A2L Refrigerants in Air Conditioning Applications

HVACR service technicians find themselves at the forefront of the refrigerant transition in the air conditioning industry. A2Ls have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Rules 23 and 25 list several mildly flammable (A2L) refrigerants, including R-454B and R-32, as acceptable, subject to use conditions in new residential and light commercial air conditioners and heat pumps.

From a service perspective, the transition from existing refrigerants to A2Ls will not require a fundamental shift in the way you conduct business. However, it will require more rigorous attention to basic servicing fundamentals. Existing recommended best practices for A1 refrigerants will apply — with the addition of a few special considerations, new equipment and A2L-rated tools. Take a moment to review Copeland's back to basics guide for technicians who service mildly flammable refrigerants.