In 1992, the Montreal Protocol, which established requirements for the phase out of ozone-depleting chemicals, was amended to include the phase out of HCFCs (hydro chlorofluorocarbons). One HCFC known as R-22 has been the refrigerant of choice in residential and commercial HVAC equipment for more than four decades. The Montreal Protocol mandates that on January 1, 2010 manufactures of HVAC equipment must stop the production of equipment containing new supplies of R-22 refrigerant. At that time, R-22 refrigerant will still be produced, but only for the service of existing R-22 equipment. On January 1, 2020 all production of R-22 refrigerant must cease.
In light of the R-22 phase out, the HVAC industry has adopted a new refrigerant standard known as R-410A, which is a mixture of HFCs (hydro fluorocarbons) that do not contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and has been accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency. All though HVAC equipment containing R-22 will be available until the 2010 phase out, many equipment manufactures have all ready begun producing products containing the new R-410A refrigerant. Currently, most product lines include R-410A equipment in the smaller tonnages (10 tons and under) with plans to have a full line of R-410A equipment by the year 2010. Generally, the cost of R-410A equipment is higher than that of an equivalent R-22 unit and the lead time of R-410A equipment is longer at this time. As the industry moves toward the phase out date and the R-410A units become the only option, the cost and lead time of these units should fall in line with that of the current R-22 equipment.
Along with the desire to have a “greener” and more efficient facility, there may also be a future cost implication to be considered. A new R-22 unit installed today will be about 10 years old in the year 2020, the time when new R-22 refrigerant will no longer be produced. This is still well within the average life expectancy of well maintained equipment (15-20 years). After 2020, as the supply of available R-22 refrigerant dwindles and there is still a demand for the refrigerant to service existing R-22 units, the price of R-22 refrigerant will increase. This effect can be seen in the similar phase out of R-12 refrigerant, the refrigerant found in most automobile air conditioners made before the 1990s. When the production of R-12 refrigerant ceased, the cost per pound rose from $2.67 to $26.67 over the next ten year period. This inevitable increase in the cost of R-22 refrigerant will certainly increase the cost of service as the R-22 equipment nears the end of its useful life and requires the most maintenance.
The staff of Custom Designing & Engineering shall specify R-410A equipment for all new units unless R-22 is a requirement of the client. Should you have any further questions about R-410A refrigerant, visit www.epa.gov or contact Custom Designing & Engineering and we will be glad to help.
In light of the R-22 phase out, the HVAC industry has adopted a new refrigerant standard known as R-410A, which is a mixture of HFCs (hydro fluorocarbons) that do not contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and has been accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency. All though HVAC equipment containing R-22 will be available until the 2010 phase out, many equipment manufactures have all ready begun producing products containing the new R-410A refrigerant. Currently, most product lines include R-410A equipment in the smaller tonnages (10 tons and under) with plans to have a full line of R-410A equipment by the year 2010. Generally, the cost of R-410A equipment is higher than that of an equivalent R-22 unit and the lead time of R-410A equipment is longer at this time. As the industry moves toward the phase out date and the R-410A units become the only option, the cost and lead time of these units should fall in line with that of the current R-22 equipment.
Along with the desire to have a “greener” and more efficient facility, there may also be a future cost implication to be considered. A new R-22 unit installed today will be about 10 years old in the year 2020, the time when new R-22 refrigerant will no longer be produced. This is still well within the average life expectancy of well maintained equipment (15-20 years). After 2020, as the supply of available R-22 refrigerant dwindles and there is still a demand for the refrigerant to service existing R-22 units, the price of R-22 refrigerant will increase. This effect can be seen in the similar phase out of R-12 refrigerant, the refrigerant found in most automobile air conditioners made before the 1990s. When the production of R-12 refrigerant ceased, the cost per pound rose from $2.67 to $26.67 over the next ten year period. This inevitable increase in the cost of R-22 refrigerant will certainly increase the cost of service as the R-22 equipment nears the end of its useful life and requires the most maintenance.
The staff of Custom Designing & Engineering shall specify R-410A equipment for all new units unless R-22 is a requirement of the client. Should you have any further questions about R-410A refrigerant, visit www.epa.gov or contact Custom Designing & Engineering and we will be glad to help.
RSS Feed
