A2L refrigerants in commercial refrigeration

Like ASHRAE standard 34, standard ISO 817 “Refrigerants —Designation and safety classification” provides an unambiguous system for assigning designations to refrigerants’ toxicity and flammability.

In this case, A2L has lower flammability and toxicity compared to other classifications—making it the second safest refrigerant category.

A = Non-toxic

2 = Flammable

L = Low burning velocity

This chart shows how A2L refrigerants stack up against other refrigerant groups for GWP and density.

The primary benefit is on the GWP level. When compared to a popular refrigerant like R134a, an A2L refrigerant like the R1234yf offers up to 99% reduction in GWP. The very low or ultra-low GWP level makes A2Ls an attractive choice as regulations tighten further.

As their physical properties are similar to HFC refrigerants, they’re also relatively easy to use and don’t add any system complexity. Moreover, most of the tools installers are used to work with can be used with A2Ls as well.

Ultimately, being classed as “mildly flammable”, A2L refrigerants are a safe option for most refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump applications since they are difficult to ignite.

A2L refrigerants offer better performance and efficiency than many A1 and natural refrigerants—making them a versatile choice when used with the correct components and pipe sizes.

A2L refrigerants need at least 1,000 times more energy to ignite than most A3-class flammable refrigerants.

It means that A2L refrigerants are unlikely to ignite from a discarded cigarette or a space heater. Even naked flames struggle to ignite A2L refrigerants under test conditions.

What’s more, the “L” means they have a low burning velocity. So, even in the event of ignition, the flame will likely burn slowly and self-extinguish.

For an A2L refrigerant to ignite, it needs to be highly concentrated. In practice, it would take a significant leak in an enclosed area to reach its lower flammability level of around 300g/m3.

The refrigerant also needs to be exposed to an open flame or high-energy source.

However, laboratory tests show that in most cases, even a blow torch flame struggles to ignite A2L refrigerants.

Yes, there are different lower flammability limits and ignition energies, but they all fall into the same class: A2L.

Refrigerants need a certain concentration in air to generate a flammable mixture. The lowest flammable concentration is the lower flammability limit (LFL).

For A2L refrigerants, the LFL is greater than 100g/m3; typically, it’s above 300g/m3.

This means that for an A2L refrigerant to be flammable, its concentration needs to be ten times higher than for an A3 class refrigerant.

With simple risk mitigation factors such as adequate ventilation in confined spaces, the chances of igniting an A2L refrigerant become very low.

While the risks of ignition are low, it’s important to remember that A2L refrigerants are still mildly flammable—and subject to safety regulations.

It’s critical to use properly qualified components. Danfoss Coolselector®2 is the quickest way of finding the right components for the right job.

There are also some charge limitations to be aware of. Users can apply A2L refrigerants up to 11kg with basic safety measures according standard EN 378-2, and up to 54kg with increased safety measures like leak detection.

If you’re unsure of the correct components, contact us for further expert advice.

Let’s take the example of our new Optyma^TM condensing units.

Using both computer modelling and real-world testing, we found no ignition occurred with Danfoss components used in a flammable environment.

But like any refrigeration system, it’s important to use the right components and charge limits to meet the safety rules for the application.

Yes, depending on the application and operating conditions, you will need to select the right refrigerant. Indeed, in some cases, an A3 refrigerant might be a better choice.

Here are some examples:

• Mid-size, medium temperature systems 2 to 40 kW: R454C, R455C and R1234yf
• Smaller systems below 2 kW: R290 (A3 class)

No. They must only be used in new systems.

This depends on the application. For example, the charge limit for an air conditioning application will be different than for a refrigeration system for a cold room.

EN378 also requires you to take system location into consideration, along with access and the room size. So, the charge limits for a confined indoor space will be different than for a cold room with a rooftop condensing unit.

By using a Micro Channel Heat Exchanger, you can significantly reduce charge—giving you greater flexibility with pipe runs, on cooling capacity, etc.

Watch our handy Charging of A2L Refrigerants explainer to learn how to calculate charge limits for different applications—including other critical distance and component calculations.

We anticipate that A2L refrigerants are here to stay for a good while, so there’s never been a better time to transition.

To comply with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, the objective is a progressive reduction of 85% of CO2 equivalent emissions in 2036 and the EU F-GAS objective for fluorinated gases is only 79% in 2030

By balancing low GWP with mild flammability, A2L refrigerants can help you meet increasingly strict environmental regulations.

Natural refrigerants offer an attractive long-term solution to refrigerant transition. But each brings its own challenges.

HCs require higher safety standards and bring limitations in refrigerant charge.

CO2 systems are somewhat more complex to use, with a different design architecture and higher operating pressures.

Both require additional knowledge and training.