Navigating the A2L Transition: Insights from the Worldwide Code Council

As we enter the busy winter season and start to shift focus to the flurry of exercise round prospects’ heating methods, we should not lose sight of the HVAC refrigerant rules going into impact this yr. As we conclude Part I of the Environmental Safety Company’s (EPA’s) mandated phasedown of HFC refrigerants, throughout which we skilled a ten% discount of their manufacturing and utilization over the previous two years, we should now put together for Part II, which started on January 1, 2024, and introduced an extra discount of 30%. When you’re doing the mathematics, sure, that may take us to a 60% manufacturing and use stage primarily based on the EPA’s historic baseline for HFC use.

Now, if in case you have been round a couple of years like I’ve, you might be pondering again to the times of the phaseout of CFC and HCFC refrigerants, which drove the price of these refrigerants sky-high, because the trade regularly transitioned to new gear that utilized the HFC refrigerants. We’re seeing some similarities to the sooner phaseout of CFC/HCFC refrigerants, however there are additionally some important variations with this phasedown of HFC refrigerants. The largest distinction is that CFC and HCFC refrigerants had been changed by HFC refrigerants, all of that are in the identical class of A1 refrigerants and are all nonflammable. Within the current case, the replacements for the HFC refrigerants fall into a special class of refrigerants, primarily A2L refrigerants, that are mildly flammable.

Have to Know

A2L refrigerants are the most recent refrigerants acknowledged by the EPA’s Vital New Alternate options Coverage (SNAP) as substitutes for the high-GWP HFC refrigerants at present utilized in residential and light-weight business air con and warmth pump methods. In 2024, these broadly obtainable and extra environmentally pleasant refrigerants will quickly turn out to be extra generally used within the HVAC trade. So, what does this all imply for HVAC contractors? What do contractors must know?

The transition to refrigerants that fall into the A2L class impacts a number of facets of the HVAC contractor’s enterprise. These embody, however aren’t restricted to, areas reminiscent of:

• Design and allowing for HVAC methods;
• Set up of HVAC gear and piping;
• Storage and dealing with of latest refrigerants; and
• Servicing of HVAC gear using A2Ls.

Almost about HVAC design and allowing, an essential consideration is that the 2021 and earlier variations of the Worldwide Code Council’s Worldwide Codes (I-Codes) — together with the Worldwide Constructing Code, Worldwide Mechanical Code, and Worldwide Hearth Code — don’t enable the usage of A2L refrigerants for residential and light-weight business consolation conditioning functions. A2Ls are permitted for this goal within the newest 2024 version of the I-Codes, however these codes have but to be adopted throughout the nation. Efforts have been ongoing for jurisdictions throughout the U.S. to undertake or amend native codes to incorporate 2024 I-Code language overlaying A2Ls. Cities and states are every dealing with this subject in several methods, so it is crucial that HVAC contractors attain out to native constructing officers within the areas the place they do enterprise, to grasp the native code necessities that shall be enforced associated to methods that use A2L refrigerants.

The A2L-related code necessities will impression the set up of those methods and their piping methods. Further set up steps included within the code provisions embody:

• Addition of a threat of fireplace warning labels for A2L piping as a result of its flammability;
• Further necessities for constructing shafts containing A2L piping, together with a steady air flow requirement and a requirement for leak detection throughout the shaft;
• Necessities for refrigerant detectors that sign an alarm and activate the room’s air flow system in equipment rooms containing A2L refrigerants, complying with ASHRAE 15; and
• Limits to the quantity of A2L refrigerant that can be utilized for air con methods used for human consolation.

Along with impacting the set up of HVAC methods, the brand new code provisions regulate the storage and dealing with of the A2L refrigerants. As a consequence of their flammability, A2Ls include important storage implications, which weren’t a consideration for earlier refrigerants. Contractors needs to be ready for modifications to storage practices, together with necessities for acceptable area and labeling measures, particularly in areas the place these refrigerants are being saved in massive portions. This consists of pointers for storage rooms that will home gear with excessive floor and/or working temperatures.

Lastly, contractors who set up and/or service HVAC methods utilizing A2L refrigerants might want to confirm that the instruments and gear they use are suitable with A2L refrigerants. This doesn’t impression the usual hand instruments and wrenches used, however contractors might want to confirm that their vacuum pumps, leak detectors, and refrigerant restoration gear are suitable with A2L refrigerants. They can even must overview and perceive any new necessities and procedures associated to the dealing with and use of A2Ls.

As you possibly can see, the transition from HFC to A2L refrigerants could have a huge effect on a contractor’s enterprise. There are a number of further set up steps contractors might want to deal with, however none of them are overly sophisticated or inconceivable to beat. The important thing to a clean transition is preparation and communication. Most significantly, this consists of reaching out to your native constructing officers to grasp any new code necessities they are going to be implementing associated to A2Ls. The winter months are a good time to achieve out and rekindle, or set up, your relationships with native officers.

For extra info on A2L refrigerants, please try the Worldwide Code Council’s “Getting ready for A2L Refrigerants” web page at www.iccsafe.org/products-and-services/i-codes/a2l-refrigerants-transition.