Climatic Chamber Configurator
Discover the Climatic Chamber Configurator
Our guide to choosing the climate chamber best suited to your needs.
Climate change has, rightly, led to growing concern about the environment and, in our sector in particular, the impact of the type of refrigerant gas used in all air conditioning appliances like the ones we produce.
We are talking about consequences both from an ethical point of view, of discussion on the topic, and officially from a regulatory and legislative point of view.
The European Union has already moved in this direction with law no. 517 of 2014, which progressively implies, in the years following the law, the reduction of HFC refrigerants.
However, according to the legislation, the reduction of HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants will have to be significantly more significant in 2019
The various limitations have led to the birth and emergence of new low GWP (Global Warming Potential) solutions.
The latest generation of fluids now on the market, the fourth, called HFO (Hidro Fluoro Oleofine) must guarantee a much lower greenhouse effect than the previous one, which had a high GWP content.
The new gases have the ideal goal of being non-toxic, non-flammable, with a very low environmental impact, and equally low installation and maintenance costs.
The synthetic HFO molecules currently available on the market are R1234yf, R1234ze, R1234zd.
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Compared to the ideal objectives to be achieved, each of them has excellent values for one parameter and perhaps worse values, compared to another molecule, for other parameters.
For example, R1234zd is nonflammable, but it isn't the one with the lowest GWP of the three. The others still pose a minimal flammability risk.
In short, the perfect refrigerant does not yet exist, but those mentioned above are the gases currently used in refrigeration.
At FDM we are always up to date with new regulations and produce equipment in line with updated European directives.
The new gases we have been using since January 1, 2019, comply with current European directives and guarantee the use of your appliances even beyond 2030.
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Reference Standards
- Regulation (EU) 517/2014 — Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gases), HFC phase-down of up to 79% reduction by 2030 compared to the 2009-2012 baseline.
- Regulation (EU) 2024/573 — F-Gas revision with progressive bans on high-GWP HFCs in new refrigeration and air conditioning equipment from 2025 to 2035.
- Directive 2006/40/EC (MAC Directive) — GWP limit < 150 for automotive air conditioning refrigerants, mandatory use of R1234yf to replace R134a.
- EN 378-1:2021 — Safety and environmental requirements of refrigeration systems; classification A2L, A3 for flammable fluids.
- ISO 817:2014 — Classification and numbering of refrigerants (safety group A1/A2L/A2/A3/B1/B2L/B2/B3).
- ASHRAE Standard 34 — Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants, updated annually with new HFO/HFO-blend molecules.
Authoritative Sources
- European Commission – DG Climate Action. EU regulator for F-Gas, publishes annual HFC quotas and phase-down roadmap.
- UNEP OzonAction. Secretariat of the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment on global HFC reductions.
- ASHRAE. American technical body that maintains Standard 34 and publishes guidelines on the safety of A2L fluids.
- IIR – International Institute of Refrigeration. Publishes technical briefing notes on HFOs, blends, and low-GWP applications.
Frequently Asked Questions about Refrigerant Gases
What is the difference between GWP and ODP of a refrigerant?
The GWP (Global Warming Potential) quantifies a gas's contribution to global warming over a 100-year horizon, with CO2= 1. R134a has a GWP of 1,430, R410A 2,088, while HFOs such as R1234yf have a GWP < 1. TheODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) measures the ability to destroy stratospheric ozone, with R11 = 1. HFCs have an ODP = 0 but a high GWP; HFOs have both parameters close to zero. EU Regulation 517/2014 affects the GWP, while the Montreal Protocol has progressively eliminated CFCs and HCFCs due to their ODP. A refrigerant must ideally have an ODP = 0 and a GWP < 150 to meet current thresholds for new mobile and light commercial air conditioning equipment.
Are new HFOs still classified as flammable?
Most single-component HFOs fall into the A2L according to ISO 817 and ASHRAE 34: mild flammability, low flame spread (< 10 cm/s), and high LFL. R1234yf and R1234ze(E) are A2L, while R1234zd(E) is A1 (non-flammable). HFO/HFC blends such as R452B, R454B, and R455A are generally A2L. Installation in systems with A2L refrigerants requires compliance with EN 378-1:2021 for maximum allowable charge based on chamber volume, and circuits equipped with leak detectors and emergency ventilation. Typical loads for A2L residential split units are limited to 1.8–2.6 kg without additional mitigation.
Can an R410A system be converted to HFO without modifications?
No, retrofitting requires thorough technical checks. R410A has high working pressures (50 bar on the high side) and specific vapor density; low-GWP drop-ins such as R454B or R32 have comparable pressures but different discharge temperatures. It is necessary to check the compatibility of the compressor, lubricating oils (POE instead of AB), and gasket materials, and recalibrate the expansion device. For EN 378 systems with A2L, the system must be reclassified with a new ATEX risk assessment. EU regulations also require F-Gas certified technicians (Regulation 2015/2067) to perform the work, with recovery and disposal of the replaced refrigerant via a certified supply chain.
How is a climatic chamber certified for testing new refrigerants?
Climatic chambers used for the development and qualification of refrigeration systems must guarantee stability and repeatability according to EN 60068-3-5 (performance confirmation). Metrological qualification requires chamber mapping at least 9 points (UNI EN 60068-3-5), verification of uniformity ± 2 °C on the work surface, and temporal repeatability < ± 0.5 °C. For tests on circuits using A2L fluids, the chamber must be equipped with flammable gas detectors, forced ventilation, and protection against sparks in accordance with ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU. The qualification is accompanied by IQ/OQ/PQ documentation, with ACCREDIA-accredited calibration certificates (ISO/IEC 17025). For comparative tests between HFCs and HFOs, an internal dewpoint control is also required to exclude condensation on the pressure sensors.
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