The European Union has published references to EN 12693:2026 and EN IEC 60335-2-34:2023 and its amendments in the Official Journal of the European Union. The standards cover safety requirements for positive displacement refrigerant compressors and motor-compressors used in refrigeration and heat pump applications.
The references were published through Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2015 of 4 September 2026, which entered into force on 7 September. The decision updates the 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.
EN 12693:2026 replaces EN 12693:2008. Changes include strengthened consideration of thermal hazards, specific requirements concerning vibration, updated electrical clearance provisions, changes to certain test requirements and a reorganisation of parts of the standard and its annexes. EN IEC 60335-2-34:2023 and its amendments align physical tests, including a new pressure endurance test, with the Essential Health and Safety Requirements of the Machinery Directive. When sold as a component, a motor-compressor unit must also be accompanied by assembly instructions and a Declaration of Incorporation.
The requirements have particular relevance to equipment using lower-GWP and natural refrigerants, including A2L and A3 refrigerants such as R290 propane. The source notes that vibration can affect connected pipework, joints, brazed connections, supports and other components, while thermal behaviour must be considered under normal operation as well as reasonably foreseeable abnormal conditions and potential refrigerant releases. Compliance at compressor level does not replace the safety assessment of the complete refrigeration or heat pump system.
EN 12693:2026 does not constitute an ATEX qualification of a compressor or replace system-level assessments required by other applicable legislation and standards. Depending on the equipment and application, EN 12693 and EN IEC 60335-2-34 may need to be considered alongside EN 378 and EN IEC 60335-2-40. Decision (EU) 2026/2015 also publishes the reference to EN IEC 60335-2-40:2024 + A11:2024.
The standards have been harmonised under the current Machinery Directive ahead of the EU’s transition to Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 on machinery. From 20 January 2027, the Machinery Directive framework and its associated list of harmonised standards under Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1586 will be replaced by the new regulatory regime.
Source
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2015 of 4 September 2026 – Harmonised standards for machinery – EUR-Lex – Official Journal (English)
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2015 – Official Journal PDF (English) – EUR-Lex – Official PDF
- Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/1586 on harmonised standards for machinery drafted in support of Directive 2006/42/EC – EUR-Lex
- Directive 2006/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on machinery – EUR-Lex
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1230 of the European Parliament and of the Council on machinery – EUR-Lex
The EN 12693:2026, EN IEC 60335-2-34:2023 (+ amendments), and EN IEC 60335-2-40:2024 + A11:2024 references are contained in item 1 / item 2.
