Safety Standards for Flammable Refrigerants
With the introduction and continuous increase in the consumption of flammable refrigerants, more and more emphasis is being placed on their safety. As a result, they are subject to safety guidelines and legislation. This not only applies to the safe manipulation and use of refrigerants, or protection of persons and property or training, but some standards also specify the maximum allowable charge for different types of applications to assure safe operation. Limits vary between regions and states and must be consulted to assure legal compliance.
What is a Standard?
A standard is a formal document to ensure a uniform level of products and services. International standards represent a consensus of national committees and participants that provides guidance on the design, use, production, installation, products, and services. Implementation of international standards by national and regional bodies is voluntary. It is up to each body if adopted in exact wording or with amendments related to the local circumstances. Compliance with relevant standards is up to the component and equipment manufacturer, installer, and service technician.
European and International Standards
EN378, the European equivalent to ISO5149, is a general safety standard applicable to refrigerating systems whether stationary or mobile. It relates to safety and environmental requirements in design, construction, installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and disposal of refrigeration systems and heat pumps.
IEC60335-2-89 is the international product safety standard for commercial refrigerating appliances with an incorporated or remote refrigerant unit or compressor. Among others, the standard sets refrigerant charge limits that overrule the requirements of general standard ISO5149. International standards provide a guideline for national standards. In the EU, the standard became EN60335-2-89 and is recognized by all member countries of the European Union. Both are based on the same content and safety requirements, however, EN includes additional requirements of the local market and becomes mandatory if the appliance is placed on European market.
The standard covers appliances such as display and storage cabinets, coolers and freezers, top-counter and under-counter units, blast chillers and blast freezers as well as commercial ice machines. Household, industrial refrigeration, commercial dispensers, vending machines, ice cream makers, laboratory equipment, walk-in cold rooms, devices used in cars, boats and mobile applications are not part of this standard and are covered by their own codes.
International Revision Including Higher Charge Limits
In 2019, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) released a revision of standard IEC 60335-2-89 which included increased charge limits of flammable refrigerants in self-contained commercial appliances. This was done to facilitate the use of flammable refrigerants and open space for additional appliances in a movement towards green solutions.
The standard covers all safety classes yet with different limits set as 13*LFL (low flammability limit), with a maximum charge of no more than 1.2 kg. For propane and isobutane in safety class A3 it means 500 g and for classes A2 and A2L 1,200 g per one circuit. With the higher charge, additional safety requirements and measures have been defined. Those include hermetical sealing of the cooling circuit, protection of refrigerant-containing parts against accessibility, application construction preventing excessive vibration and appliance marking with the minimum floor area in which it is permitted to be installed.
European Update
In Europe, the EN60335-2-89 was updated in August 2022 and currently, harmonization with the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC is ongoing. Until process finalization and legislation documentation release, the current limit for flammable refrigerants set at 150 g is to be kept and in case of a higher charge need, risk assessment and requirements of general standard EN378 must be followed to assure consideration of all hazards.
The differences in adoption of IEC60335-2-89 by national authorities, different timelines, and different content (adapted to local requirements) could bring difficulties of which one should be applied and which requirement should be fulfilled in terms of sales of the appliances in different territories.
