CEN to Launch Public Enquiry on Revised EN 378 Standard – The European Standards Organisation (CEN) is about to launch the public enquiry phase for the proposed revision of the widely used refrigeration standard EN 378. Several significant changes have been proposed that will impact the design and installation of both factory-built and site-installed refrigeration, air-conditioning, and heat pump systems.
AREA encourages all its members to actively participate in the enquiry process to ensure the voice of refrigeration contractors is heard and taken into account in the final version of the standard.
This bulletin aims to update AREA member organisations on the revision process so they can inform their contractor members about the opportunity to contribute.
Current Standard and Proposed Revision (prEN)
The standard was last updated in 2016 and consists of four parts:
- EN 378:2016 – Refrigerating systems and heat pumps — Safety and environmental requirements
• Part 1: Basic requirements, definitions, classification, and selection criteria
• Part 2: Design, construction, testing, marking, and documentation
• Part 3: Installation site and personal protection
• Part 4: Operation, maintenance, repair, and recovery
Key Changes in the Proposed Revision
- The method for determining charge limits for flammable refrigerants (linked to Access Categories and Location Classes) has been significantly revised.
- The current Annex E of Part 1, “Safety classification and information about refrigerants,” will become a new standalone Part 5, to allow easier updates as new refrigerants are introduced.
- EN 378 Part 4 will be withdrawn and replaced with the adoption of the current ISO 5149-4 as EN ISO 5149-4. No technical changes are proposed in this part.
Alignment with ISO 5149
While EN 378 is applicable in the EU and CEN member states, there is a parallel international standard, ISO 5149, also structured in four parts. Although full alignment between ISO 5149 and EN 378 is a possible future objective, significant differences currently remain in Parts 1, 2, and 3.
The complete report is available here: https://bit.ly/3Uo8i6o