill compartment; Cold storage compartment (Bosch); BioFresh (Liebherr); Chiller compartment (Indesit); 0 °C drawer
Where makers differ
Each maker has a name for it (Liebherr says its BioFresh meets the EN ISO 8561 requirements for a chill compartment). On some Bosch models its temperature is changed with a slide control; others hold it automatically.
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
The temperature is the regulation’s own figure, read on the date shown; the makers’ documents below repeat it for their appliances.
- EU / UK law: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 — Annex I, Definitions applicable for the Annexes, on legislation.gov.uk — Point 5: “‘chill compartment’ means a compartment which is able to control its average temperature within a certain range without user-adjustments of its control, with a target temperature equal to 2 °C, and storage conditions ranging from - 3 °C to 3 °C, as set out in Annex IV, Table 3”. Checked 2026-09-27.
- EU / UK law: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2016 — Annex IV, Measurement methods and calculations (Table 3: storage conditions and target temperature per compartment type), on legislation.gov.uk — Table 3: Chill, Tmin −3 °C, Tmax +3 °C, Tc +2 °C; Fresh food, 0 to +8 °C, Tc +4 °C. Checked 2026-09-27.
- Bosch: Bosch — Instructions for use, fridge-freezer KGN.. (9001101173 F, PDF) — “The cold storage compartment has lower temperatures than the refrigerator compartment. Even temperatures below 0 °C may occur. Ideal for storing fish, meat and sausage. Not suitable for lettuce and vegetables and produce sensitive to cold.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Liebherr: Liebherr — User guide, built-in combined fridge-freezer HCB 1060 (7086622-03, 2021-04-09, PDF hosted by a Liebherr parts store) — “BioFresh meets EN ISO 8561 requirements for a chill compartment.” Checked 2026-09-27.
- Indesit: Indesit — Built-in fridge-freezer user manual EIB150502D (PDF, copy hosted by the University of Cumbria) — “Chiller compartment: Only store meat and fish in the coldest drawer.” Checked 2026-09-27.
Written in our own words; quotations are the regulation’s or the makers’ wording.