Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine January 2024

HVACR NewsMagazine January 2024

Tech News

Training & Certification

As of right now, there will be no new training or certifications required for technicians to work on systems with A2L refrigerants. Technicians will only need their usual EPA 608 certification. However, the EPA is now accepting comments about training requirements on a proposed rule (link to

section VIII of the proposed rule). You can submit a comment on this proposed rule on the regulations.gov website HERE. Similarities Between A1s and A2Ls Unlike the shift from R-22 to R-410A, we’ll start using refrigerants that have chemical properties that are very similar to R-410A.

There are two parts to the EPA’s phase down process: setting manufacturing limits (for refrigerant producers like Chemours, Honeywell, etc.) and mandating field practices. Currently, refrigerant manufacturers like Chemours have no legal need to stop making R-410A. This phase- down isn’t like the R-22 phaseout we saw in 2020, where production stopped completely. Instead, the EPA gradually issues lower production allowances to these manufacturers until we reach that 85% phase-down target. Refrigerant manufacturers may stop producing R 410A when the demand for the refrigerant no longer requires new R-410A to keep entering the market. Many of the field practices that will be mandated involve leak detection (and installing sensors), restrictions on installing new equipment, and leak repair. These have yet to go into effect and will be covered in greater detail later in this tech tip.

R-410A versus R454B

How similar? • Similar Pressure-Temperature profiles • Similar Thermodynamic properties • Similar material compatibility • Similar oil types / compatibility • Similar system architectures

How different? •

A2Ls have lower GWP o R-454B vs R-410A-78% reduction • A1s-No flame propagation o Can combust and burn

A2Ls — Lower flammability

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