The HVACR industry is undergoing another refrigerant transition, as HFCs such as R-410A and R-404A are being phased down in favor of new, lower-GWP refrigerants, such as R-32 and R-454B. Unlike the last transition, which shifted from the use of one nonflammable refrigerant to another, many of these new refrigerants are mildly flammable (A2L), so additional training will be needed in order to safely use them.
Building codes in most states do not currently allow the installation of comfort cooling units that contain A2L refrigerants, so this type of equipment will likely not be in widespread use for another year or two. However, “it is still vital for contractors to use this time to get the proper training on how to safely handle and use A2Ls, because, in the end, it will affect all HVAC professionals,” said Wes Davis, director of technical services at ACCA.