Blue Air BLIB-800S 48" Ice Storage Bin for Modular Ice Machines, 800 lb Capacity
Blue Air BLIB-800S — 48" Ice Storage Bin, 800 lb Capacity
The BLIB-800S is the top of Blue Air Commercial Refrigeration's ice bin range: a 48"-wide insulated base rated for a maximum of 800 lbs (363 kg) of ice, which is roughly two and a half times what the 22" BLIB-300S banks and 340 lbs more than the 30" BLIB-500S. Its width is what unlocks the rest of the line — it is the only BLIB bin that takes a 48" BLMI-1400R head with no adapter, and with the right kit it will carry two 22" heads in a double stack. Like every bin in the family it has no compressor, no refrigerant and no power connection; foamed-in-place polyurethane through all walls and the bottom is what holds the ice.
Key Features of the BLIB-800S
Buying the biggest bin in a family is a decision about reserve and about what you are allowed to stack on it — and on both counts the BLIB-800S is a different piece of equipment from its smaller siblings, not just a wider one.
800 lbs of Banked Reserve
Blue Air rates the BLIB-800S at 800 lbs (363 kg) maximum ice storage capacity. Reserve, not hourly production, is what carries a high-draw operation through a peak: a bin this size lets a fountain program, a banquet ice run and a bar well all pull at once while the head above works back up to full.
48" Cabinet, Same Depth and Height as the Rest
The stainless steel cabinet measures 48" W x 32-1/2" D x 46-1/4" H (1220 x 825 x 1174 mm). Depth and height are identical to the 22" BLIB-300S and 30" BLIB-500S, so it lines up flush in an equipment run — the entire difference between the three bins is floor width and how much ice that width buys.
Single or Double Stack on One Bin
The compatibility chart on Blue Air's cutsheet is the reason to look hard at this model. A 48" BLMI-1400R (formerly BLMI-1300R) mounts with no adapter at all. A 22" BLMI-300A or BLMI-650A needs the IMBK-8S plus IMBK-18S kit as a single stack, or the IMBK-4M kit to run two heads in a double stack, and a 30" BLMI-900A mounts with the IMBK-18S.
Foamed-in-Place Polyurethane, Walls and Bottom
Insulation is foamed in place through every bin wall and the bottom, which is the only thing slowing meltage in a cabinet with no refrigeration circuit. Nothing in the unit draws current, so there is no compressor noise, no condenser to clean and no receptacle to run — the ice retention you get is the insulation envelope plus a closed door.
Polyethylene Liner, ETL-Sanitation Listed
The interior is a polyethylene bin liner specified for sanitary ice storage, with surfaces shaped so a scheduled clean-down is a drain, wipe and sanitize rather than a teardown. The BLIB-800S is ETL-Sanitation listed by Intertek, the listing health authorities expect on equipment holding ice that goes straight into a glass.
3/4" FPT Drain and Designed Ventilation
Meltwater leaves through a 3/4" FPT drain outlet at the back of the cabinet, and Blue Air states the bin is engineered specifically to prevent water overflow and to increase ventilation around the machine stacked on it. On a 48" bin that ventilation matters more, not less — an air-cooled head that cannot breathe pays for it in production.
Two things to settle before you order: first, the 30" BLMI-500AD and the previous BLMI-500A are shown on Blue Air's chart as combinations that are not available on the BLIB-800S, so confirm your head model against the chart rather than assuming the widest bin takes everything. Second, adapter kits for this bin are separate line items — unlike the BLIB-500S, which encloses its IMBK-30R free of charge, an IMBK-8S, IMBK-18S or IMBK-4M for the BLIB-800S has to be ordered with it. The cabinet alone is 46-1/4" tall, so add the head height before checking hood and ceiling clearance, and set the empty 198 lb bin over the drain before anything goes on top.
Ideal Applications
An 800 lb reserve is specified where ice demand is either very heavy or very spiky, and where running out during service is not an option.
BLIB-800S Specifications
| Model | BLIB-800S |
|---|---|
| Type | Ice storage bin for modular ice machine heads (non-refrigerated) |
| Maximum Ice Storage Capacity | 800 lbs (363 kg) |
| Exterior Dimensions (W x D x H) | 48" x 32-1/2" x 46-1/4" (1220 x 825 x 1174 mm) |
| Bin Liner | Polyethylene, designed for sanitary ice storage |
| Insulation | Foamed-in-place polyurethane in all bin walls and bottom |
| Exterior Finish | Stainless steel cabinet with blue bin door and trim |
| Drain Outlet | 3/4" FPT |
| 48" Head Compatibility | BLMI-1400R (previously BLMI-1300R) — no adapter needed |
| 30" Head Compatibility | BLMI-900A with IMBK-18S adapter |
| 22" Head Compatibility | BLMI-300A / BLMI-650A with IMBK-8S + IMBK-18S (single stack) |
| Double Stack Option | Two 22" heads with the IMBK-4M kit |
| Not Compatible | BLMI-500AD and previous BLMI-500A (30") — combination not available |
| Refrigeration System | None — insulated storage only |
| Electrical Requirement | None |
| Shipping Weight | 198 lbs (90 kg) |
| Certifications | ETL-Sanitation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Blue Air BLIB-800S make ice, or only store it?
It stores only. There is no compressor, no refrigerant, no fan and no electrical connection anywhere in the BLIB-800S — it is an insulated 48" cabinet that a separate modular ice machine head sits on top of. Ice retention comes entirely from foamed-in-place polyurethane in every wall and the bottom, so budget the head as a separate purchase.
Which ice machine heads will stack on the BLIB-800S?
Blue Air's chart shows the 48" BLMI-1400R (formerly BLMI-1300R) mounting with no adapter, the 30" BLMI-900A requiring the IMBK-18S, and the 22" BLMI-300A or BLMI-650A requiring the IMBK-8S plus IMBK-18S for a single stack or the IMBK-4M for a double stack. The 30" BLMI-500AD and previous BLMI-500A are listed as combinations that are not available on this bin.
Can I really run two ice machine heads on one bin?
Yes — that is what the double-stack column on the cutsheet describes. With the IMBK-4M kit, two 22" heads such as the BLMI-300A or BLMI-650A can sit side by side across the 48" top, doubling hourly production into a single 800 lb reserve. Order the adapter kit with the bin, and check overall stack height against your ceiling before committing.
How does the BLIB-800S compare with the BLIB-500S and BLIB-300S?
All three share the same 32-1/2" depth and 46-1/4" height, so the only variables are width and reserve. The BLIB-300S is 22" wide and holds 320 lbs, the BLIB-500S is 30" wide and holds 460 lbs, and the BLIB-800S is 48" wide and holds 800 lbs. The 800S is also the only one of the three that accepts a 48" head or a double stack.
What does installation involve, and does it need power?
No electrical service is required for the bin itself. Set it over or beside a floor drain, run a gravity line off the 3/4" FPT drain outlet, then mount the compatible head and connect that machine's water and power. Keep the ventilation openings clear so the air-cooled head above can breathe, and position the empty 198 lb cabinet before the machine goes on — the finished stack is not something two people will walk across a kitchen.
How is the interior kept sanitary?
The liner is polyethylene, chosen for sanitary ice storage, and the interior surfaces are shaped for easy cleaning with no fasteners or seams to trap slush. The BLIB-800S carries an ETL-Sanitation listing from Intertek, which is the certification most jurisdictions look for on commercial ice storage equipment during inspection.
| Brand | Blue Air Commercial Refrigeration |
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| SKU | BLIB-800S |
| Brand | Blue Air Commercial Refrigeration |
| Weight | 198.00 lbs |
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 46.25 x 48.00 x 32.50 inches |
| Height | 46.25 |
| Width | 48.00 |
| Depth | 32.50 |
| Style | top hinged front door(s) |
| Exterior Finish | all stainless steel exterior |
| Capacity | 460 - 855 lb |
| Interior Finish | plastic |
| Width (side - side) | 30" - 39" wide |
|
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