A significant step forward for the safe deployement of low-GWP refrigeration and heat pump technologies

ASERCOM, the Association of European Refrigeration Component Manufacturers, welcomes the publication of EN 12693:2026, “Refrigerating systems and heat pumps – Safety and environmental requirements – Positive displacement refrigerant compressors”, and EN 60335-2-34 “Household and similar electrical appliances. Safety. Part 2-34: Particular requirements for motor-compressors”in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The reference to the revised standards has been published through Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2015 of 4 September 2026, which entered into force on 7 September 2026 and updates the list of harmonised standards supporting Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. Compliance with a harmonised standard provides a presumption of conformity with the corresponding essential health and safety requirements covered by that standard, providing manufacturers, notified bodies and market surveillance authorities with a common and up-to-date technical reference for the assessment of refrigerant compressors.“

EN 12693:2026 replaces the previous EN 12693:2008, whose reference was already published as a harmonised standard., while the EN IEC 60335-2-34:2023 (and its amendments EN IEC 60335-2-34:2023/A11:2023 and EN IEC 60335-2-34:2023/A12:2025), the main compressor safety standard used by the smaller compressors has now the MD harmonization, while still pending the LVD.

More than a formal update

The revised standard reflects technological progress in compressor design and supports the safe deployment of modern refrigeration and heat pump solutions using low-GWP refrigerants.“

EN 12693:2026 relevant changes’ include strengthened consideration of thermal hazards, the introduction of specific requirements concerning vibration, updated electrical clearance provisions, changes to certain test requirements and a reorganisation of parts of the standard and its annexes.

While the EN IEC 60335-2-34:2023 – and its amendments – provides strict alignment between the standard’s physical tests and the Essential Health and Safety Requirements (EHSRs) of the Machinery Directive; furthermore, when sold as a component, the motor-compressor unit must be accompanied by assembly instructions and a Declaration of Incorporation.

For ASERCOM, however, the significance of the new edition goes beyond compressor design itself. The compressor is normally integrated into a refrigeration system, condensing unit, chiller, heat pump or other RACHP equipment. Consequently, the safety of the final product depends not only on the conformity of its individual components, but also on how those components are selected, installed and integrated into the complete system.

Particular relevance for flammable refrigerants

This becomes especially important as the European RACHP market moves towards wider use of lower-GWP and natural refrigerants, including A2L and A3 refrigerants such as R290 (propane).

The explicit consideration of vibration and thermal hazards in EN 12693:2026 is particularly relevant in this context. Vibration is not merely a matter of noise, comfort or compressor lifetime. At system level, inadequately controlled vibration can affect connected pipework, joints, brazed connections, supports and other components. Where a flammable refrigerant is used, loss of containment may become part of a substantially more significant safety scenario.

Similarly, thermal behaviour must be considered not only under normal operating conditions but also in relation to reasonably foreseeable abnormal conditions and potential refrigerant releases. ASERCOM therefore encourages system manufacturers and installers to consider the new standard as an opportunity to review the compressor-to-system interface, rather than simply updating the standard number in technical documentation.

Component conformity is the starting point — not the end of the assessment

“The harmonisation of EN 12693:2026 and EN IEC 60335-2-34:2023 is an important development for our industry because it strengthens the technical foundation on which safe refrigeration and heat pump systems are built,” said Marco Masini, President of ASERCOM.

“ASERCOM Members gave a strong contribution to this standard development, but we should be very clear about what harmonisation means in practice. A compliant compressor is an essential building block; it does not automatically make the complete system compliant. This distinction becomes even more important as our industry accelerates the transition towards flammable refrigerants, particularly propane.”

“The responsibility of the equipment manufacturer or system integrator is to ensure that the compressor is correctly selected and that its actual integration – pipework, vibration management, electrical components, hot surfaces, controls, ventilation and foreseeable leakage scenarios – is properly addressed in the risk assessment of the complete equipment. EN 12693:2026 and EN IEC 60335-2-34:2023 give industry a stronger component-level foundation on which to perform that work.”

ASERCOM stresses that EN 12693:2026 should not be interpreted as an ATEX qualification of a compressor, nor does its application replace the system-level safety assessment required under other applicable legislation and standards.

Depending on the equipment and application, EN 12693 and EN IEC 60335-2-34 must therefore be considered within the broader safety framework, together with relevant standards such as EN 378 and, where applicable, EN IEC 60335-2-40, as well as the appropriate assessment of ignition risks and potentially explosive atmospheres.

It is noteworthy that Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2015 also publishes the reference of EN IEC 60335-2-40:2024 + A11:2024, further updating the harmonised standards framework relevant to the RACHP sector.

Preparing for the Machinery Regulation

ASERCOM also highlights the timing of the publication. EN 12693:2026 has been harmonised under the current Machinery Directive framework at a time when the EU is preparing for the transition to the new Machinery Regulation. From 20 January 2027, the Machinery Directive framework and the associated list of harmonised standards published under Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1586 will be replaced by the new regulatory regime established by Regulation (EU) 2023/1230.Manufacturers should therefore distinguish clearly between the current presumption-of-conformity framework under Directive 2006/42/EC and the forthcoming framework associated with Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on machinery.

ASERCOM will continue to monitor the evolution of the harmonised standards framework and support the European RACHP industry in translating regulatory and standardisation developments into practical and technically sound solutions.