Eco-Conscious and Low-GWP Refrigerant Safety

Explosion-Proof Relays for the New Refrigerant Era

Simplify A2L Compliance from the initial design stage.

Explosion-proof relays that support sustainability and compliance.

A2L Relay
Explosion Proof Relay
HVAC&R New Refrigerant Safety
IEC 60079-15 Relay
ANSI/ISA 12.12.01 Relay
Low GWP Refrigerant Measures
R32 Relay
R1234yf Relay

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No More Choosing Between Sustainability and Safety (Flame Resistance):
The Standard Solution for the A2L Era

Lower-GWP refrigerants bring a growing challenge: increased flammability risk. As the industry shifts from R410A and R134a to R32 and R1234yf, A2L refrigerants are driving new safety requirements in system design and compliance.

To ensure the safety of the living spaces, Systems using the slightly flammable A2L refrigerant require highly reliable gas shutoff control --- and the relay inside that circuit must never become an ignition source.

Panasonic meets this challenge with explosion-proof relays engineered for safer switching with reduced ignition risk, compact design, and low power consumption.

A practical, production-ready solution for HVAC&R and heat pump systems—advancing both sustainability and safety.

	Refrigerant Type	Combustion Class （ISO 817）	Refrigerant Number	GWP （100-Year / Representative Value）	Overview
↑ High GWP Low GWP ↓	HCFC	A1	R22	1,810	Phasing Out for New Applications
	HFC Blend		R410A	2,090	Widely Used in Conventional Residential and Commercial HVAC Systems
	HFC Blend		R407C	1,770	Used in Conventional HVAC and Refrigeration Equipment
	HFC （Hydrofluorocarbon）		R134a	1,430	Used in Legacy HVAC and Refrigeration Applications
		A2L	R32	675	A Key Low-GWP Refrigerant with Mild Flammability
		A2L	R454b	466
		A2	R-152a	124
	HFO （Hydrofluoroolefin）	A2L	R1234yf	1	Widely Adopted in Automotive A/C Systems with Mild Flammability
	Natural Refrigerant	A3	R290（Propane）	3	Highly Flammable — Requires Strict Safety Measures
	Natural Refrigerant	A3	R600a（Isobutane）	4	Used in Household Refrigerators and Similar Appliances

※ISO 817 safety classes combine toxicity
(A = lower toxicity / B = higher toxicity) and flammability (1 = non-flammable, 2L = mildly flammable, 2 = flammable, 3 = highly flammable).
　A2L indicates lower toxicity and mild flammability, requiring new safety considerations for low-GWP system design.

Designed with Explosion-Proof Standards

Supports IEC/EN 60079-15 and ANSI/ISA 12.12.01 requirements while aligning with A2L safety systems.
Helps simplify component selection, documentation, and product certification.

High-Reliability Relay Design for Safe Interruption

Arc suppression under inductive loads and a sealed structure reduce the risk of ignition
sources.
Ensures stable operation of the gas shut-off valve, guaranteeing reliable shut-off that directly impacts the safety of the living space.

End-to-End Support from Design to Mass Production

Support for evaluation setup, recommended circuits, sample testing, and validation procedures helps accelerate development.
Guidance on load waveform measurement and reproduction helps reduce redesign cycles.

Air Conditioning Systems

● Background
Growing adoption of low-GWP, mildly flammable A2L refrigerants is increasing demand for the risk of ignition due to flammability.

● Benefits
Explosion-proof relays help reduce ignition risk from contact arcing in safety controls such as shut-off/ventilation interlock circuits and refrigerant switching valves.

Refrigeration Systems

● Background
Low-flammability (A2L) refrigerants have a low environmental impact, but they are still
flammable, requiring ignition protection.

●Benefits
Explosion-proof relays help improve safety in control circuits (interlock) of refrigerant shut-off valves inside display cases and refrigerators, by reducing ignition risk from contact arcing.

PLC

● Background
Demand for automation in hazardous environments such as painting lines and explosive
atmospheres where oil mist is generated continues to grow.

● Benefits
Explosion-proof relays reduce the risk of fire and enable safer PLC operation, supporting
automation without installation location constraints.

Design Support from Concept to Prototyping

Support for A2L safety requirements, recommended circuits, sample evaluation, and load waveform analysis.
Helps accelerate validation and reduce redesign cycles.

Certification & Compliance Support

Support for IEC/EN 60079-15 and ANSI/ISA 12.12.01 compliance, safety shutoff design reviews, and streamlined product certification.

Mass Production & Supply Support

Support for production launch inspections, quality criteria alignment, and global supply coordination for stable multi-region operations.

What Safety Measures Are Required for A2L Systems?

A2L systems require a safety chain covering refrigerant leak detection, alarms, and safe shutoff control.
Relays should be selected with explosion-proof compliance in mind, with designs that minimize switching arcs and coil heat generation through proper surge protection and operating conditions.

Are ATEX or ISA-Certified Components Required for A2L Systems?

Requirements depend on the system risk assessment and installation environment (Zone/Class/Division).
Whether component-level certification is required or system-level compliance is sufficient varies by application. Panasonic helps simplify early-stage requirement review and relay selection.

Five Series to Choose From
Panasonic Explosion-Proof Power Relays (Over 2A)

Explosion-Proof standards	Relay series	Overview
ANSI/ISA 12.12.01	PA-N relay	・Compliant with IEC 61010 reinforced insulation ・1a 5A slim power relay
	PF relay	・Compliant with European standards (Supports reinforced insulation) ・1a/1c 6A slim power relay
	DK relay	・Small 1a 10A polarized power relay ・Small 1a1b/2a 8A polarized power relay
IEC/EN 60079-15	LD-P relay	・IEC/EN 60335-1 compliant ・Slim size 1a 5A power relay
IEC/EN 60079-15	LQ relay	・IEC/EN 60335-1 compliant ・1a/1c 10A compact power relay

※Applicable Explosion-Proof standards
ANSI/ISA 12.12.01 : Mainly in North America (U.S. and Canada), hazardous locations are classified by "class”, self-certification is not allowed.
IEC/EN 60079 -15 : Mainly in Europe (according to ATEX Directive), hazardous locations are classified by "zone”, self-certification is allowed.

Trends in Refrigerants for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment and Panasonic Relay's Response　
< Panasonic Explosion-Proof Standard Compliant Relays >

Your Essential Guide to New Refrigerants and Explosion-Proof Design 💡

This guide covers everything designers need to know—from the latest refrigerant trends to key points for selecting explosion-proof relays.

Includes Panasonic’s official lineup of five explosion-proof relay series for A2L applications.

- CONTENT -

Background
Regulatory Movements
Trends in Refrigerants
Issues in Using New Refrigerants
Countermeasures against Leakage of New Refrigerant
Expected Application examples
Explosion-Proofing in Panasonic Relays

Explosion-Proof Relays for the New Refrigerant Era

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AboutEnd the Trade-off Between Sustainability and Flammability

No More Choosing Between Sustainability and Safety (Flame Resistance):
The Standard Solution for the A2L Era

About-2-Major Refrigerants by GWP and Flammability Class
（ISO 817 / Representative Values）

ProblemFacing These Challenges?

Too Many Pitfalls in Explosion-Proof Compliance

Verification Workloads Keep Growing in Mass Production

PointReducing Complexity from Design to Production

Designed with Explosion-Proof Standards

High-Reliability Relay Design for Safe Interruption

End-to-End Support from Design to Mass Production

Simplify Explosion-Proof Certification

Cut Cost and Development Time

Application Examples

Air Conditioning Systems

Refrigeration Systems

PLC

supportReliable Support from Design to Operation

Design Support from Concept to Prototyping

Certification & Compliance Support

Mass Production & Supply Support

FAQ

Lineup

Trends in Refrigerants for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment and Panasonic Relay's Response　
< Panasonic Explosion-Proof Standard Compliant Relays >

Get your free leaflet now.

Explosion-Proof Relays for the New Refrigerant Era

Get your free leaflet now.

AboutEnd the Trade-off Between Sustainability and Flammability

No More Choosing Between Sustainability and Safety (Flame Resistance): The Standard Solution for the A2L Era

About-2-Major Refrigerants by GWP and Flammability Class（ISO 817 / Representative Values）

ProblemFacing These Challenges?

Too Many Pitfalls in Explosion-Proof Compliance

Verification Workloads Keep Growing in Mass Production

PointReducing Complexity from Design to Production

Designed with Explosion-Proof Standards

High-Reliability Relay Design for Safe Interruption

End-to-End Support from Design to Mass Production

Simplify Explosion-Proof CertificationCut Cost and Development Time

Application Examples

Air Conditioning Systems

Refrigeration Systems

PLC

supportReliable Support from Design to Operation

Design Support from Concept to Prototyping

Certification & Compliance Support

Mass Production & Supply Support

FAQ

Lineup

Trends in Refrigerants for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment and Panasonic Relay's Response < Panasonic Explosion-Proof Standard Compliant Relays >

Get your free leaflet now.

No More Choosing Between Sustainability and Safety (Flame Resistance):
The Standard Solution for the A2L Era

About-2-Major Refrigerants by GWP and Flammability Class
（ISO 817 / Representative Values）

Simplify Explosion-Proof Certification

Cut Cost and Development Time

Trends in Refrigerants for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Equipment and Panasonic Relay's Response　
< Panasonic Explosion-Proof Standard Compliant Relays >