HVAC Industry Update

Next-Generation Refrigerants
Commercial, residential and industrial buildings are responsible for about half of the world’s energy consumption
and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with HVAC systems playing a significant role in both of these impacts.
Industry Consensus on HFC Refrigerants Global HFC Phase-Down Effective January 1, 2019
The industry is working through its national associations A look at the global phase-down schedule established by the Kigali
to engage non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which became official on Developed (non-Article 5) Countries:
and governments around the world to ensure that the November 17, 2017 when it received its 20th ratification. European Union (EU)
Montreal Protocol is used to transition away from high- Developed Nations
Europe is shown separately as they are leading the global phase down
GWP refrigerants in a way that is technically feasible Developing (Article 5) Countries:
with actions already taken.
and allows for service. Group 1
More information available at http://ozone.unep.org/sites/ozone/files/ Group 2
pdfs/FAQs_Kigali_Amendment.pdf
Established Baseline Quantity
Refrigerant Regulatory Evolution 90%
93
90 90 90

The global scrutiny on the GWP of all current- 80% 80

generation refrigerants continues to grow, pushing the 70% 70 70
industry to next-generation options.
% of baseline

63
60% 60

PA ST T RAN S ITIO NAL N E X T- G E N E R AT I O N 50% 50

45
CFCs HCFCs & HFCs HFOs & HFO Blends 40%
R-11, R-12, R-113 R-22, R-123, R-134a, R-452B, R-454B, 31
30% 30
& others R-245fa, R-404A, R-513A, R-514A,
24
R-407C, R-410A R-1233zd, R-1234yf, 20% 21 20 20
& others R-1234ze & others 15 15
10%

Low ODP Reduced GWP

or no ODP and 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030 2032 2034 2036 2038 2040 2042 2044 2046 2048
de minimis ODP Group 1: Article 5 parties not part of Group 2
Group 2: Bahrain, India, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

National and regional regulations are coming into force around the world that will restrict the use of HFCs.

2025
Refrigerant Management Requirements
Regulatory Timeline EU HFC phase out
in mini-splits if
Section 608 of the U.S. Clean Air Act – effective January 1, 2017, the requirements are
GWP > 750
HFCs Current Regulations
becoming more stringent. The U.S. EPA has indicated they plan to re-visit certain aspects
of the 2016 rule which extended refrigerant management requirements to non-exempt
2013 2017 2018 2020 2021 2025 substitutes.
EU began U.S. began Japan HFC phase Japan HFC phase California Draft Proposal: Canada
HFC phase-out in chillers
HFC phase down HFC phase down out for room air out for commercial HFC phase out The more stringent handling requirements that go into effect starting in 2018 enhance the
if GWP > 150 & in
in non-HVAC in non-HVAC conditioning if air conditioning if stationary AC if in chillers if
applications applications GWP > 750 GWP > 750 GWP > 750 GWP > 750 appeal of leak-tight designs, such as hermetically-sealed.
Current Regulations Former Regulations Current Regulations Current Regulations Draft Proposed Regulations Current Regulations More information available at
https://www.epa.gov/section608/revised-section-608-refrigerant-management-regulations

1996 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 Future Availability

The U.S. EPA allows for continued use of recycled, recovered and stockpiled supplies of all
R-11 & R-12 Production of Production of Production of Production of refrigerants indefinitely, regardless of phase out date.
production ended new R-22 new R-22 new R-123 new HCFCs
(refrigerant & new equipment refrigerant ends refrigerant ends ends*
equipment) ended (service tail) (service tail)
Developing Countries
American Innovation & Manufacturing Act of 2018
Developed Countries Developed Countries
Production of
Developed Countries
A bipartisan bill introduced February 15, 2018 to advance next-generation technologies as
CFCs & HCFCs new R-123
* The Montreal Protocol allows
alternatives to HFCs. This bill would give the U.S. EPA the authority to phase down HFCs in
equipment ends
individual countries to establish their the U.S., but ratification of Kigali is necessary to fully manage the process.
Developed Countries own timelines for individual refrigerants. https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2448

Key Terms Defined: HFO blends (e.g. R-452B, R-454B, R-513A, R-514A) – blends including an HFO. They feature
lower GWPs and, as they receive ASHRAE classification and SNAP approval, are becoming
available for use in specific applications.
ODP – ozone depletion potential – degree to which a substance can degrade the ozone
layer; all measurements relative to a similar mass of CFC-11, which is indexed at 1.0. • Zeotropes (400 series blends) – have components that boil and condense at different
temperatures (i.e. have some degree of temperature glide). Lower glide is typically preferred
GWP – global warming potential – degree to which a greenhouse gas (GHG) traps heat in for HVAC applications.
the atmosphere; all measurements relative to a similar mass of carbon dioxide (CO2), which • Azeotropes (500 series blends) – behave like a single component refrigerant during phase
is indexed at 1.0. The buildup of GHGs can cause climate change. change, with virtually no temperature glide.
CFCs – chlorofluorocarbons (e.g. R-11, R-12) – phased out by the Montreal Protocol in
Montreal Protocol – international treaty signed in 1987, originally designed to protect the
1996 because of their very high ODPs. Significant impact on both ozone depletion and
ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances.
global warming due to the chlorine and fluorine atoms and very long atmospheric lives.
The Kigali Agreement was officially ratified in 2017 as an amendment to the Montreal
HCFCs – hydrochlorofluorocarbons (e.g. R-22, R-123) – also contain chlorine, but Protocol, and phases down the global production and consumption of HFCs beginning
contribute less to ozone depletion and climate change due to shorter atmospheric lives. January 1, 2019. Individual countries must ratify the amendment for it to apply
Still in use globally, but have phase-out dates scheduled under the Montreal Protocol. domestically.

HFCs – hydrofluorocarbons (e.g. R-134a, R-404A, R-407C, R-410A) – do not contain SNAP – the Significant New Alternatives Policy of the U.S.
chlorine, but they do have high GWPs given their fluorine content. Now being phased Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluates refrigerants and
down globally under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. classifies them as acceptable or unacceptable replacements based
on their overall risk to human health and the environment.
HFOs & HCFOs– hydrofluoro-olefins (e.g. R-1234yf, R-1234ze) and hydrochlorofluoro-
olefins (e.g. R-1233zd) – next-generation refrigerants that are non-ozone-depleting with De minimis - lacking significance or importance; too
ultra-low GWPs and very short atmospheric lives (measured in days vs. years or decades). trivial or minor to merit consideration.
 Considerations When Selecting Refrigerants Additional Information About Select Refrigerants
R-452B, Two alternatives for R-410A that, when used as a drop-in, deliver similar capacity, about
5% better efficiency and an opportunity to reduce refrigerant charge. Both are classified
Flammability R-454B as A2L under ASHRAE Standard 34.
Refrigerant Safety Burning
With the transition to lower-GWP Groups Velocity Non-flammable replacement for R-134a, which has no impact on capacity, near-zero
(cm/s)
refrigerant options, flammability ODP and 55% lower GWP (573 vs. 1300). While the theoretical efficiency drop is about
Class 3 R-513A
has emerged as a new variable for
consideration, especially in higher
Higher
Flammability
A3 B3 2%, if used as a drop-in, the actual impact on chiller efficiency has been about 4-6%,
depending on application.
BV>10
operating pressures. Class 2
Non-flammable replacement for R-123 that offers the highest performance of all next-
In 2010, a new flammability Lower
Flammability
A2 B2 R-514A
generation options available today with zero ODP and a GWP of 2. While classified
a “B1”, R-514A has a dramatically improved exposure limit (6X higher) compared to
category was created within R-123, a fluid that has been safely used for ≥500,000 chiller years of operation over the
ASHRAE 34. Subclass 2L captures Class 2L
refrigerants with a Burning Difficult to
Ignite & Sustain
A2L B2L BV≤10 past 25 years.
A single molecule non-flammable replacement for R-123, which offers near-zero
Velocity (BV) less than 10 cm/
R-1233zd ODP and an ultra low GWP of 1. Often referred to as “zd”, it is classified as an “A1”
second and a high Minimum Class 1

Ignition Energy (MIE), i.e. difficult

No Flame
Propagation
A1 B1 BV=0 refrigerant.
A single molecule replacement for R-134a, which offers zero ODP and an ultra-low
to ignite and sustain a flame.
Lower Higher GWP of 1. It is classified as A2L under ASHRAE Standard 34. It is considered non-
The industry continues to Toxicity Toxicity R-1234ze flammable for handling, manufacturing and design by European pressure equipment
debate the application of slightly directive (PED), resulting in some early use in Europe, but U.S. standards all consider it
flammable (2L) refrigerants. Specifically, ASHRAE 15 and UL 60335-2-40 need flammable.
to be updated to include more reasonable requirements that reflect the less
flammable nature of 2L refrigerants compared to Class 2 flammability on which Operating Pressure by Refrigerant
current standards are based. Evap 42°F (5.5°C)

This graphic compares the operating pressures of each refrigerant: Off Line 75°F (24°C)
Cond 97°F (36°C)
Trane is committed to offering non-flammable solutions whenever possible, and
Low Pressure Medium Pressure High Pressure
the lowest possible flammability when slightly flammable solutions are required. 325 2,241

Toxicity 275 Lower operating pressures translate into:

• Higher efficiency
1,896

225 • Lower leak potential 1,551

This is, perhaps, one of the most misunderstood properties of refrigerants.
Specifically, it is important to distinguish between toxicity and safety; they are 175 1,207
psig

kPa
not the same. Because refrigerants displace oxygen, the greatest safety risk
associated with all refrigerants is exposure leading to asphyxiation. Occupants 125 862
are significantly less likely to be exposed to unsafe levels of low pressure 75 517
refrigerants because – in the event of a leak – air would leak into the machine
rather than being expelled into the space. 25 172

ASHRAE 34 classifies a refrigerant’s toxicity based on its operational exposure -25 R-123 R-1233zd R-514A R-134a R-513A R-1234ze R-1234yf R-22 R-410A R-452B R-454B R-32 -172
limit (OEL). OEL refers to the time-weighted average concentration of
refrigerant to which “nearly all workers can be repeatedly exposed without Environmental Impact by Refrigerant
adverse effect” over the course of “a normal eight-hour workday and a 40-hour
Below are the theoretical efficiencies of common refrigerants, with all variables held
workweek”:
constant for comparison:
• Class A refrigerants have an OEL ≥ 400 ppm Past Transitional Next -Generation
• Class B refrigerants have an OEL < 400 ppm Low Pressure Medium Pressure High Pressure
Refrigerant Efficiency (COP)
All variables held constant for comparison

R-123 has an OEL of 50 ppm. This means you should see no negative effect 9.0 9.10
if you are exposed to 50 ppm of R-123 for 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week. For 8.95
8.85 8.91
8.78 2L 2L 2L 2L 2L
chiller applications, rarely do mechanical rooms see > 2 ppm, and this exposure 8.5 8.58
typically occurs during servicing for very short periods of time. 8.47 8.45 8.48
8.22
8.28
8.17
To avoid confusion with building code definitions, ASHRAE 34 was updated to 8.0
7.99
8.14 8.15
Non- Non- Non-
indicate toxic, highly toxic or neither as defined in the International Fire Code ASME ASME ASME
(IFC), Uniform Fire Code (UFC) and OSHA regulations. None of the refrigerants 7.5
R-11

R-123

R-245fa

R-1233zd

R-514A

R-12

R-134a

R-513A

R-1234ze

R-1234yf

R-22

R-410A

R-452B

R-454B

R-32
shown in the table are considered toxic or highly toxic by the IFC, UFC or
OSHA, or in the NFPA 1 (National Fire Protection Association) Fire Code.

Refrigerant Choices This table compares various properties of both current and next-generation refrigerants. The efficiencies and capacity changes shown are based on the
theoretical properties of the refrigerant alone, with all design variables held constant for objective comparison.

Low Pressure Medium Pressure High Pressure

R-123 R-1233zd R-514A R-134a R-513A R-1234ze R-1234yf R-22 R-410A R-452B R-454B R-32
Flammability ASHRAE Class 1 1 1 1 1 2L 2L 1 1 2L 2L 2L
ASHRAE Class Higher (B) Lower (A) Higher (B) Lower (A) Lower (A) Lower (A) Lower (A) Lower (A) Lower (A) Lower (A) Lower (A) Lower (A)
Toxicity1
OEL 50 800 320 1000 650 800 500 1000 1000 870 850 1000
Efficiency (COP) 8.95 8.85 8.91 8.47 8.28 8.45 8.17 8.48 7.99 8.14 8.15 8.22
Capacity Change baseline ~35% gain ~5% loss baseline similar ~25% loss ~5% loss baseline ~2% loss ~3% loss ~9% gain
GWP2 79 1 2 1300 573 1 1 1760 1924 675 466 677
Atmospheric Life 1.3 years 26 days 22 days 13.4 years 5.9 years 16 days 11 days 11.9 years 17 years 5.5 years 3.6 years 5.2 years
1
None of the refrigerants shown in the table are considered “toxic” or “highly toxic” as defined by the IFC, UFC, NFPA 1 or OSHA regulations.
2
GWP values reported are per the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

How Do You Protect Your Investment?

Choose the best refrigerant for each application based on a balance of safety (toxicity,
flammability, asphyxiation and physical hazards), environmental impacts (lowest GHG
emissions) and total cost of ownership (energy efficiency of the entire system). Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) advances the quality of life by creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient
environments. Our people and our family of brands—including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Thermo King® and
Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings; transport and
protect food and perishables; and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. We are a $14 billion global
business committed to a world of sustainable progress and enduring results. For more information, visit www.
“First Cost” (chiller + refrigerant) 4.92%
ingersollrand.com.
Lifetime Service Costs* 6.53%
Lifetime Refrigerant Supply* 0.04%
Lifetime Electrical Costs 88.51%
*based on a low-pressure, hermetic design

30 Year Investment
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are trademarks of Trane in the United States and other countries.

The Ingersoll Rand EcoWise™ portfolio of products designed to lower

environmental impact with next-generation, low-GWP refrigerants and higher
We are committed to using environmentally conscious print practices. ©2018 Ingersoll Rand REFR-PRB001D-EN
efficiency operation is part of our climate commitment to increase energy
March 29, 2018
efficiency and reduce the GHG emissions related to our operations and products.