The basic statutory activity of The Centralny Osrodek Chlodnictwa - COCH (Refrigeration Research and Development Centre) includes scientific and research and development works related to refrigerating engineering, air-conditioning systems, heat pumps and the adaptation of the obtained results to practical application.

The most important themes of research and development works realized during the past few years, whose results have been used in practical applications, concerned:

• Cooling-heating systems working with the pro-ecological refrigerants and intended for creation of required climatic conditions: specialization in design and construction of special thermo-climatic chambers and temperature-variable and low-temperature laboratory cabinets is a notable effect achieved by COCH;
  
• Construction of modern energy-saving industrial air coolers;
  
• New research technologies concerning air-conditioners and heat pumps, building samples and elements, thermal-insulated bodies of refrigerated means of transport, taking into consideration current ATP agreement conditions.
  

Activity related to the promotion of science and technical knowledge by carrying out trainings, seminars, and conferences, is also included in the statutory activity.

In 1996 quality system has been introduced in COCH. It was elaborated on the basis of the Polish Standard PN-EN 45011. In July 2000, the Laboratorium Urz±dzeñ Ch³odniczych (Laboratory of Refrigerating Appliances in COCH) obtained an accreditation for the Polish system of research laboratories.

COCH is approved as the competent authority for the testing of thermal efficiency of insulated bodies to ATP standard. COCH has obtained an authorization from the Polish Ministry of Transport and Maritime Economy for the realization of complete tests of thermal-insulated refrigerated means of transport according to the ATP Agreement and for issuance of ATP certificates according to the requirements of this Agreement.

Obtaining the accreditation from the Polskie Centrum Akredytacji - PCA (Polish Centre of Accreditation) relating to the certification of products and personnel competence and obtaining the status of a notified body in the UE Directive (73/23/EEC, 90/396/EEC, 97/23/EC) was an important and significant event in COCH's activity.

Recently PCA signed agreements with international organizations like:

• EA MLA (EA Multilateral Agreement)
  
• IAF MLA (IAF Multilateral Recognition Arrangement)
  
• ILAC MRA (ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement)
  

The Centralny Osrodek Chlodnictwa - COCH (Refrigeration Research and Development Centre) as the accredited organization takes part in those agreements (for example COCH has sublicense agreement with PCA for using ILAC-MRA and IAF-MLA logo)

An important position is occupied in COCH's current possession by the Authorization for managing the secretary of the Normalizacyjna Komisja Problemowa (Standardisation Problem Commission, presently the Polish Technical Committee at PKN) No.5 for refrigeration, air-conditioners and heat pumps, obtained as early as 1992.