It is now less than a year until R404A is banned in new commercial refrigeration applications in Europe, and from 2020 on wards, only recycled refrigerants can be used for servicing. As contractors help hotels, restaurants and food production premises to find alternatives, Danfoss is ready with a wide range of components for popular choices like R448A, R449A, R513A, and R452A and more – and free digital tools to help you choose.
With supply uncertain, prices fluctuating and an outright ban on new applications looming, R404A is no longer an option for refrigeration professionals in Europe. Whether you choose to switch to R448A, R449A, R452A or another refrigerant, there are several ways we can help:
In short, when you’re ready to move away from R404A, we have several solutions to make the change safe and trouble-free – for both low and medium-temperature applications.
R404A’s Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 3922 is well above the 2500 level imposed by the F-Gas regulation for stationary refrigeration equipment for temperatures above -50°C. It is therefore already affected by EU refrigerant phase-out rules.
Supply has been reduced by quotas, meaning prices have fluctuated a lot in recent months. From 1st January 2020, only recycled R404A will be allowed for servicing – and it can no longer be used in any new cooling and refrigeration equipment.
Official advice is that professionals should stop using R404A as soon as possible.
For cold rooms and other small to medium commercial refrigeration applications, R448A and R449A and R452A or R134a are excellent alternatives to R404A, with from 50 to 65% reduction in GWP. R513A, newer alternative, is also very appropriate in medium back pressure (MBP) applications.
For small, self-contained units (typically in food service), natural refrigerants could be a sustainable long-term option. In new equipment where the charge is less than 150g or when the location permits, A3-class components like R290 and R600A could be ideal. R513A and R134a are also good affordable alternative for MBP systems with a greater refrigerant charge.
Coolselector 2 makes it easy to select the best components to use with low-GWP refrigerants. Enter a few variables – for example, cooling capacity, refrigerant, and evaporation and condensation temperatures – and the software will suggest options to suit your needs. With the “commercial applications” module, you will also find support for cold room load calculations and find all the Danfoss solutions available with your selected refrigerant.
The latest version includes detailed log(p)-h diagrams for a huge selection of refrigerants as well an overview matching components and refrigerants.
It’s updated regularly with new products and features – and it’s available both online, and as a download for your PC.
There is no single, all-purpose replacement refrigerant – but the right tools can make your servicing or retrofitting a lot easier:
You'll find all these tools in our dedicated Refrigerant Transition Center.
And if you need to know more about the F-Gas regulations, please have a look at our refrigerant white paper.