Testing, Certification and Advisory for Low GWP Refrigerants

Low GWP testing, benchmarking, advisory and training services

Refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP) may be more environmentally friendly, but they’re also considered mildly flammable. Consequently, regional regulations increasingly require HVAC appliance manufacturers to reduce their products’ greenhouse emissions. Flammable refrigerant testing is becoming a central part of the HVAC/R equipment benchmarking, testing, assessment and certification process.      

Our safety science leadership, technical expertise and global network of testing laboratories can help you demonstrate compliance with regional safety standards for low GWP refrigerants in your target markets. Our offerings include: 

Low GWP advisory and training services

HVAC/R benchmarking services for low GWP transition

In addition, the UL Product iQ® database provides access to components that have already successfully completed the certification process.

Testing, assessment and certification

Key standards and regulations for HVAC/R products using low GWP refrigerants

To capture all current market changes, ease global access and simplify testing, UL Solutions is also transitioning our traditional Standards—including UL 1995, the Standard for Heating and Cooling Equipment, and UL 484, the Standard for Room Air Conditioners—to align with harmonized International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards.

In this continuously changing scenario, it’s important to highlight the key standards and regulations to consider for evaluating HVAC/R products using low GWP or flammable refrigerants.

UL/IEC 60335-2-40

UL 60335-2-40 describes the requirements for electrical heat pumps, air conditioners and dehumidifiers, and is an ANSI/SCC-accredited U.S./Canada binational consensus safety standard. It is based on IEC 60335-2-40, the international standard that currently serves as the basis for evaluating, testing and certifying HVAC equipment designs using low GWP refrigerants in Europe and elsewhere.  

UL/IEC 60335-2-89

UL Solutions recently transitioned to the new harmonized Standard UL 60335-2-89, which covers UL 412, the Standard for Refrigeration Unit Coolers; UL 427, the Standard for Refrigerating Units; UL 563, the Standard for Ice Makers; and UL 471, the Standard for Commercial Refrigerators and Freezers. UL 60335-2-89 is harmonized with the IEC and covers all current market changes, easing global market access and simplifying testing for manufacturers. 

Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) (DIRECTIVE 2014/68/EU) 

The PED is a mandatory European Union (EU) regulation covering the design, manufacture and conformity assessment of pressure equipment and assemblies with a maximum allowable pressure greater than 0.5 bar, or 7.25 pounds per square inch. The PED affects most pressure equipment and assembly manufacturers wanting to gain market access in the European Economic Area (EEA) because it is a mandatory part of EU CE conformity.

As an accredited Notified Body (NB 0843) under Directive 2014/68/EU, together with testing and evaluating your products according to the listed IEC/UL standards, UL International (UK) LTD  can provide evaluation and certification worldwide for pressure equipment and assemblies. We perform conformity assessments through various evaluation procedures depending on the pressure equipment category.

Beyond the European Union, UL Solutions also supports UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) certification required for the Pressure Equipment (safety) Regulation (PE(s)R) — the British version of the PED. Our Notified Body in Italy and our accredited approved body in the United Kingdom have expanded their combined scope, allowing our Italian, German and U.K. laboratories to support local customers with all necessary marks.

Transitioning to low GWP refrigerants

As a leading independent safety science organization, UL Solutions has conducted extensive research on flammable refrigerants, including a landmark joint study with the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). This study investigated the use of low GWP refrigerants to identify hazards to fire service personnel when responding to fire events in occupancies with low GWP refrigerants.

Our science-led advocacy for safety throughout the HVAC industry gains momentum through relationships with organizations such as Eurovent, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and AHRI. Our leadership in various technical committees allows us to keep pace with emerging refrigerant industry requirements and global demands so we can provide clear guidance to manufacturers.

Our expertise and insights can help you keep pace with the rapidly evolving global regulatory requirements of low GWP refrigerant adoption, including:

• In North America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) to identify ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and their health risks.
• The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has proposed a global warming potential (GWP) limit of 750 starting Jan. 1, 2023, for HVAC products; Jan. 1, 2024, for chillers; and additional requirements for refrigeration systems that went into effect in 2021.
• China has developed the HCFC Phaseout Management Plan   (HPMP) — sometimes called the Chinese Green Cooling Plan — as a direct result of the Montreal Protocol.
• The European Union adopted the F-gas Regulation to control emissions from fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases), including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The latest legislative and regulatory updates require manufacturers to switch to low GWP refrigerants by 2025 and reduce their F-gas emissions to approximately 80% by 2030. 

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Standards

UL60335-2-40 and UL60335-2-89