New EU Regulation Boosts Sustainable Cooling: Higher Propane Limits for Commercial Cabinets

・manufacturers can now sell self-contained commercial cabinets with up to 500g of R290 or 1.2kg of A2L refrigerants.

・This change aligns with international IEC standard IEC 60335-2-89.

・The updated EU version, EN IEC 60335-2-89:2022, was published in the EU’s Official Journal.

・It enables wider use of propane in plug-in refrigeration units, improving efficiency and sustainability.

・ASERCOM welcomes the update as a long-awaited step toward more eco-friendly refrigeration.

Updated EU standard paves the way for safer, greener commercial refrigeration using higher charges of eco-friendly refrigerants.

In a significant move for sustainable refrigeration, European manufacturers are now permitted to market self-contained commercial cabinets using up to 500g (1.1 pounds) of propane (R290) or 1.2kg (2.6 pounds) of A2L low-flammability refrigerants. This development follows the updated international standard IEC 60335-2-89, establishing a new global benchmark for refrigerant charge limits in commercial refrigeration.

According to the Association of European Refrigeration Component Manufacturers (ASERCOM), the harmonized European version of this standard—EN IEC 60335-2-89:2022—has officially been published in the EU’s Official Journal. It sets out safety requirements for commercial refrigeration appliances and ice-makers, including plug-in units and dual-component products built as a single appliance.

The revision allows for a higher R290 charge in plug-in cabinets, a change long awaited by manufacturers aiming to balance performance with environmental responsibility. This greater allowance supports more energy-efficient, sustainable equipment designs, especially important as demand grows for greener solutions.

Marco Masini, President of ASERCOM, remarked, “This is great news for European manufacturers. As the use of flammable refrigerants in commercial refrigeration grows to reduce environmental impact, this standard supports innovation and safety simultaneously.”

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