Lower-GWP refrigerants are generally flammable, which means safety standards and building codes need to be revised to reflect their potential impact.
This flammability will sometimes lead to restrictions where systems can be installed or the maximum charge—and hence capacity—that can be used. It also means components need to be compatible with flammable refrigerants, to ensure they can't be considered an ignition source.
Technology and components suitable for lower-GWP refrigerants are well developed and have been available on the market since 2018—allowing OEMs to start creating compatible systems.
However, there is currently no perfect drop-in replacement for R410A. With any lower-GWP alternative, OEMs need to deal with at least one drawback—whether flammability, availability, or compatibility with materials. In each case, the challenge is finding the best compromise for their users, targets and designs.
Although refrigerant transition means component and system optimizations are necessary, the cost and performance improvements can be significant in the medium term.