Understanding Refrigerant Regulations
Industry Regulations: Myth vs. Fact
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MYTH: HFO blends are not long term refrigerant solutions and will be phased-out due to the Kigali Amendment
FACT:
Regulations impacting refrigerants in the future, such as the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol are not focused on “banning” or “phasing out” specific products. They are intended to reduce the environmental impact of all refrigerants as a group. The current regulatory landscape does not seek to specify a solution. It establishes a framework that protects the environment, while providing numerous technology options for end-users to choose from that best balances their specific requirements.
The industry has clearly determined that a variety of refrigerants (with a range of GWPs) are necessary to meet societal needs.
Supporting Resources:
Dr. Chuck Video: Phase Down vs Phase Out
UK Retailer ASDA Switches to A2L Refrigerants
Carrier Introduces Puron AdvanceTM The Next Generation Refrigerant…
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MYTH: HFOs are interim refrigerant solutions
FACT:
HFOs are a critical part of our industry's future for the long term. HFO refrigerants and HFO blends are non-ozone depleting with low-GWP, offering high performance alternatives to HCFCs and HFCs. HFOs will be in use for years to come. In fact, some HFOs offer even lower global warming potential compared to CO₂.
Supporting Resources:
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MYTH: HFO and HFC decomposition to TFA causes acid rain and is a risk to the environment.
FACT:
Trifluoroacetic acid, or TFA, is a naturally occurring organic acid with a similar structure to acetic acid (e.g., vinegar). More than 200 million tons of TFA are found in the world’s oceans. Trace amounts of TFA are also found in rain, fog, sea spray, lake and river water, and soil. Numerous independent, peer-reviewed studies conducted over the past two decades have concluded that TFA from manmade sources does not pose a risk to the environment or human health. Mammals, including humans, are unaffected by TFA at levels many hundreds to thousands of times higher than are expected to occur in the environment.
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