REFRIGERANTS Retrofi tting R134a


While HFO-1234yf has emerged as the standard for new mobile air-conditioning equipment, millions of existing systems still rely on R134a. For technicians and facility managers, the challenge is fi nding a drop-in replacement that is both environmentally compliant and, crucially, non-fl ammable. Here, John Poole of Refrigerant Solutions Ltd explains the benefi ts of RS-20.


"The transition away from high-GWP refrigerants is no longer a future goal; it is a present reality. While 1234yf will continue to occupy the new equipment market, the future of the vast, installed base of R134a equipment lies in non- fl ammable, low-GWP blends."


F


or decades, R134a has been the backbone of medium- temperature refrigeration and mobile air-conditioning (MAC) systems. Following the phase-out of CFC12, R134a became the dominant, non-ozone-depleting alternative in diverse applications, including domestic refrigeration, supermarket display cases, industrial chillers, and transport refrigeration. However, with a GWP of 1430, R134a is now heavily targeted


by global environmental regulations, such as the EU F-Gas Regulation and the US AIM Act. These regulations are designed to phase down high-GWP HFCs, creating a tightening supply and rising costs for R134a servicing. The industry’s primary answer for new mobile air- conditioning equipment (MAC) has been HFO-1234yf, which boasts a very low GWP. Yet, 1234yf is classifi ed by ASHRAE as A2L, mildly fl ammable. For many existing applications, particularly in commercial refrigeration and older vehicle fl eets, using a fl ammable refrigerant presents signifi cant safety, regulatory, and retrofi tting challenges. Many service providers are looking for a ‘drop-in’ solution that does not require signifi cant hardware modifi cations or re- engineering of the existing system. The ideal candidate must be non-fl ammable (ASHRAE A1), compatible with existing POE/ PAG lubricants, and off er similar cooling capacity and pressure characteristics to R134a. RS-20 (R480A) has a GWP below 300, which is the lowest non-


fl ammable retrofi t alternative to R134a on the market today. It has been developed to mirror the performance of R134a as closely as possible, off ering a direct, ‘drop-in’ alternative. Most importantly, RS-20 boasts a GWP of 291—over 80% lower than R134a and signifi cantly lower than other common alternatives like R513A (GWP ~573) or R456A. This massive reduction in GWP allows service technicians


to reduce the carbon footprint of existing machinery without requiring expensive changes. Its low GWP enables a favourable trade-off in quota systems, allowing fi ve tonnes of RS-20 to be sold in place of one tonne of R134a, easing supply bottlenecks. Key Advantages of RS-20 (R480A)


■Non-Flammable (ASHRAE A1): Tested to be non-fl ammable under all conditions of fractionation, making it safer to use in existing systems compared to A2L options


■Drop-in Replacement: Requires no oil changes or hardware adjustments in most existing R134a systems.


■Environmental Compliance: With a GWP of 291, it helps com- 16 May 2026 • www.acr-news.com


Pic 1 caption: Global warming potentials of retrofi ttable replacements for R134a. Note that R515A and R515B have been excluded due to their low cooling capacity.


panies meet stringent, future-focused emission regulations.


■ Lubricant Compatibility: Fully compatible with POE and PAG oils.


Performance Comparison: RS-20 vs R134a Independent tests demonstrate that RS-20 off ers equivalent or superior thermodynamic properties to R134a, ensuring that the system effi ciency (COP) is maintained.


R134a Cooling capacity kJ/m3 COP Discharge pressure bara Discharge temperature 0 GWP C 2692 4.38 11.6 62.9 1430 RS-20 (R480A) 2722 4.23 12.43 67.7 291


Case study: automotive air conditioning in Spain A revealing study of RS-20’s performance in vehicle air conditioning was conducted by Davasa Automotive in Spain. The tests, covering both spring and summer (40ºC) conditions, compared RS-20 directly to R134a and R456A.


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