HEAT PUMPS


balance multiple technical criteria: Q Safety compliance – particularly when using A2L or A3 refrig- erants, which require risk assessments, ventilation, and leak detection in accordance with EN378.


Q Operational efficiency – seasonal performance (SEER, SCoP) should be evaluated alongside full-load metrics (EER, CoP) to ensure compliance with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards and Part L.


Q Refrigerant charge reduction – modular and distributed architectures can minimise refrigerant charge, lowering both environmental and compliance burdens.


Q Integration – compatibility with existing Building Management Systems (BMS) enables real-time monitoring, optimisation and automated compliance reporting.


Q Lifecycle carbon – engineers must consider both embodied and operational carbon to support net-zero objectives.


Propane (R290) heat pumps Manufacturers are responding decisively to the F-gas phase- down with a new generation of high-efficiency, propane-based heat pumps designed for both heating and cooling. Propane (R290) has a GWP of just three and zero ozone depletion potential, offering a long-term, compliant alternative to high- GWP refrigerants. Modern R290 systems are optimised for safety and performance, often using low refrigerant charges, integrated leak detection, and forced ventilation to mitigate flammability


risks. Many units are inherently engineered for simplifying compliance with EN378 and related safety standards. High-temperature variants can produce hot water up


to around 75°C and maintain efficient operation down to -20°C, making them suitable for both new build and retrofit applications. For building managers, they combine strong environmental credentials with measurable operational benefits, including lower running costs compared to older systems.


Low-GWP alternatives for large-scale applications For larger commercial and industrial installations, heat pumps using low-GWP HFO refrigerants such as R1234ze or R515B are becoming increasingly popular. These fluids have GWPs below 10 and exhibit excellent thermodynamic efficiency with mild and no flammability, respectively (A2L classification for R1234ze and A1 for R515B), providing a pragmatic balance between performance, safety and compliance. Modern large-capacity heat pumps in this category


can generate hot water up to 85°C, making them suitable for district heating, hospitals, educational facilities, and process industries. Variable-speed compressors, modular configurations, and integrated sequencing allow scalable plant operation with optimised part-load efficiency, while acoustic attenuation measures ensure low-noise operation even in urban environments.


'A second wave of regulatory action is now underway to reduce the use of these refrigerants in favour of lower-GWP alternatives and natural refrigerants like carbon dioxide,


ammonia and hydrocarbons.'


RS-51 (R470B)


NEW LOW GWP DROP- IN REPLACEMENT FOR R404A & R507 GWP BELOW 750


GWP more than 80% below R404A & ca half R448A & R449A


Non-flammable & low toxicity


Lowest GWP replacement for R404a & R507 on the market Similar performance to R404A & R507 Lower discharge pressure than R448A & R449A Compatible with R404A & R507 lubricants


Minimal changes needed to equipment when replacing R404A or R507 Suitable in OEM & retrofit applications


RS-51 can replace R404A and R507 in many of the applications where these refrigerants are found including supermarkets, cold stores, freezers, ice machines, refrigerated transport, beer cellars, freezer cabinets, transportation of foodstuffs, freeze dryers & others


RS-53 (R470A)


THE ONLY NON- FLAMMABLE DROP-IN REPLACEMENT FOR R410A ON THE MARKET


R410A split air-conditioning unit converted to RS-53 & operating satisfactorily without any problems


Low direct GWP (less than half) Drop-in replacement for R410A in existing equipment


Non-flammable & low toxicity Similar energy efficiency to R410A Minimal changes to hardware during retrofitting Close match for R410A in cooling capacity


Similar discharge pressure & temperature to R410A


Compatible with lubricants commonly used with R410A


RS-20(R480A) LOW GWP


REPLACEMENT FOR R134a


GWP BELOW 300 No changes to equipment required GWP below 300 & 80% less than R134a Non-flammable & low toxicity Similar performance to R134a


An almost perfect performance match to replace R134a in vehicle air conditioning Similar discharge pressure & temperature Equivalent cooling capacity


Suitable to replace R134a across the board of applications including, but not restricted to, refrigerated transport, cold stores, supermarkets, cellar cooling, dairy chillers, vending machines etc


www.refsols.com Refrigerant Solutions hp ACR Mar25.indd 1 25/2/25 11:00


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