They often say that the only constant is change, and if you’re referring to the rules and regulations of the HVACR industry, you’d certainly be right. As we begin to close the book on 2022, the industry is on the cusp of yet another refrigerant phasedown with R-410a being scheduled for elimination from all new systems in the new year.
With plenty of questions in the air heading into 2023, we’re here to provide some clarity on the R-410a phase-out schedule and the impact of this R-410a phase-out in general.
R-410a Refrigerant Phase Out: The Background
This year marked the first stage of the HFC phasedown as mandated by the 2020 American Innovation & Manufacturing (AIM) Act, with the production of HFC refrigerants such as R-410a and R-404a having been reduced by 10% as of January 1. While this reduction is unlikely to have a significant effect on the HVACR industry, a much steeper cut is coming in 2024, when production must be reduced to 60% of the baseline established by the EPA.
Stemming from the AIM Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been authorized to initiate the R-410a phase-out, which would reduce the manufacture and importation of this commonly used refrigerant for residential cooling systems.
R-410a Phase Out Schedule
Starting in 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will raise the minimum efficiency requirements for central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps in an attempt to improve their efficiency and eco-friendliness. Systems sold in the U.S. beginning January 1, 2023, must meet those new minimum standards.
So why the R-410a phase out? While HFCs such as R-410a and R-404a don’t damage the ozone layer, they are considered to be contributing to global warming, which is why entities ranging from states and industry associations to environmental groups are calling for a reduction in their use.
What Will Replace R-410a?
Beginning in 2023 R-32 and R-454b refrigerants are slated to begin replacing R410a in U.S. HVAC equipment. R-32, currently used with other refrigerant gasses to make R410a, is a readily available substitute that features the following:
- Zero Ozone depletion
- 1/3 GWP (Global Warming Potential) of R-410a
- Superior energy efficiency
- High refrigeration capacity & thermal conductivity
- Low-pressure drop
- Single-component refrigerant that is easy to handle and recover
- Low toxicity
R-454b, with an even higher efficiency for heating than R-32, requires 5-10% less refrigerant for equipment than those using R-410a. R-454b also has a lower GWP than R-32, 465 as opposed to 675. Opteon™ XL41 is also another R-410a replacement option.
Implications of the R-410a Phase-Out
As opposed to the last refrigerant transition, which moved from one non-flammable (R-22) to another (R-410A), the two alternatives currently under consideration to replace R-410A in air conditioning equipment – R-454B and R-32 – are mildly flammable (A2L). While most building codes do not allow the installation of comfort cooling equipment containing A2L refrigerants, industry experts are hopeful that the next international building code update — which will be available in 2024 — will include the use of A2L refrigerants.
Until then, cooling equipment containing A2Ls will likely not be widely available in the marketplace, meaning technicians will have little time to familiarize themselves with the new technology before the EPA’s potential ban on R-410a in new equipment starting in 2025.
This timeline creates a more challenging transition for both manufacturers and technicians heading into the R-410a phase-out next year, as R-410a equipment was readily available for more than a decade before the end of R-22 manufacturing in 2010.
R-410a Refrigerant Phase Out: Conclusion
Technicians will need to be trained on how to properly install and service systems containing A2L refrigerants, which takes time. While several entities are already offering training (reference ACCA or ESCO Group), some contractors have decided to hold off until the EPA or manufacturer guidelines provide more clarity on which A2L refrigerant will be used going forward.
Now that the HFC phasedown has begun and the industry will transition to air conditioning equipment that contains something other than R-410a, there are plenty of questions heading into 2023 and beyond. While we all hope for a smooth transition, we remain committed to providing updates as they become available. We will continue to make sure that technicians everywhere are as informed as possible on the R-410a phase-out and potential ban, along with other changes impacting the HVACR industry. Read more about the SEER2 requirements in 2023.
