EN IEC 60335-2-40
Household and similar electrical appliances — Safety — Part 2-40: Particular requirements for electrical heat pumps, air-conditioners and dehumidifiers
Standard Introduction
EN IEC 60335-2-40 is an active standard published by CEN/CENELEC (European Standardization). It is commonly used across Electronics, Machinery, Manufacturing, Energy and applies in European Union, European Economic Area.
Use this page to review the official documentation, current status, and the certification or assessment bodies most commonly associated with EN IEC 60335-2-40.
Appliance Safety
The harmonised safety standard for electric heat pumps, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers under the Low Voltage Directive, giving presumption of conformity.
Flammable Refrigerants
Sets charge limits and installation/construction requirements for lower-flammability (A2L) and flammable (A3, e.g. R290 propane) refrigerants.
Risk Mitigation
Addresses electrical, mechanical, and thermal hazards plus refrigerant leak detection, ventilation, and ignition-source control.
list_alt Scope & Coverage
- Electric heat pumps (incl. domestic hot water)
- Air conditioners and split systems
- Dehumidifiers
- Refrigerant charge limits by flammability class
- Construction and marking requirements
- Leak simulation and ventilation requirements
- Presumption of conformity with the LVD
Who Needs to Comply?
Manufacturers and test laboratories for electric heat pumps, air conditioners, and dehumidifiers sold in the EU — especially products using flammable natural refrigerants such as R290 (propane).
Key Requirements
Apply Refrigerant Charge Limits
Respect the maximum refrigerant charge for the room size and flammability class (A2L/A3), with construction measures to limit the consequences of a leak.
Construction & Components
Use components and enclosures that prevent ignition of flammable refrigerant and protect against electric shock and excessive temperatures.
Type Testing
Perform the type tests defined in the standard — heating, leakage current, mechanical strength, and refrigerant leak simulation — in a competent laboratory.
Installation Instructions
Provide clear installation and servicing instructions, including ventilation and qualified-technician requirements for flammable refrigerants.
Implementation Roadmap
Define EN IEC 60335-2-40 scope
Identify the electric heat pumps, air conditioners and dehumidifiers in scope, the legal or customer obligations that apply, accountable owners, affected products or services, jurisdictions, suppliers and evidence expectations. Confirm coverage for appliance type, refrigerant class, charge limits, room area assumptions, electrical safety, component construction, ignition-source control, leak simulation, markings and installation instructions.
Assess obligations and gaps
Compare current design, operations and documentation against EN IEC 60335-2-40. Review appliance type, refrigerant class, charge limits, room area assumptions, electrical safety, component construction, ignition-source control, leak simulation, markings and installation instructions, then prioritise gaps by safety, legal exposure, market-access impact, customer commitments, reporting deadlines and assurance readiness.
Implement controls and evidence
Deploy the procedures, technical controls, testing, training, supplier controls, review gates and operating records needed for EN IEC 60335-2-40. Maintain construction reviews, refrigerant charge calculations, room-size assumptions, leakage-current and temperature tests, leak-simulation tests, component certificates, markings, manuals and type-test reports as traceable evidence.
Review, verify and maintain
Run management review, internal checks, retesting or independent assessment where appropriate. Refresh the program when products, services, suppliers, standards, regulations, incidents, customer commitments or market-surveillance expectations change.
Compliance Checklist
checklist Scope and accountability
checklist Controls and records
checklist Monitoring and assurance
Penalties & Enforcement
EN 60335-2-40 is a voluntary harmonised standard, but it is the practical route to LVD compliance. Products not meeting it must demonstrate equivalent safety; failures can block CE marking and trigger market withdrawal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs EN IEC 60335-2-40?
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EN IEC 60335-2-40 is relevant to organizations that design, manufacture, import, distribute, operate, certify, test or procure electric heat pumps, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Exact applicability depends on the product or service scope, jurisdiction, role in the supply chain, customer commitments and the specific obligations triggered by the standard or regulation.
Is EN IEC 60335-2-40 certifiable?
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The standard itself is voluntary, but it is commonly used for LVD presumption of conformity. Certification marks or CB/ENEC-style reports can support the CE technical file.
What should a EN IEC 60335-2-40 implementation start with?
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Start by defining scope and accountable owners, then map the applicable requirements to existing products, services, systems, suppliers and evidence. A focused gap assessment should identify missing tests, records, procedures, labels, declarations, risk assessments or assurance steps before detailed remediation begins.
What evidence is useful for EN IEC 60335-2-40?
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Useful evidence includes construction reviews, refrigerant charge calculations, room-size assumptions, leakage-current and temperature tests, leak-simulation tests, component certificates, markings, manuals and type-test reports. Evidence should be version-controlled, traceable to requirements and owners, retained for the required period and ready for customers, auditors, certification bodies, regulators or market-surveillance authorities.
How often should EN IEC 60335-2-40 compliance be reviewed?
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Review it on a planned cycle and whenever products, services, suppliers, manufacturing sites, legal requirements, harmonised standards, test methods, incidents, customer commitments or market access assumptions change. High-risk products and regulated services should also be reviewed after complaints, field failures or regulator guidance.
Official Documentation
Official PDF for EN IEC 60335-2-40
Official publication or summary for EN IEC 60335-2-40
Official online resource
CEN/CENELEC (European Standardization) guidance and reference material
Implementation toolkit
Templates, guidance, or companion resources for EN IEC 60335-2-40