Two HCFC refrigerants are widely used in commercial cooling: R-123 and R-22. R-123 will be phased out for new HVAC equipment on Jan. 1, 2020; it will continue to be produced for servicing equipment until 2030.
Opteon™ XP30 (R-514A) refrigerant is a non-ozone depleting, low global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) based replacement for R-123. It is suitable for new and retrofit systems, offering an optimal balance of properties, including high energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
In the first half of 2024 we'll phase out our R-410A dedicated models and introduce -01 refrigerant versatile models, compatible with both R-410A and R-454B refrigerants.
January 1, 2025: Importation of HCFC-123, used as a fire extinguishing agent, will be completely prohibited, except for servicing existing systems. That means importation and manufacture are prohibited, but refilling of existing equipment is still allowed.
This group of synthetic refrigerants is not subject to a ban on use. This means that installations using R134a, R407C and R410A can simply be refilled after 2030. However, there will be significantly less synthetic refrigerant available in the future due to production limitations.
It is anticipated that by 2025 all vehicles will contain 1234YF. Don't fret, however, if your current vehicle requires 134a. Though 134a is not compatible with 1234YF and is expected to be phased out, it is still in production and will continue as long as there is a demand for repair of older vehicles.
R-1234yf refrigerant. To date, most auto manufacturers are using the hydro fluoro olefin (HFO) refrigerant R-1234yf as the replacement of choice for R134a.
R22 (also known as HCFC-22) is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) once widely used as a refrigerant. If your home or office AC is over 10 years old, it's probably using R22 freon. However, R22 Freon is banned in the U.S. today.
In 2010, the U.S. stopped the sale of newly manufactured residential air conditioning units and heat pumps that use R-22 because of its particularly harmful impact on the ozone layer when released into the air.
HCFC-123 is currently imported or reclaimed for use as a refrigerant and for the manufacture of a fire suppression agent used in handheld extinguishers, wheeled extinguishers, and aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles in commercial, industrial, transportation, and military applications in the United States.
For homeowners, the 2025 refrigerant changes mean new air conditioning systems purchased after this date will likely use R-32, R-454B, or other low-GWP refrigerants.
In January 2010, the EPA issued a mandate that R-22 refrigerant be phased out except to accommodate existing equipment.
It was only after 2020 that it became illegal to manufacture or import R-22 refrigerant. R-410A will be phased out in much the same way. Since so many systems use R-410A refrigerant, it's not going anywhere. We'll have R-410A on hand for many years to come and will easily be able to service HVAC systems that use it.
Freon™ 123 refrigerant is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) replacement for the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) R-11 in centrifugal chillers.
The cooling capacity of R1234yf used as a drop-in replacement in a R134a refrigerant facility is about 9% lower than that presented by R134a in the test range. This difference in the values of cooling capacity obtained with both refrigerants decreases when the condensing temperature increases and when an IHX is used.
R-454B is the newest refrigerant, which will gradually replace R-410A, the refrigerant used in current HVAC manufacturing. R-454B is a blend of R-32, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), and R-1234yf a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO). R-454B has a lower GWP than previous refrigerants, meaning it has a much lower climate impact.
The Phaseout of R22 Refrigerant
By January 1, 2030, the government will ban all production and import of HCFCs, including R-22.
More About the Phase Out
Unfortunately, this refrigerant contains high levels of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) known to deplete the planet's protective Ozone layer. Many regulations (including the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment) have been passed to contain global warming.
American Standard is phasing in the transition to new refrigerants in 2024, starting with the adoption of R-454B refrigerant in its residential products, beginning with the Silver 15 Heat Pump.
Still, the answer is an emphatic, “No.” Not only would a retrofit of this type negate the environmental benefits of R-1234yf, but it would also be a violation of Federal Law under Section 203 of the Clean Air Act: “tampering” with a vehicle's emissions control device.
R-454B is the new refrigerant in 2024. By 2025, the EPA's required phaseout of R-410A will be in full effect, with production, importation, and distribution no longer allowed. HVACR businesses must be evaluating their current choices in coolant and ready to make the jump.
The banning of R134a, along with 27 other refrigerants, in new domestic refrigerators and freezers from January 1, 2021, is expected to open the way for the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants.
Refrigerant types are not to be mixed. The usage of dyes and sealants is discouraged. Dyes and sealants are considered contaminants and will reduce the performance and longevity of the lubricant. Use refrigerant sniffers for leak detection and repair leaking equipment per SAE and EPA guidelines.
The new A2L refrigerant, R444A, originally developed as an alternative to R134a in vehicle AC systems, will now be offered as a compatible, cheaper alternative to R1234yf. Formerly known as AC5, R444A blends R1234ze(E) with 12% R32 and 5% R152a. It has a GWP of 92 under AR4.
In most cars that are on the road today, R134a refrigerant makes the A/C system blow cold on hot days. Selected for its low flammability and safety, as well as because it's kinder to the environment, almost every car built since 1994 is equipped with R134 refrigerant. However, kinder is the key word.