Making the Switch to A2L Refrigerants

The HVAC industry is switching away from high Global Warming Potential HFC refrigerants to more environmentally friendly refrigerants like HFO R-454b and HFC R-32 which have significantly lower GWP numbers than R-410a. R-454b has a GWP of 466, 78% lower than R-410a. R-32 GWP number is 675, 68% lower than the 2088 GWP of R-410a. R-454b and R-32 GWP are lower than the national 700 GWP, EPA will require on January 1, 2025.

The newer refrigerants offer similar performance to what R-410a offered. R-454b has slightly lower operation pressures and R-32 pressures are slightly higher. The new systems will take less of a charge then a typical R-410a system, making them lighter than existing units. A2L refrigerants are proven and established refrigerants. They have been used globally, R-454b for many years and R-32 for over a decade in Asia and Europe.

Unlike R-410a that comes in a 25lb cylinder, A2L refrigerants will come in 20lb disposable cylinders. R-32 will be readily available in a convenient 2lb size as well. Unlike the pink R-410a containers we are used to, the A2L cylinders will both be grey and stamped with the refrigerant number printed on them. Both will have a red band around the top as a warning that says: "Something is different" about this refrigerant. A2L refrigerant cylinders will have a pressure relief valve instead of the burst disc we see on present containers. This is done to ensure the refrigerant does not pose a fire hazard while stored in a non-conditioned service vehicle.

When the AIM Act was announced in December of 2020, it included a provision that A2L refrigerants must come in a refillable container and have a QR code for tracking requirements. In December of 2023, the EPA made the following announcement: "EPA announces plan to formally withdraw refillable cylinder and QR code for tracking requirement allocation rules...(EPA) is acting consistent with the (appeals court) decision and is not implementing or enforcing the QR code and tracking requirements for all cylinders containing HFCs found at: 40 CRF 84.23. EPA intends to undertake a rulemaking to formally remove this from the code of federal regulations".

For now, we will not be required to use refillable containers and there will be no QR code or tracking of refrigerants by EPA regulation on HFC refrigerant cylinders.

With all the delays in having an established or finalized rule, A2L cylinder manufacturers are experiencing longer than usual lead times in producing 20lb A2L disposable cylinders. There is no shortage of 2lb disposable cylinders of r-32 as of now.

R-32 refrigerant is a single component refrigerant. It can be charges as either a vapor or a liquid. If charging as vapor the cylinder can remain upright. If charged as liquid the cylinder must be turned upside down for the refrigerant to flow. R-454b is a blend of refrigerants consisting of 68.8% of R-32 and 31.1% of R-1234yf. With that said, this refrigerant must be charged as a liquid and can be turned upside down, similar to installing R-410a.

Equipment with these two refrigerants is already being produced by American manufacturers. It is showing up at various distributors and installed by HVAC professionals. In fact, no R-410a systems can be manufactured after December 31, 2024. Except for VRF systems, all R-410a residential equipment must be installed by December 31, 2025. It will be a federal offense to install non-VRF R-410a systems effective January 1, 2026.