Replacements for R-404A and R-507

This is a time of rapid change in the refrigeration and cooling industry. The F-Gas Regulation 517-2014 set out to phase down the use of high GWP refrigerants such as R-404A and R-507 and the first impact of the phase down caused by 'quota' restrictions is now being seen. For R-404A and R-507 this is only the start as the real impact will be next year, so now is the time to take action.

We are sure you have already noticed the price of R-404A and R-507 has been escalating dramatically since the turn of the year. One producer has already applied six significant increases since the start of the year with the latest being a 100% increase. Their R-404A price is now 7 times what is was only a few months earlier. Another producer has announced it intends to stop selling R-404A and R-507 next year. With the other producers also increasing prices by large amounts the clear intimation is that prices will continue to increase if demand for these high GWP products does not decline signifcantly.

Replacements for R-404A and R-507

For new equipment check with compressor manufacturers for approvals as not all of them approve all refrigerants. There is enough equipment available on R-404A alternatives for all applications not to have to use R-404A and R-507 in new equipment.
These are the most popular ones which can be used in new equipment and for retrofit of existing systems with a number of our customers already successfully using these products.

Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A) GWP 1397
Low GWP, HFO based refrigerant which can replace R-404A and R-507 in both new and existing equipment. For commercial and industrial medium and low temperature equipment. Approved by major compressor manufacturers who all have selection software for their equipment. Improved energy efficiency over R-404A. 

Click to view: Opteon™ XP40 Product Information Bulletin
Click to view: Opteon™ XP40 Retrofit Guidelines

Solstice® N40 (R-448A) GWP 1387
Low GWP, HFO based refrigerant which can replace R-404A and R507  in both new and existing equipment Very similar to R-449A in terms of properties and is similarly approved by major compressor manufacturers, who have election software available for their equipment. Improved energy efficiency compared to  R-404A
 R-448A is not approved by Tecumseh and some other hermetic compressor manufacturers.

Click to view: Solstice® N40 (R-448A) product data sheet

R-452A, (Opteon™ XP44) GWP 2140
The closest match to R-404A in terms of properties. Selected for Transport refrigeration applications and by hermetic compressor manufacturers such as Tecumseh, Embraco and Danfoss, where they need a very close match to R-404A with discharge temperature almost the same as R-404A.
Due to its GWP being higher than other alternatives its use should be restricted to those applications where other lower GWP alternatives cannot be used.

Click to view: Opteon™ XP44 Product Information Bulletin
Click to view: Opteon™ XP44 Retrofit Guidelines

A2L mildly flammable replacements
Three low GWP replacements for R-404A which are mildly flammable are available. These are for new equipment and are not recommended for retrofit.  At present they are not approved by any compressors manufacturers but are undergoing extensive testing. The three products are R-454A (Opteon™ XL40) R-454C (Opteon™ XL20) and R-455A (Solstice® L40X). All are stocked and available from Climalife UK. R-454A has a GWP of 239 and more information can be found here. R-454B has a GWP of 148 and  R-455A has a GWP of 148.

Click to view the Solstice^® L40X (R-455A) Technical Data Sheet
Click to see Opteon™ XL40 (R-454A) Product Information Bulletin
Click to see the Opteon™ XL20 (R-454C) Product Information Bulletin

Please note all GWP values quoted are for the IPCC 4th Assessment and are the values that must  be used when complying with F-Gas Regulation requirements for labelling for GWP and for calculating CO2 tonne equivalents.

If you require more information on replacing R-404A or R-507  in your specific application please do not hesitate to contact us by email or telephone.