diff --git a/common/devdoc/refcount_requirements.md b/common/devdoc/refcount_requirements.md
index eb64f06..192937a 100644
--- a/common/devdoc/refcount_requirements.md
+++ b/common/devdoc/refcount_requirements.md
@@ -13,14 +13,25 @@ It wraps the structure that needs to be ref counted into another structure that
 #define REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE(type, size) MU_C2(REFCOUNT_SHORT_TYPE(type), _Create_With_Extra_Size)(size)
 #define REFCOUNT_TYPE_DESTROY(type, var) MU_C2(REFCOUNT_SHORT_TYPE(type), _Destroy)(var)
 
-#define DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(type) \
+#define INC_REF(type, var) interlocked_increment(&((REFCOUNT_TYPE(type)*)((unsigned char*)var - offsetof(REFCOUNT_TYPE(type), counted)))->count)
+#define DEC_REF(type, var) interlocked_decrement(&((REFCOUNT_TYPE(type)*)((unsigned char*)var - offsetof(REFCOUNT_TYPE(type), counted)))->count)
+#define INIT_REF(type, var) interlocked_exchange(&((REFCOUNT_TYPE(type)*)((unsigned char*)var - offsetof(REFCOUNT_TYPE(type), counted)))->count, 1)
+
+#define DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(type, malloc_func, free_func) \
 ...
 ```
 
 ### DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE
 
+```c
+#define DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(type, malloc_func, free_func) \
+...
+```
+
 **SRS_REFCOUNT_01_001: [** `DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE` shall define the create/create_with_Extra_size/destroy functions for the type `type`. **]**
 
+**SRS_REFCOUNT_01_010: [** Memory allocation/free shall be performed by using the functions `malloc_func` and `free_func`. **]**
+
 ### REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE
 
 ```c
diff --git a/common/inc/azure_c_pal/refcount.h b/common/inc/azure_c_pal/refcount.h
index d85bbad..7aa02e5 100644
--- a/common/inc/azure_c_pal/refcount.h
+++ b/common/inc/azure_c_pal/refcount.h
@@ -55,10 +55,11 @@ MU_C2(REFCOUNT_, type)
 /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_005: [ REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE shall allocate memory for the type that is ref counted (type) plus extra memory enough to hold size bytes. ]*/
 /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_006: [ On success it shall return a non-NULL handle to the allocated ref counted type type. ]*/
 /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_007: [ If any error occurs, REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE shall return NULL. ]*/
-#define DEFINE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE(type) \
+#define DEFINE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE(type, malloc_func) \
 static type* REFCOUNT_TYPE_DECLARE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE(type)(size_t size) \
 { \
-    REFCOUNT_TYPE(type)* ref_counted = (REFCOUNT_TYPE(type)*)malloc(sizeof(REFCOUNT_TYPE(type)) + size); \
+    /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_010: [ Memory allocation/free shall be performed by using the functions malloc_func and free_func. ]*/ \
+    REFCOUNT_TYPE(type)* ref_counted = (REFCOUNT_TYPE(type)*)malloc_func(sizeof(REFCOUNT_TYPE(type)) + size); \
     type* result; \
     if (ref_counted == NULL) \
     { \
@@ -75,7 +76,7 @@ static type* REFCOUNT_TYPE_DECLARE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE(type)(size_t size) \
 /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_002: [ REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE shall allocate memory for the type that is ref counted. ]*/
 /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_003: [ On success it shall return a non-NULL handle to the allocated ref counted type type. ]*/
 /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_004: [ If any error occurs, REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE shall return NULL. ]*/
-#define DEFINE_CREATE(type) \
+#define DEFINE_CREATE(type, malloc_func) \
 static type* REFCOUNT_TYPE_DECLARE_CREATE(type) (void) \
 { \
     return REFCOUNT_TYPE_DECLARE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE(type)(0); \
@@ -83,23 +84,24 @@ static type* REFCOUNT_TYPE_DECLARE_CREATE(type) (void) \
 
 /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_008: [ REFCOUNT_TYPE_DESTROY shall free the memory allocated by REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE or REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE. ]*/
 /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_009: [ If counted_type is NULL, REFCOUNT_TYPE_DESTROY shall return. ]*/
-#define DEFINE_DESTROY(type) \
+#define DEFINE_DESTROY(type, free_func) \
 static void REFCOUNT_TYPE_DECLARE_DESTROY(type)(type* counted_type) \
 { \
     void* ref_counted = (void*)((unsigned char*)counted_type - offsetof(REFCOUNT_TYPE(type), counted)); \
-    free(ref_counted); \
+    /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_010: [ Memory allocation/free shall be performed by using the functions malloc_func and free_func. ]*/ \
+    free_func(ref_counted); \
 }
 
 /* Codes_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_001: [ DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE shall define the create/create_with_Extra_size/destroy functions for the type type. ]*/
-#define DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(type) \
+#define DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(type, malloc_func, free_func) \
 REFCOUNT_TYPE(type) \
 { \
     volatile_atomic int32_t count; \
     type counted; \
 }; \
-DEFINE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE(type) \
-DEFINE_CREATE(type) \
-DEFINE_DESTROY(type) \
+DEFINE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE(type, malloc_func) \
+DEFINE_CREATE(type, malloc_func) \
+DEFINE_DESTROY(type, free_func) \
 
 /*assuming that CONSTBUFFER_ARRAY_HANDLE is a type introduced with DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(CONSTBUFFER_ARRAY_HANDLE_DATA);
 and "checkpointContent" is a variable of type CONSTBUFFER_ARRAY_HANDLE
diff --git a/common/tests/refcount_ut/refcount_ut.c b/common/tests/refcount_ut/refcount_ut.c
index ee8a098..3e6e8d3 100644
--- a/common/tests/refcount_ut/refcount_ut.c
+++ b/common/tests/refcount_ut/refcount_ut.c
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ void my_free(void* ptr)
 #include "azure_c_pal/interlocked.h"
 #include "azure_c_pal/gballoc_hl.h"
 #include "azure_c_pal/gballoc_hl_redirect.h"
+#include "azure_c_pal/refcount.h"
 #undef ENABLE_MOCKS
 
 #include "real_gballoc_hl.h"
@@ -46,6 +47,19 @@ static void on_umock_c_error(UMOCK_C_ERROR_CODE error_code)
     ASSERT_FAIL("umock_c reported error :%" PRI_MU_ENUM "", MU_ENUM_VALUE(UMOCK_C_ERROR_CODE, error_code));
 }
 
+typedef struct TEST_STRUCT_TAG
+{
+    int dummy;
+} TEST_STRUCT;
+
+MOCK_FUNCTION_WITH_CODE(, void*, test_malloc, size_t, size)
+MOCK_FUNCTION_END(my_malloc(size))
+MOCK_FUNCTION_WITH_CODE(, void, test_free, void*, ptr)
+    my_free(ptr);
+MOCK_FUNCTION_END()
+
+DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(TEST_STRUCT, test_malloc, test_free);
+
 BEGIN_TEST_SUITE(refcount_unittests)
 
     TEST_SUITE_INITIALIZE(TestClassInitialize)
@@ -240,4 +254,50 @@ BEGIN_TEST_SUITE(refcount_unittests)
         ASSERT_ARE_EQUAL(char_ptr, umock_c_get_expected_calls(), umock_c_get_actual_calls());
     }
 
+    /* Tests_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_010: [ Memory allocation/free shall be performed by using the functions malloc_func and free_func. ]*/ \
+    TEST_FUNCTION(the_specified_malloc_function_from_the_define_is_used)
+    {
+        ///arrange
+        STRICT_EXPECTED_CALL(test_malloc(IGNORED_ARG));
+        STRICT_EXPECTED_CALL(interlocked_exchange(IGNORED_ARG, 1));
+
+        ///act
+        TEST_STRUCT* result = REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE(TEST_STRUCT);
+
+        ///assert
+        ASSERT_IS_NOT_NULL(result);
+        ASSERT_ARE_EQUAL(char_ptr, umock_c_get_expected_calls(), umock_c_get_actual_calls());
+    }
+
+    /* Tests_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_010: [ Memory allocation/free shall be performed by using the functions malloc_func and free_func. ]*/ \
+    TEST_FUNCTION(the_specified_malloc_function_from_the_define_is_used_by_create_with_extra_size)
+    {
+        ///arrange
+        STRICT_EXPECTED_CALL(test_malloc(IGNORED_ARG));
+        STRICT_EXPECTED_CALL(interlocked_exchange(IGNORED_ARG, 1));
+
+        ///act
+        TEST_STRUCT* result = REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE_WITH_EXTRA_SIZE(TEST_STRUCT, 1);
+
+        ///assert
+        ASSERT_IS_NOT_NULL(result);
+        ASSERT_ARE_EQUAL(char_ptr, umock_c_get_expected_calls(), umock_c_get_actual_calls());
+    }
+
+    /* Tests_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_010: [ Memory allocation/free shall be performed by using the functions malloc_func and free_func. ]*/ \
+    TEST_FUNCTION(the_specified_free_function_from_the_define_is_used)
+    {
+        ///arrange
+        TEST_STRUCT* result = REFCOUNT_TYPE_CREATE(TEST_STRUCT);
+        umock_c_reset_all_calls();
+
+        STRICT_EXPECTED_CALL(test_free(IGNORED_ARG));
+
+        ///act
+        REFCOUNT_TYPE_DESTROY(TEST_STRUCT, result);
+
+        ///assert
+        ASSERT_ARE_EQUAL(char_ptr, umock_c_get_expected_calls(), umock_c_get_actual_calls());
+    }
+
 END_TEST_SUITE(refcount_unittests)
diff --git a/common/tests/refcount_ut/some_refcount_impl.c b/common/tests/refcount_ut/some_refcount_impl.c
index 0528176..f5a5155 100644
--- a/common/tests/refcount_ut/some_refcount_impl.c
+++ b/common/tests/refcount_ut/some_refcount_impl.c
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ typedef struct pos_TAG
 } pos;
 
 /* Tests_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_001: [ DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE shall define the create/create_with_Extra_size/destroy functions for the type type. ]*/
-DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(pos);
+/* Tests_SRS_REFCOUNT_01_010: [ Memory allocation/free shall be performed by using the functions `malloc_func` and `free_func`. ]*/ \
+DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(pos, malloc, free);
 
 POS_HANDLE Pos_Create(int x)
 {
diff --git a/win32/src/execution_engine_win32.c b/win32/src/execution_engine_win32.c
index 0139797..b01b6a3 100644
--- a/win32/src/execution_engine_win32.c
+++ b/win32/src/execution_engine_win32.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ typedef struct EXECUTION_ENGINE_TAG
     PTP_POOL ptp_pool;
 }EXECUTION_ENGINE;
 
-DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(EXECUTION_ENGINE);
+DEFINE_REFCOUNT_TYPE(EXECUTION_ENGINE, malloc, free);
 
 EXECUTION_ENGINE_HANDLE execution_engine_create(void* execution_engine_parameters)
 {