UL: Important New Requirements For Use of Low-GWP Refrigerants

Brian Rodgers, principal engineer, Appliances, HVAC and Lighting, Distinguished Member of Technical Staff, William Henry Merrill Society and John K. Taecker, senior regulatory engineer, Codes and Regulatory Services, Distinguished Member of Technical Staff, William Henry Merrill Society

Driven by environmental concerns, selecting refrigerants for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) systems is rapidly evolving. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were originally introduced as a replacement for ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). However, HFCs are greenhouse gases subject to restrictions in most countries. As a result, the industry has turned its attention to refrigerants with a low global warming potential (GWP).