Refrigerant gas for refrigeration and airconditioning systems. Guidelines for the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants in. Ever since then r410a has primarily been used on all. Understanding a2l refrigerants for air conditioners 201908. The tables contained on this page list approved refrigerant numbers from ansiashrae 342019, designation and safety classification of refrigerants, the latest edition of standard 34, which describes a shorthand way of naming refrigerants and assigns safety classifications based on toxicity and flammability data. Safety group classifications are taken from tables 41 and 42 of standard 34. Tests involving acute exposure of rats, mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs have demonstrated benzene to have low acute toxicity from inhalation, moderate acute toxicity from ingestion, and low or moderate acute toxicity from dermal exposure.
By using this environmentfriendly carbon dioxide as a refrigerant gas for heat pumps, we can create environmentfriendly systems. Twenty three male freonexposed workers out of 35 workers at the refrigeration services workshop refrigeration services workers and 23 security employees from suez canal authority building nonexposed group or the control group who are comparable to the studied refrigeration services workers in age, sex, socioeconomic standards and duration of employment were included in this study. For flammability, there are three classifications and one. Reference 5 freon and other refrigerants are toxic and can cause poisoning and even death. For pure compounds, the numbers are based on chemical. Jun 09, 2011 the safety classification consists of two alphanumeric characters e.
Class a signifies refrigerants for which toxicity has not been identified at concentrations less than or equal to 400 ppm. Safety code of practice for non flammable, lower toxicity refrigerants group a1 institute of refrigeration, 2018. The refrigerant used in air conditioning, food preservation, etc. An introduction to a2l refrigerants and their use in.
Heat pump with natural refrigerants mitsubishi electric. The article focuses on the criteria for refrigerant selection, including discussion of the transitional refrigerants hcfcs, chlorinefree refrigerants hfcs, and halogenfree refrigerants. Frequent overstatement to influence customer perceptions coupled with contradictions have fueled discomfort in refrigerant choices for some alternative refrigerants. Freon is a stable, nonflammable, moderately toxic gas that is tasteless and mostly odorless. Safety properties of refrigerants considering flammability and toxicity are defined by ashrae standard 34 1. Refrigerant types, issues, trends and future options. Refrigerants are divided into two groups according to toxicity. If possible, the refrigerant must be odorless, but easy detection in the air is desirable. Technical r410a data sheet features and uses of r410a r410a is an almost azeotropic mixture composed of r125 and r32, it is currently used primarily in new air conditioners that are appearing on the market. Pdf refrigeration and airconditioning play a vital role in domestic and industrial applications. Ashraes key standards guiding refrigerant identification and usage have been revised to meet governmental regulation and achieve improved performance. Oct 10, 2017 now when looking at the toxicity and flammability of a refrigerant you will notice that the toxicity and flammability classifications are combined into a letter and number combination.
Side effects of breathing freon or other refrigerants. Scope this standard provides an unambiguous system for numbering refrigerants and assigning compositiondesignating prefixes for refrigerants. Bahrain, india, the islamic republic of iran, iraq, kuwait, oman, pakistan, qatar, saudi arabia, and the united arab emirates. Classification of refrigerants, establishes a simple means of referring to. Refrigerants and their application presented by thomas e. The safety of these systems is heavily controlled as the result of ammonias toxicity rather than. You may have noticed these while looking through safety data sheets. Global warming potential data listed in the table are taken from tables 3 and 4 of 20 ashrae handbookfundamentals, chapter 29. Refrigerant contains chemicals called fluorinated hydrocarbons often referred to by a common brand. It is used as a replacement for r11 a group a refrigerant. It rose to prominence here in the united states in the year 2010 when its predecessor, the hcfc r22, was banned due to the chlorine that it contained. Today over 25 million individual spaces are being served by this technology. The tables on page 3 and 4 list the approved refrigerant numbers from the latest edition of standard 34 and addenda that were assigned from 2010 onward. Guidelines for the use of hydrocarbon refrigerants in static refrigeration and air conditioning systems.
Safety classifications based on toxicity and flammability data are included along with refrig. Most air conditioners use a chemical called freon as a refrigerant. This article has been excerpted from a comprehensive white paper, refrigerants for commercial refrigeration applications, issued by copeland corp. Refrigerant safety the alternative refrigerants are as safe or safer than those they replace, but more care is needed with all. Relevant general properties are the normal boiling point and refrigerant service temperature, the latent heat and the coefficient of performance cop. Ashrae 34 classifies a refrigerant s toxicity based on its operational exposure limit oel. Hydrofluorocarbon hfc4a or 1,1,1,2tetrafluoroethane is a gaseous halocarbon that is being considered as a prime candidate for replacing other halocarbon materials, such as freon 12 dichlorodifluoromethane and freon 22, for use in air conditioning and refrigeration systems and possibly as an aerosol propellant or foam expansion agent. Hazards during the repair and maintenance of refrigeration. Toxicological profile for ammonia agency for toxic.
Fellow ashrae mcquay international staunton, virginia usa 1 what is a refrigerant. Hazards during the repair and maintenance of refrigeration systems on vessels the repair and maintenance of refrigeration systems can present hazards to both workers servicing these systems and those in the general area. Since different fluids have the desired traits in different degree, choice is a matter of. Toxicity of hfc 4a today hfc 4a 1,1,1,2 tetrafluoroethane is widely used, having been introduced as a replacement for cfc 12. Regulatory oversight on cfc, hcfc, and other synthetic refrigerants, have re. Ashrae 34 classes r514a as a b1 refrigerant, meaning that it is not flammable, but is classed as having higher toxicity, with on oel occupational exposure limit of 323ppm.
In order to use carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, the operating pressure needs to be three to five times that of the conventional refrigerant, which is equivalent to approx. Class a signifies refrigerants for which toxicity has not been identified at. Hcfc22 is efficient and classified as a1 lower toxicity no flame propagation. Steve kujak is director next generation refrigerant research at trane. The ideal working fluid or often called refrigerant would have favorable thermodynamic properties, be noncorrosive to mechanical components, and be safe, including freedom from toxicity and flammability. What refrigerant safety group classification has the highest flammability and the highest toxicity. Apr 11, 2007 important categories of health and safety concerns are toxicity, flammability, and o 2 displacement asphyxiation hazard. In the last two centuries, human ingenuity made it possible to control fully. Refrigerant safety groups new lower toxicity higher toxicity a3 a2 a2l a1 b1 b2l b2 b3 class 3 higher flammability class 2 lower flammability.
An overview of how flammable refrigerants are changing the rac. Poe oil, or poly olester oil, is a synthetic oil that was designed to meet the needs of the changing refrigeration industry. Hcfc123 is efficient and classified as b1 higher toxicity no flame propagation. Pdf refrigerant types, issues, trends and future options. Understanding a2l refrigerants for air conditioners 2019. The main sources of information for this fact sheet are the agency for toxic substances and disease registrys atsdrs toxicological profile for benzene 1 and epas integrated risk information system iris 4.
It would not cause ozone depletion or climate change. While refrigerant, the chemical used to cool the air in your home, is perfectly safe to use inside your air conditioner, direct exposure or a leak can be harmful in a number of ways. Ashrae standard designation and safety classification of. R410a, also known as puron, is arguably becoming one of the most popular refrigerants in the world. Class b signifies refrigerants for which there is evidence of toxicity at concentrations below 400 ppm. Update on new refrigerants designations and safety. All hydrocarbon refrigerants are highly flammable but non toxic. Mixtures, whether zeotropic or azeotropic, with flammability andor toxicity characteristics which may change as the composition changes during fractionation, shall be assigned a safety group classification based on the worst case of fractionation. Technical r410a data sheet refrigerant gases and products. Safety group r410a r22 propane, isobutane r32 class a signifies refrigerants for which toxicity has not been identified at concentrations less than or equal to 400 ppm section 2.
The last round of changes took place between the mid1990s through 2010, as cfc and hcfc refrigerants were phased out and largely replaced by hfcs. Either way, there are a lot of questions about how refrigerants and their safety group classifications and im. Refrigerants used in air conditioners are changing again. You may have noticed them when looking at labels on refrigerant cylinders. Refrigerant choices this table compares various properties of both current and nextgeneration refrigerants. Risk assessment of refrigeration systems using a2l. Engineering consultant for the airconditioning and refrigeration technology institute abstract. Further information can be found in the latest version of. Kigali amendment article 5 parties not part of group 2 group 2. Unit 4 general safety practices flashcards quizlet. The safety classification consists of two alphanumeric characters e. The new class of hfo refrigerants are based on the propylene propene molecule r1270, ch 3 ch ch 2. Safety group classifications are taken from tables 41 and 42 of standard 34, and temperature data are taken from tables d1 and d2 of standard 34. New refrigerants impact standards and codes the function of refrigerant as a fluid used for heat transfer has not changed since the development of the first refrigerating system.
Dangers of refrigerant gases summer is here and most people are getting ac tuneups and checkups to make sure their air conditioner will make it through the entire season at peak performance levels. Oel refers to the timeweighted average concentration of. Refrigerant safety classification toxicity group a lower toxicity group b higher toxicity. This transition was a global effort under an international treaty known as the montreal protocol mp that addressed the destructive effects these. Today, as in that first system, the refrigerant absorbs heat and transfers it at a higher temperature and a higher pressure, usually with a phase change. The institute of refrigeration is an independent organisation, run for refrigeration and air conditioning professionals. Cardiotoxicity of freon among refrigeration services.
Globally, there is a growing interest in ammonia as a refrigerant, both by itself, and in cascade refrigeration systems with carbon dioxide and other secondary system designs. Refrigerant safety significant new alternatives policy. Ashrae american society of heating, refrigerating and airconditioning engineers. Safety code of practice for non flammable, lower toxicity. Calm 158 toxicity testing facing unprecedented testing and phaseout requirements, the chemical industry formed an international consortium to accelerate the development of toxicology data for substitute fluorocarbons, both for refrigerant and other uses. Ashrae 34 classes r514a as a b1 refrigerant, meaning that.
The normal boiling point indicates the type of application for which the refrigerant should be used. This guidance note has been written by members of feta associations to give an overview of these. Refrigerant number safety group rcl lbmcf highly toxic or toxic under code classification. Refrigerants will affect human health if they are poisonous. Safety group classifications are taken from tables 41. Refrigerants that commonly used mineral oils were your cfc and hcfc refrigerants such as r12, r22, and r502. Some of the refrigerants in group b are described in more detail below. Designation and safety classification of refrigerants. The toxicity classification for refrigerants is either lower toxicity class a or higher toxicity class b, based on the refrigerant itself as a direct hazard, and not based upon the combustion byproducts. Cfc 12 had a proven, outstanding record of product safety over many years in various applications, such as domestic, commercial.
Aug 12, 2019 part of the toxicity classification for refrigerants, as combustion of a refrigerant is a rare event. Ashrae 34 classes r514a as a b1 refrigerant, meaning. When oxygen levels in air are reduced to 1214% by displacement, symptoms of asphyxiation, loss of coordination, increased pulse rate and deeper respiration will occur. Various ways of substituting the atom or group on the carbons can exist and this is denoted by two lowercase letters see figure 3. The two main types of hazardous refrigerants used in vessel. Aug 12, 2019 these combustion byproducts are not considered as part of the toxicity classification for refrigerants, as combustion of a refrigerant is a rare event. Regulatory oversight on cfc, hcfc, and other synthetic refrigerants, have refocused attention on ammonia to. Ashrae standard 15 applied to packaged, split and vrf.
Refrigeration service workers are at risk due to occupational exposure, but exposure most often occurs during intentionally sniffing the gas, according to the university of maryland medical center, or ummc. Ashrae standards 15 and 34 considerations for vrvvrf systems executive summary the variable refrigerant volume vrv technology was introduced by daikin in the early 80s as an alternative method of cooling and heating in commercial buildings. The practical limit pl of the refrigerant indicates the allowable refrigerant charge related to the smallest human occupied space as defined in bs en 3781. Nbs has produced specification systems and information products for construction industry professionals for more than 40 years. Toxicity classification of refrigerants is assigned to classes a or b.
It is used as a replacement for r11 a group a refrigerant that is a cfc. Further information can be found in the latest version of standard 34, available. Group b refrigerants are toxic, so users of these need to be more cautious. Toxicity data to determine refrigerant concentration limits prepared by james m. Ammonia ii disclaimer the use of company or product names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the. Refrigerant grade r290 does not have odorant r290 heavier than air higher flammability a3 b3 lower flammability a2 b2 a2l b2l no flame propagation a1 b1 lower toxicity higher toxicity safety group ty increasing toxicity max burning velocity toxicity data to determine refrigerant concentration limits prepared by james m. It is a chemically stable product with low temperature glide and low toxicity. Addendum g to ansiashrae standard 342004 table 1 refrigerant data and safety classifications refrigerant number chemical name a, b. Concerns with refrigerant safety have been heightened by negative marketing by competing equipment and refrigerant vendors. Calculation method as per en3781 annexe c requirements for maximum refrigerant charge limits lowest charge limit based on toxicity and. Safety features include flammability and toxicity, in conjunction with the inventory required. The use of r600a is increasing due to its low environmental impact and excellent thermodynamic performance and it is now the refrigerant gas of choice in.
Toxicity data to determine refrigerant concentration limits. The toxicity classification for refrigerants is either lower toxicity class a or higher toxicity class b, based on the refrigerant itself as a direct hazard, and not based upon the. The con cerns usually associated with refrigerants are toxicity, flammability and. Member ashrae ictionaries define safety as being free from harm or the risk of injury or loss. An international group of refrigerant manufacturers, through the program for alternative fluorocarbon toxicity paft testing, have conducted extensive toxicology tests on some hcfc and hfc refrigerants. Safety groups of refrigerants are based on the ansiashrae standard 34 2016 requirements for toxicity and flammability. If you were a technician about to service an air conditioning system using r22 refrigerant and the temperature of the refrigerant in the. More than eighty years of experience has put danfoss at the forefront in developing products using refrigerants and evaluating the viability of new refrigerants as they are introduced. The ashrae standard 34 also defines the classifications of safety for the refrigerants. Safety classification of refrigerants refrigerant blog. Class a denotes refrigerants of lower toxicity, and class b denotes refrigerants of higher toxicity. For example, standard 34 defines two safety classifications for toxicity. Ammonia, which is a class 2l material, has been used in large industrial refrigeration systems for over 100 years.
New refrigerants impact standards and codes dms home. Refrigerant poisoning happens when someone is exposed to the chemicals used to cool appliances. The following is a list of refrigerants with their typeprefix, ashrae designated numbers, iupac chemical name. R1234yf may require about a 5% increase in refrigerant vs. To avoid problems in the first place, always leave the handling of refrigerant to a professional and dont wait to have the leaks fixed. Mineral oils can also be used with other refrigerants such as ammonia or some hydrocarbons as well. The main environmental feature is the ozone depletion potential. The handling of refrigerant should always be left up to a professional ac technician, and for good reason. The capital letter designates a toxicity class based on allowable exposure. Department of health and human services public health service agency for toxic substances and disease registry september 2004. This classification consists of a letter a or b, which indicates the toxicity class.
The following is a list of refrigerants with their typeprefix, ashrae designated numbers, iupac chemical name, molecular formula, cas registry number blend name, atmospheric lifetime in years, semiempirical ozone depletion potential, net global warming potential over a 100year time horizon, occupational exposure limitpermissible exposure. The national building specification is the recognised uk national standard and is used by over 5,000 organisations. Ashrae standard 15 applied to packaged, split and vrf systems from the editor. Comparison of environmental impacts and physical properties of refrigerants ko matsunaga executive summary even before the invention of refrigeration, people wanted to improve their life by using ice to provide cold drinks and preserve food. Lowno toxicity high toxicity refrigerants marked in red are ozone depleting substances that are no longer. They are used in vapor compression processes will all types of compressors.
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