R454B
In 2025, EPA regulations will mandate a change to refrigerants that have a lower global warming potential (GWP). For Carrier and its associated brands, that means a transition from R-410A to R-454B, which has one fourth the GWP of R-410A*.
R-454B is in a specific class of refrigerants known as A2L, whereas R-410A is a class A1 refrigerant. Without going into all the technical details, R-454B offers similar operating temperatures, pressures, and oil compatibility as R-410A - reducing the learning curve associated with the new refrigerant. However, there are two key precautions that must be taken into account:
• R-454B and R-410A (or any refrigerant for that matter) cannot be mixed or cross-contaminated
• R-454B, as with all A2L refrigerants (including R-32), has a mildly flammable characteristic - meaning:
(1) a direct flame source and a high concentration of refrigerant is required to create a flame
(2) that if it were to ignite, the flame would likely be unsustainable and
(3) the spread rate would be less than half a mile per hour - slower than a typical walking speed.
These differences do require that additional measures be taken from a servicing perspective to avoid cross contamination and/or make certain no sparks are inadvertently generated.
Service technicians use a variety of equipment on the job - vacuum pumps & recovery machines, recovery cylinders, gauges/manifolds, leak detectors, scales, hoses, etc.
* Puron® and Puron Advance™ are trade names for R-410A and R-454B and are used exclusively with Carrier and Bryant branded products.
R-454B will deliver comfort, efficiency and a dramatically reduced global warming potential (GWP) to meet regulations expected to take effect in 2025. READY FOR 2025 AND BEYOND In a worldwide effort to address climate change concerns, global leaders have proposed a phase down of high Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants as a part of the Kigali Amendment to the United Nations’ Montreal Protocol. Although the United States as a whole has not yet ratified this agreement, states involved in the U.S. Climate Alliance* are embracing the reductions. Based on proposed California regulations, it is anticipated that many U.S. states will be limiting the GWP for refrigerants used in HVAC applications at a maximum of 750, possibly as early as 2025. Our current R-410A refrigerant, while excellent at providing a non-ozone-depleting alternative to R-22, has a GWP of 2088, well above the anticipated future limit. That is why we are in the process of developing new products that will use R-454B refrigerant. The new R-454B is a blend of R-32 and R-1234yf. It has a much lower GWP — 465 — which easily surpasses the proposed 2025 requirement. And, it will continue to meet the anticipated future Kigali phase down requirements well into the 2030s. *https://www.usclimatealliance.org/ WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR SERVICE TECHNICIANS? Because it operates at temperatures and pressures similar to those of our current refrigerant, switching to R-454B should be a relatively easy transition. While final details and state adoptions are still being worked out, new safety standards have been established and are pending for adoption into future building codes. The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is leading a Safe Refrigerant Transition Task Force to work with code bodies to develop requirements for: • Installation, operation and maintenance • DOT, shipping, packaging, handling, and warehousing • Bulk storage/manufacturing facilities • Communications • Safety training