Company officials said that the refrigerant has greater refrigerating capacity, and its operating characteristics are closer to HCFC-22 than its predecessor, NU-22 (R-417A). R-422B is being used to replace R-22 in residential through industrial applications. It is packaged in 25-pound disposable and bulk cylinders.

According to Gordon McKinney, vice president and chief operating officer of ICOR, "The industry feedback we are receiving is purely positive. The industry needed an R-22 replacement that is safe for the user and safe for the environment. It needed to act like R-22; and, most importantly, it needed to be versatile and easy to use.

"Since the majority components of NU-22 and NU-22B are the same, with only a difference in the percentage composition, and the refrigerant's capacity is increased. It is beneficial to top off NU-22 systems with NU-22B when the need arises," he said.

In other news, ICOR is offering two free educational seminars across the country to HVACR technicians.

The two training programs are titled "Commercial/Industrial Refrigeration Service and Retrofit Considerations" and "ICARE" (Instructing Customers on Alternative Refrigerants for the Environment). Each ICOR training program attendee receives a Certificate of Completion.

The newest training program, "Commercial/Industrial Refrigeration Service and Retrofit Considerations," focuses on refrigerant and oil management issues that may be encountered by service technicians before, during, and after retrofit of industrial and commercial refrigeration units.

ICARE sessions are described as "high-impact training presentations" and consist of a two-hour North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certified course focusing on the selection and use of non-ozone depleting refrigerants.

ICARE details the CFC and HCFC phaseout timelines and their impact on the industry, the technical aspects of non-ozone depleting HFC refrigerant options currently available, system conversion instructions, and troubleshooting systems that have undergone a refrigerant conversion.

Information regarding ICOR's refrigerant training programs is available on the company's Website at www.icorinternational.com or by calling 800-497-6805.

Publication date: 06/05/2006