Any F.P. Impact with New HVAC Refrigerants?

5/1/2024

What design considerations (if any) need to be taken into account for the new refrigerant changes that are coming up for the HVAC industry (slightly flammable or highly flammable refrigerants)?

Are there any code updates, guidelines reference materials etc. Would this possibly affect hazard classifications?

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5 Comments

David Kalinec link

5/1/2024 08:51:39 am

Yes. TABLE 5003.1.1(1) of the 2024 IFC has these fully classified now with maximum allowable quantities. We have been successful using an AMM request to get this allowed in recent projects where the 2024 is not adopted.

Glenn Berger

5/1/2024 09:02:01 am

I have used the various flammable gas standards as starting point for fire protection requirements.

Anthony

5/1/2024 09:17:21 am

Glenn, can you elaborate on this?

Jack G

5/1/2024 10:30:19 am

As I under stand this, consider conversion from more flammable refrigerants has been ongoing for about 10 years. The attempt to reduce the GWP ( when released it attracts heat)
For instance the gwp of propane is 3 , new refrigerant r1234yf has a gwp of 1, phased out r404a . 414 , has a gwp of 2088.
Situation…….we get propane/ natural gas— separate the methane, then pump it into millions of residential properties……and then we ignite it!
How does the industry justify this? Well there are failsafe switches that stop the release .
So the industry must regulate, adding fail safe mechanisms, and they have. Problem is half the states has not adopted them, and still use the older refrigerants. UL must step this up.
Opinion.

Franck

5/2/2024 12:34:47 am

The quantity of gas is hopefully rather limited for domestic HVAC systems. More problematic in industrial facilities (where the possible use of ammonia is another health issue).
From a fire protection standpoint it does not change a lot for domestic use, considering the limited volume.
The biggest threat is for firefighters as they have an additional source of potential explosion when they need to go inside a house in fire to save people.

In industrial facilities it is much more problematic for the main large units.
As indicated by Glenn, then to be considered as a fl. gas storage in that case.

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Any F.P. Impact with New HVAC Refrigerants?

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