It is undeniable that the modern HVAC has become a great luxury used by many and take it often taken for granted, whether at home or in buildings. The aspects of controlling temperatures have made people forget the effect on the environment. Regulators and manufacturers in the industry are trying to make HVAC systems as energy-efficient and generate as less waste as possible in order to protect our planet.
Beginning in 2025, the primary refrigerants used in residential and commercial air conditioning systems in North America will be replaced. Those of us in the HVAC trade will be greatly affected by these changes over the next few years.
More About the Phase-Out
R410 refrigerant has been used to cool buildings and homes for years, but the refrigerant contains highly damaging hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to the ozone layer. International policies such as the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment will limit these greenhouse gases and control global warming.
The American Innovation Manufacturing (AIM) act, adopted in 2020, had granted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the power to set rules on HFC use, and in September 2021 the EPA published its plan to gradually reduce consumption of HFCs from 2022 through 2036.
Starting in 2025, the AIM Act will ban R410 from all HVAC systems in the US. In conjunction, the AIM Act updates the government’s energy efficiency standards for new HVAC equipment via increased requirements called SEER2. These updates drastically affect the choice of refrigerant for new HVAC equipment.
It will also probably be on the lookout for R410: by the time the ban goes into effect in January 2025, it is likely that new HVAC systems will have been installed with sensors to detect R410 refrigerant, and that they will be configured to shut down if R410 is detected.
What Will Replace R410 Refrigerant?
The EPA lists only two different A2L refrigerants – R32 and R454B – as the obvious best replacements for R410, since they deliver roughly the same heat-transfer abilities without extraordinary high greenhouse and HFC emissions. These refrigerants will work for most systems.
But the transition will not be simple. A2L refrigerants are somewhat flammable; they need a lot of energy to ignite, but they do burn, so HVAC professionals need to be trained in safe handling.
Notably, current HVAC units also cannot be retrofitted to use A2L refrigerant, so the use of A2L refrigerants should be restricted to new systems specifically designed for A2L refrigerant. HVAC professionals will be working with both A1 and A2L refrigerants until older systems that use R410 are phased out.
Preparing for the Transition
There will be no rapid, overnight change, either: R410/HFC-125 will be circulating through HVAC systems for years to come. Nevertheless, there are certain things we can do to get ready.
The Burban Air Systems Ltd team is gearing up for the imminent change. The company is determined to keep abreast of the latest industry developments that will enable its staff to provide the best possible service. The team will be able to meet the challenges of the new standards with the right knowledge and competence to guide customers through this change process, giving them the answers they need.
So, if people have queries about the R-410 phase-out or switching to A2L refrigerants, they can feel free to contact our team anytime. Our dedicated team will be ready to assist you through the transition process.