What In The Hydrofluorocarbons?

There’s been a fair amount of talk and confusion about which refrigerants the industry will use in the wake of recent regulation changes.

I appreciate the opportunity to shed some light to everyone affected in our industry. As we get closer to the end of R-410A, I would like to invite you to take a closer look at where we are now, how we got here and where we’re going with the Washington State Energy Code (WSEC) and EPA plans for refrigerants.

HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHAT IS GWP?

Here’s a quick history lesson. The Montreal Protocol Agreement of 1987 established regulations limiting the amount of ozone depleting substances that could be brought to market, e.g. chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These substances received Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) ratings, around which the regulations were established. In 2020 the EPA established a new rating, GWP (Global Warming Potential), which helps regulate gasses that contribute to global warming. Check out the timeline on the next page for more.

1996: R-12 refrigerant is phased out due to its high ODP rating. It’s widely replaced with R-22.

2010: While it was an improvement over R-12, R-410A was even better, so R-12 is phased out.

2015: The EPA issues SNAP (Significant New Alternatives Plan) rules to further reduce the ODP ratings of refrigerant products.

2016: The Montreal Protocol Kigali Amendment calls for a gradual reduction of HFCs in production as well as consumption.

2017: Along with others, the great state of Washington begins working to further reduce HFCs produced through section 608 of the Clean Air Act.

2020: The AIM (American Innovation and Manufacturing) Act gives the EPA the authority to regulate global warming. This changes a multitude of factors in how the standards are rated. ODP is scrapped in favor of GWP. A GWP rating is a numerical value based off the global warming potential of CO2 at a value of 1; meaning that if a refrigerant is rated at 2080, it has 2080 times the potential of CO2 to contribute to global warming.

2021: Washington State decides not to wait for the EPA’s updated ruling on HFCs and establish their own GWP reduction plans for stationary air conditioning equipment manufacturers. Here’s a simplified layout:

January 1, 2024: 750 GWP limit for air conditioning chillers
January 1, 2025: 750 GWP limit for residential and commercial air conditioning
January 1, 2026: 750 GWP limit for variable flow refrigerant (VRF)

2022: The EPA publishes a NOPR (notice of proposed rule) that follows the same phase down cadence as the standard for the United States, apart from further reducing the GWP limit to 700.

This currently impacts, and will continue to impact the manufacturers of HVAC equipment, as well as how we plan, perform and service the clients of our industry. There are two clear front runners for the replacement of R-410A: R-32 and R- 454B, but neither of them are “drop in” replacements for a R-410A system. These imminent changes are being made in an effort to reduce the production and consumption of HFCs by 85% by 2029.

KEY DIFFERENCES IN THESE REFRIGERANTS:

R-410A: GWP rating of 2080, an ASHRAE A1 (non-flammable) designation, and is a blend of R-32/R-125 50/50
R-454B: GWP rating of 466, an ASHRAE A2L (mildly-flammable) designation, and is a blend of R-32/R-1234yf 69/31
R-32: GWP rating of 675, an ASHRAE A2L (mildly-flammable) designation, and is not a blend.

I hope that this sheds some light and simplifies the subject of the refrigeration changes that are happening all around us. If you have any questions about a specific topic or code that you’d like me to explain in the next issue, please feel free to reach out. I appreciate the opportunity to serve our community.