R-410A to A2L Questions Answered The federally mandated phase down of R-410A refrigerant is underway. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your properties and maintenance teams are fully prepared for this refrigerant transition. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has enacted regulations limiting refrigerants with high Global Warming Potential (GWP). Refrigerants in this phase down include R-410A (air conditioners, heat pumps, PTACs, mini- splits), R-134A (commercial refrigerators), and drop-in replacements for R-22.
As of January 1, 2024, production of R-410A refrigerant was reduced by 40 percent. Manufacturers stopped making R-410A equipment as of January 1, 2025. The final sale deadline for this equipment is December 31, 2025. That means R-410A compatible equipment will only be available to buy for the remainder of this year. However, R-410A refrigerant will continue to be available for many years to come. Previous refrigerant transitions included a phase out of the legacy refrigerant. This was the case with R-22. The EPA restricted the production and import of R-22 in 2010 and, later, banned the manufacturing or importing of R-22. That was a phase out. That is not the case with R-410A.
2034
2036
2022 10% DECREASE
2024
2029
100%
80%
40% DECREASE
60%
40%
70% DECREASE
80% DECREASE
85% DECREASE
20%
0%
The R-410A phase down began in 2022 and will continue through 2036. While this refrigerant will remain
R-410A refrigerant is being phased down, not phased out. While there will be incremental decreases in R-410A refrigerant production (see chart), this refrigerant will remain commercially available for many years. However, as the available supply decreases, refrigerant costs will increase. Multifamily owners, managers, and maintenance teams should review their properties now to determine when and how they will replace their current equipment. New equipment and tools may need to be purchased. Maintenance teams will need training to safely handle and store the new refrigerant, and some technicians may need refreshers on how to safely recover and store legacy refrigerants. As costs continue to rise, refrigerant recovery will become increasingly important.
Safe, Reliable Replacements
ASHRAE FLAMMABILITY SCALE
HIGHLY
NO FLAME PROPAGATION
LOWER FLAMMABILITY
FLAMMABLE
When manufacturers began looking for the best refrigerant options to meet the new GWP standard, A2Ls were the clear choice. A2Ls have a much lower GWP rating, and one A2L refrigerant, R-32, has been in widespread use in Europe for more than two decades. Unlike the transition from R-22 to R-410A, there will not be a single refrigerant or refrigerant blend that dominates the market. Two A2L-rated refrigerants, R-32 and R-454B, will begin replacing R-410A refrigerant in the United States.
R-410A A1
R-454B A2L
R-32 A2L
A3 3
GWP SCALE
466 675
2088
“GWP” measures a refrigerant’s environmental impact as a greenhouse gas. The new limit for residential HVAC refrigerant is under 700 GWP. A2L refrigerants, which offer similar operating characteristics to legacy refrigerants, are below the 700 GWP threshold.
Know Your Options
The first question multifamily operators need to answer is “When will we make the shift?” Some are ready to switch to A2L equipment and refrigerant now. Other property owners and teams prefer to stick with the more familiar R-410A refrigerant and equipment. Chadwell Supply understands this, and we made sure our customers have options. We are well-stocked with both R-410A and A2L equipment and refrigerant. It is very important to note, though, that the time to purchase R-410A is now. No more equipment will be made, and no more R-410A systems can be sold after the end of this year.
Those making the shift also have some questions to answer. Owners need to understand the key differences between R-32 and R-454B, and maintenance teams need to know if they have the right tools and training to maintain this new equipment.
Chadwell Supply will continue to produce practical, informative resources to help multifamily MRO teams answer these questions. Read informative articles in our Product Knowledge Library at ChadwellSupply.com/A2L. Sign up for free online Refrigerant Transition webinars at ChadwellSupply.com/university and join the ongoing conversation on The MRO Show at ChadwellSupply.com/podcast.
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