Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Ventilation Supplier Oldach hosted A2L/R454B Refrigerant classes at their Orlando, Kissimmee and Tampa stores in late May 2024. ChemPenn HVAC Eastern U.S. Trainer Bruce Heberle conducted the sessions.
The three-hour presentations covered how the industry transitioned to A2Ls, what HFOs are, A2L safety and tools, as well as A2L storing, handling and service best practices. Completers of the classes qualified for 3 credit hours of NATE certification training.
Recent refrigerant history for residential HVAC equipment has been driven by the Environmental Protection Agency’s AIM (American Innovation and Manufacturing) Act’s efforts to reduce damage to the earth’s atmosphere. The first step was to reduce the use and manufacture of HFCs and HCFC, both ozone-depleting refrigerants with very high global warming potentials (GWPs). These refrigerants included R-22 and its replacement, R-410A, a HFC which does not deplete the ozone layer but has a high GWP. The current answer is the A2L (low toxicity, mildly flammable) class of HFO (hydrofluoroolefin) and HFO/HFC blend refrigerants which feature drastically lower GWP and zero ozone depletion. A2L refrigerants offer similar operating characteristics and are more energy efficient than R-410A. Even though A2Ls exhibit some similar properties as R-410A, they should not be used in R-410A systems!
Two A2L refrigerants have been selected by OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to replace R-410A in new residential and commercial HVAC systems: R-32 and R-454B. Performance, toxicity, flammability and servicing criteria are equal or nearly equal for both refrigerants but R-454B has a lower GWP and generates lower compressor discharge temperatures than R-32.
A2L refrigerant cylinders will be changing. They will have a permanent red stripe around them, or the entire top will be red, indicating it is a flammable gas. A2L cylinders will have left-handed threads for the hose connections. The tanks will have a pressure-relief valve, limiting charge loss, rather than a rupture disc.
Service trucks with less than 440 pounds of A2L refrigerant on board will not be required by the Department of Transportation to have placards but local restrictions and codes may be different. The cylinders should be stored and transported in an upright position to keep the vapor space in contact with the relief valve.
Many of the service best practices for A2Ls are the same as for R-410A (A1 refrigerants) but there are 3 that are now required: 1) Purge circuit with an inert gas (oxygen-free nitrogen), 2) Evacuate the circuit, and 3) perform a leak and pressure test.
Oldach operates three stores in Florida:
3004 Silver Star Road, Orlando (407.270.9670), 1001 Armstrong Boulevard, Suite 13, Kissimmee (407.530.5599), and 5110 West Knox St., Tampa (813.559.7300).
For more information about Oldach, visit https://oldachusa.com.
