The refrigerant transition has caused concern among HVAC contractors who wonder whether it is safe to work with mildly flammable refrigerants.

So-called natural refrigerants such as CO2 and propane are becoming more popular, due to changing regulations at the state level – and likely the federal level soon.

With the phaseout of HCFC refrigerants and the impending phasedown of HFCs, food retailers are looking at lower-GWP solutions for their refrigeration equipment.

Now the industry is moving to low-GWP HFCs, additional training will be needed in order to safely use these refrigerants.

The U.S. will have a few steep production cuts — the first one coming in 2024 — but industry experts say that the country is in a better position to handle them.

For contractors who have worked with CO₂ for years, proper preparation and working closely with the OEMs go a long way to alleviating the fear factor.

The final details of the phasedown should be known by October, including the program that EPA must establish under the AIM Act that will maximize the reclamation of HFCs.

Honeywell announced it will partner with Trane Technologies by field testing Honeywell’s Solstice N41 (R-466A).

At a recent webinar, attendees learned how the U.K.’s third largest supermarket chain will transition its refrigeration systems away from high-GWP HFCs.