ARLINGTON, Va. — The Chemicals and Refrigerant Reclaimers Product Section of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is conducting a survey to determine the needs of the market regarding refrigerant labeling and the current color scheme for refrigerant containers as more refrigerants are approved for use.

The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 49 for Hazmat Transportation regulations and CFR Title 29 for Occupational Safety and Health regulations require all hazardous material containers, including refrigerant cylinders and drums, be properly labeled to clearly identify their contents. These container labels and markings should always be used as the primary means of identifying hazardous materials, including refrigerants. “AHRI Guideline N offers another layer of identification by assigning specific colors to refrigerant containers based on their contents,” said Henry Hwong, senior vice president, AHRI. “Since there are new refrigerants and, in turn, new container colors, we are addressing concerns about confusion and the potential misidentification if container colors appear similar.” These concerns include safety issues, because refrigerants have different operating pressures and flammability properties, and equipment can be damaged if refrigerants are used in the wrong applications. “Refrigerant container labeling and markings should always be the primary means to identify the contents,” said Hwong.