The HVACR industry is transitioning away from high- GWP, nonflammable refrigerants, such as R-404A and R-410A, to low- GWP alternatives R-290, and flammability refrigerants.
On the refrigeration side, the industry is still waiting on some of these steps, and the crucial first step of updating the safety standards to allow the use of A2L refrigerants is finished...
The standard, UL 60335-2-89, and the standard, ASHRAE 2019 Addendum l, have both been published, establishing the charge limits and mitigations needed to use A2Ls, said Jennifer Butsch, director of regulatory affairs at Emerson..
Over the next few years, we expect the regulatory and code updates to follow suit.
The bottom line is that in addition to complying with UL 60335-2-89, A2Ls must be listed for use in equipment classes by EPA's SNAP program and building codes updated to allow their use in equipment, said Christopher Gangemi, segment marketing manager of refrigeration at Danfoss...
Heatcraft has evaluated many different A2Ls, and the company is testing R-455A, R-454C, and R-454A in its equipment — when it can obtain the refrigerant and the components...
Emerson is also in the process of approving R-455A, R-454C, and R-454A and glide is one of the many considerations that must be taken into account, said Joe Summers, manager of scrolls and drives at Emerson.
With GWPs of less than 150, R-454C and R-455A will meet California's limits for new equipment, and some of the petitions that EPA is considering.
Ultimately, changes to equipment will be needed order to be qualified for use with A2L refrigerants safely deliver the same levels of performance and reliability as their A1 equivalents, said Summers...
These have enabled the use of lower- GWP options, including A2Ls, in refrigeration and will help end users to lower emissions, better meet sustainability goals, and also meet compliance, ...
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