ARCtick News: With R32 refrigerant likely to become more prevalent in imported split-system air conditioning equipment in the near future, it is important that technicians are aware of its properties and how to use it safely.
A derivative of R410a, R32 is not ozone depleting and has a smaller global warming impact, however, it is classified as mildly flammable by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHREA).
R32 refrigerant is included in the list of prescribed substances covered in the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989 and therefore requires a handling licence and trading authorisation from the ARC.
Further information on the safe handling of R32 is available from equipment manufacturers and general advice is available in the recently released AIRAH Flammable Refrigerants Safety Guide.
Related news: Flammable Refrigerant Safety Guide 2013 has been released