Blue Air BLIB-500S 30" Ice Storage Bin for Modular Ice Machines, 460 lb Capacity
Blue Air BLIB-500S — 30" Ice Storage Bin, 460 lb Capacity
The Blue Air Commercial Refrigeration BLIB-500S is the 30" member of the BLIB ice bin family — a non-refrigerated, foam-insulated storage bin that sits under a modular ice machine head and banks what the head produces. It holds a maximum of 460 lbs of ice in 15.7 cu. ft. of polyethylene-lined interior, behind a stainless steel cabinet with Blue Air's signature blue bin door and trim. Because it carries no compressor, fan or electrical connection, the only planning it needs is floor space and a drain line.
Key Features of the BLIB-500S
A storage bin has one job — keep ice dry, clean and cold with no energy input of its own — and every element of the BLIB-500S is aimed at that.
460 lbs Banked in 15.7 cu. ft.
Blue Air rates the BLIB-500S at 460 lbs (208 kg) maximum ice storage across a 15.7 cu. ft. / 444 L interior measuring 25-5/16" W x 27-1/2" D x 38" H. That is enough reserve to carry a bar or beverage station through a peak service while the head above catches back up.
Foamed-in-Place Polyurethane on Every Wall
Insulation is foamed in place through all bin walls and the bottom, not just the sides, so meltage is slowed on all six surfaces. No refrigeration system, refrigerant or power connection is involved — the bin holds ice purely on its insulation.
Seamless Polyethylene Bin Liner
The interior is a one-piece polyethylene liner chosen for sanitary ice storage, and the surfaces are shaped for easy cleaning with no seams or fasteners to trap slush. The unit is ETL-Sanitation listed for commercial kitchen use.
Engineered Against Overflow
Blue Air designed the BLIB-500S specifically to prevent water overflow and to increase ventilation around the stacked machine, which keeps the head's condenser breathing and keeps meltwater heading to the drain instead of onto the floor.
30" Cabinet Built for Stacking
The 30" W x 32-1/2" D x 46-1/4" H stainless cabinet is dimensioned to take a Blue Air modular head directly on top. The cutsheet's compatibility chart shows no adapter is needed for the matching 30"-wide heads, while narrower heads use the IMBK-30R adapter kit that Blue Air encloses with the BLIB-500S at no charge.
Planning the stack: the bin alone stands 46-1/4" tall, so add the height of whichever BLMI head you are pairing with it before checking hood, shelf and ceiling clearance. At 152 lbs shipping weight the bin is a two-person set, but the finished stack is not — position it over the floor drain before the ice machine goes on top.
Ideal Applications
The 30" footprint and 460 lb reserve put this bin in operations that draw ice hard in bursts rather than steadily all day.
BLIB-500S Specifications
| Model | BLIB-500S |
|---|---|
| Type | Ice storage bin for modular ice machine heads (non-refrigerated) |
| Maximum Ice Storage Capacity | 460 lbs (208 kg) |
| Interior Volume | 15.7 cu. ft. (444 L) |
| Bin Liner | Polyethylene |
| Insulation | Foamed-in-place polyurethane in all bin walls and bottom |
| Exterior Finish | Stainless steel cabinet with blue bin door and trim |
| Exterior Dimensions (W x D x H) | 30" x 32-1/2" x 46-1/4" (762 x 825 x 1175 mm) |
| Interior Dimensions (W x D x H) | 25-5/16" x 27-1/2" x 38" |
| Compatible Ice Machines | Blue Air BLMI-300A, BLMI-500A and BLMI-650A modular heads |
| Head Width Accepted | 30" heads mount directly; narrower heads require an adapter kit |
| Adapter Kit | IMBK-30R, enclosed with the BLIB-500S at no charge where the chart calls for it |
| Refrigeration System | None — insulated storage only |
| Electrical Requirement | None |
| Shipping Weight | 152 lbs (69 kg) |
| Certifications | ETL-Sanitation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Blue Air BLIB-500S make its own ice?
No. The BLIB-500S is a storage bin only, with no compressor, evaporator or electrical connection. It is designed to sit beneath a modular ice machine head, which produces the ice and drops it into the insulated bin below.
Which ice machines fit on the BLIB-500S?
It is the 30" wide bin in the Blue Air BLIB range and is listed for the BLMI-300A, BLMI-500A and BLMI-650A modular heads. Blue Air's compatibility chart shows the 30" wide heads need no adapter, while narrower heads mount with the IMBK-30R adapter kit that ships with the bin at no charge.
How much ice does the BLIB-500S actually hold?
The cutsheet rates it at 460 lbs (208 kg) maximum storage capacity within a 15.7 cu. ft. interior. Because ice mounds rather than levels off, some resellers publish a lower everyday-fill figure, but 460 lbs is the manufacturer's maximum for this model.
Does the ice bin need to be plugged in?
No electrical service is required. Ice retention comes entirely from foamed-in-place polyurethane insulation in every bin wall and the bottom, so the only utility connection to plan for is a drain for meltwater.
What is the interior made of and how is it cleaned?
The interior is a polyethylene bin liner specified for sanitary ice storage, with surfaces shaped for easy cleaning. The unit is ETL-Sanitation listed, and the smooth liner lets crews wipe down and sanitize the bin without disassembly.
How much room does the BLIB-500S need?
The cabinet measures 30" wide by 32-1/2" deep and stands 46-1/4" tall on its own. Add the height of the ice machine head you are stacking on it when you check overhead clearance, and set the bin over or near a floor drain before the head is installed.
| Brand | Blue Air Commercial Refrigeration |
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| SKU | BLIB-500S |
| Brand | Blue Air Commercial Refrigeration |
| Weight | 152.00 lbs |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 46.25 x 30.00 x 33.00 inches |
| Height | 46.25 |
| Width | 30.00 |
| Depth | 33.00 |
| Interior Finish | plastic |
| Exterior Finish | all stainless steel exterior |
| Capacity | 460 - 855 lb |
| Style | top hinged front door(s) |
| Width (side - side) | 30" - 39" wide |
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