SPECIAL REPORT: R-32 MYTHS BUSTED As more manufacturers shift toward low GWP refrigerants, it’s important to look at some of the misconceptions surrounding them.
BY PETE GRASSO
T
he industry is making the steady shift towards low GWP refrigerants, and one that is emerging as a “go-to” refrigerant for many equipment manufacturers is R-32, classified as A2L (lower flammability). Flammable refrigerants are new to the U.S. air conditioning market — but not to the world. As categorized by ASHRAE, A2Ls are the class of low-GWP refrigerants expected to replace HFCs in many applications and while new to the U.S. market, A2Ls have been used safely in other parts of the world for years. According to ASHRAE, more than eight million mini-split systems around the world are using the R-32. While initial reactions are to shy away from something that is considered “new,” the statistics shows that R-32 isn’t really new and is
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R-32 has become the de facto global standard to replace R-410A in many HVAC applications. much safer than you might think when you hear “flammable.” “The current standard refrigerant for HVAC applications is R-410A, which is a blended refrigerant comprised of 50 percent R-32,” says Philip Johnston, PEng, GM, Low GWP Program Leader at Daikin Applied. “Being non-proprietary, it’s available from many chemical suppliers, and that has helped R-32 become the standard around the world as a replacement to R-410A refrigerant.” Johnston adds that mechanical contractors and service technicians are already knowledgeable and skilled in its safe and effective handling in many
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HVAC applications, including residential splits, VRF, scroll chillers, rooftops and window units. “R-32 has become the de facto global standard to replace R-410A in many HVAC applications,” he says. There are quite a few misconceptions about R-32 — and that’s exactly what they are: misconceptions. Here we’ll address some of the main concerns about R-32 and dispel the myths surrounding the industry new, go-to refrigerant.
FLAMMABILITY One of the biggest concerns about R-32 is that it is dangerous because it is
flammable. “The question has always been about its flammability and would an industry that had grown up with refrigerants that were completely non-flammable, would they accept a refrigerant that had some flammability characteristics to it?” says Mark Menzer, retired director of public affairs for Danfoss and current volunteer for Citizen’s Climate Lobby. “As the industry has looked at what all the other options are, they realize that refrigerants with some measure of flammability, albeit, low flammability, are basically what’s going to be available in the future.” But let’s be clear: R-32 is not considered highly flammable — it is classified in the A2L category or “mildly flammable” according to ASHRAE, which has various flammability limits, with 1 being
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