RETROFIT
Low-GWP refrigerants drive legacy system upgrades
As the shift to lowGWP refrigerants accelerates, Rick Clarke, Product Manager at NIBE Energy Systems Limited, examines how engineers can adapt legacy HVAC and refrigeration systems in existing buildings, balancing safety, performance and compliance while keeping disruption to a minimum.
"Engaging technical
expertise from the outset allows for a more realistic assessment of system options and constraints."
Designing for retrofi t The transition to low-global warming potential (GWP)
refrigerants is accelerating, driven by regulatory pressure and the industry’s commitment to reducing environmental impact. While much of the focus has been on new systems, the greater challenge lies within the UK’s existing building stock, where retrofi t projects must balance performance, compliance and practicality. Retrofi tting HVAC and refrigeration systems to accommodate
low-GWP refrigerants is achievable in many applications, but it often requires a diff erent approach to system design, safety considerations and long-term performance. Rather than simply replacing one refrigerant with another, successful retrofi t projects depend on understanding how refrigerant properties
interact with existing equipment, controls and installation environments. In retrofi t projects, the transition to low-GWP refrigerants is
more commonly achieved through the replacement of older equipment with new-generation systems designed around modern refrigerants from the outset. In these cases, the focus is less about modifying the refrigerant circuit itself, and more about ensuring the new system can be successfully integrated within the constraints of the existing building, from available plant space and pipework routes to electrical capacity, controls and ventilation requirements. For building owners, this creates a tension between minimising upfront intervention and achieving long-term system performance. A minimal-change approach may reduce
22 June 2026 •
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