Code Changes Allow Commercial Use of A2L Refrigerants
A coalition of industry, environmental, governmental and code development organizations is encouraging early adoption by states and localities of the 2024 International Building Code (IBC), International Fire Code (IFC) and International Mechanical Code (IMC), which now permit the use of A2L refrigerants.
The groups recently approved code changes that allow commercial and residential use of A2L refrigerants to replace hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.
The supply of HFCs, commonly used in refrigeration and air conditioning, will decrease 40 percent in 2024 due to the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 and the corresponding U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that mandates a phasedown in GWP refrigerants by 2036.
Most of the remaining supply will be used to service existing equipment currently installed in businesses and homes.
The 2024 I-Code changes facilitate compliance with these requirements and support producers and refrigerant appliance manufacturers already transitioning to lower-GWP solutions such as A2Ls.
“State and local governments need to act now to enable next-generation refrigerants before older options get phased out,” says Matt Sigler, the code council’s PMG executive director.
“The code council stands ready to partner with the construction industry to help them best navigate this positive change.”
Here are steps jurisdictions can take now:
- Read this background on A2Ls, which includes frequently asked questions.
- Learn more about the development of the I-Codes.
- Access the A2L provisions from the 2024 I-Codes.
- Share AHRI’s training on A2Ls with code officials and contractors.
See more here facilitiesnet.com
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Herb Rose
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More regulations and expense due to bad science being driven by idiotic agendas. The ozone layer gas a concentration of 10 ppm ozone molecules which is incapable of blocking over 90% of the uv light coming from the sun. Try painting 1square cm of a 10,000 square cm piece of glass black and see if it will block 90% of the visible light. The ozone is created because oxygen is absorbing the uv energy and splits into oxygen atoms.
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Tom
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Agree…the lunacy is unbridled.
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Herb Rose
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Hi Tom,
Since the thinning occurs over Antarctica in winter, the obvious solution would be for them to turn off the air conditioners during winter.
Herb
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Joseph Olson
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Montreal Protocol to ban Freon was Dow and Dupont fraud to replace patent expired refrigerants. While frivolous use as hair spray propellants and Styrofoam bubbles was indefensible, CFC with Specific Gravity of +4.0 never ate a Stratospheric Ozone hole
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