Refrigerants

Nearly 200 countries have signed an agreement to reduce hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) - the hydrogen, carbon, fluorine-based compound that is commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners.

The goal is to limit the rise in global warming by less than 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century. HFCs have greater heat-trapping characteristics and are considered an ideal refrigerant choice given their efficiency, low toxicity and flammability. By 2024, HFCs will be fully prohibited in retail food refrigeration and in air conditioning systems in the U.S.; other countries will follow a similar discontinuance timeline. The challenge is that there is no easy way to go about replacing these systems with an ideal combination of efficiency, low toxicity, and flammability. Until this ideal solution is found, one or more of these characteristics will have to be sacrificed. As is often the case with new technologies, even with the most code compliant installations, unintended fires can occur. Emergency responders and others need to be trained and educated on the properties and dangers associated with flammable refrigerants.

Report

Flammable refrigerants firefighter training: Hazard assessment and demonstrative testing

With the push toward sustainability of refrigeration systems, first responders may not be familiar with potentially new material hazards or the appropriate response procedures. This hazard assessment and testing report was generated as part of a two-year project that aimed to enhance firefighter safety and reduce potential responder injuries that may result from responding to incidents that involve flammable refrigerants.

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Report

Flammable refrigerants: Fire Fighter Training Material Development Workshop

A workshop was held in September 2018 to identify optimal safety guidance and generate the information that emergency responders and others need to know about flammable refrigerants. General refrigeration concepts and the fire risk changes aligned with flammable refrigerants were discussed. The proceedings highlight breakout group discussions including relevant codes and standards; hazard identification; emergency response tactics; post incident considerations; safety gaps; and outreach needs.

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Report

Evaluation of the Fire Hazard of ASHRAE Class A3 Refrigerants in Commercial Refrigeration Applications

Due to potential environmental impact, there has been a shift to consider use of natural refrigerants, which have a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) than traditional fluorocarbon-based refrigerants. One type of natural refrigerant is hydrocarbons (e.g. propane). They are classified as Class A3 refrigerants per ASHRAE Standard 34. Previous work has been completed on Class A2L refrigerants, but Class A3 refrigerants require more study in order to provide technical basis for any changes to the current limits for use in refrigerator units. There fire hazard of Class A3 refrigerants, and specifically propane in larger volumes, need to be evaluated as alternatives to traditional refrigerants. This study evaluated the flammability hazard of R-290 propane in refrigeration appliances used in commercial retail and kitchen settings. R-290 is slightly different propane than your household BBQ-grill-variety (unodorized), but composition-wise it is the same.

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More information

• NFPA Journal column - Global Stewards: Eliminating A Greenhouse Gas Threat Means Dealing with Potentially Hazardous Alternatives, January/February 2017.
• NFPA Journal feature - Freezer Burn. May/June 2017.
• HRAI (The Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada), May 2019 - Utilizing a Safety Ecosystem during the Flammable Refrigerant Transition
• Are you an NFPA Member? Access an archived webinar on Evaluation of the Fire Hazard of ASHRAE Class A3 Refrigerants in Commercial Refrigeration Applications.