Appliances with Flammable Refrigerant Are In Stores Now

The EPA has approved limited use of flammable refrigerants in appliances. Specifically, R32, R290, R600a, and R441a. They are only approved for appliances with a limited charge, and the appliances must have warning labels to tell anyone working on the equipment that the refrigerant is flammable. However, the manufacturers have not gone out of their way to make sure the end consumer is aware that the refrigerant inside the appliance is flammable. R32 is an HFC with an ASHRAE Safety rating of A2L, which means it is low in toxicity but moderately flammable. You already use it without knowing it. 

R32 is used in many newer HFC zeotropic blends, including R-410A. These blends are generally rated A1 (low toxicity and non-flammable) because the mixture will not burn with the concentrations of R32 in them. R32 can be found at your local big-box store in window units and portable air conditioners. You have to look pretty hard to find it, but somewhere in the information they will tell you what refrigerant is in the unit. 

The other flammables are all hydrocarbons. They are all rated A3 – low toxicity but highly flammable. R290 is propane, R600a is isobutane, and R441a is a hydrocarbon blend. I have seen freezers and refrigerator-freezers at big box stores with R600a (isobutane) for refrigerant. 

Appliances using these highly flammable refrigerants have the required flammable refrigerant warning labels, but they are usually on the back of the appliance where the service access is. If you want to know if that shiny new refrigerator has explosive refrigerant in it you need to look at the back. I noticed that one refrigerator with R600a refrigerant also had a paper stating that using the appliance meant you agreed to binding arbitration as your sole legal remedy for any problems with the appliance. I don’t know if that manufacturer now makes this same disclaimer on all of their appliances, but it is worth asking about before purchasing. 

R290 (propane) is used on many small and medium sized commercial refrigeration refrigerators and freezers. R441a is used in some vending machines and smaller commercial refrigeration machines. I will talk some more in subsequent posts about flammable refrigerants, safe use, and safe service practices.