Refrigerant FAQs & guides
Forty-three plain-language answers, written from the trade floor and checked against primary sources — the Ozone Cell’s own documents, the Montreal Protocol texts, PESO’s rules, AHRI and ASHRAE standards. Every guide opens with the answer, then shows the working, then names its sources.
New to refrigerants?
Refrigerant Basics: a beginner's guide
What refrigerant gas is, how it works, what the R-numbers mean, whether it runs out, and how to buy genuine gas — in plain English, with links to deeper guides.
Regulatory & legal
Is R-22 banned in India in 2026?
No — what ended on 1 January 2025 is manufacturing new HCFC equipment. Sale and servicing continue through registered sellers under declining quotas.
R-22 phase-out timeline in India (HPMP)
Every milestone from the 2013 freeze to the 2.5% servicing tail ending 2040, against the 1,608.20 ODP-tonne baseline.
When did manufacture of new R-22 equipment become banned in India?
From 1 January 2025, use of HCFCs in manufacturing any new equipment is prohibited in India under the ODS Amendment Rules, 2014. What changed, what remains legal, and what it means for buyers.
Who must register as a seller of ozone-depleting substances in India?
Under Rule 6 of the ODS Rules 2000, nobody may sell, stock or distribute R-22 without registration. Who needs it, how Form 10 works, and what records registered sellers must keep.
What buyer verification and returns are required when selling R-22?
Rule 7 of the ODS Rules requires buyer declarations (Schedule XII) for regulated end-uses, and sellers report sales via Form 4. How the paper trail works on both sides of an R-22 sale.
What is the Kigali Amendment and India's HFC phase-down schedule?
India ratified Kigali in September 2021 as an Article 5 Group 2 party: freeze in 2028, then 10% by 2032, 20% by 2037, 30% by 2042 and 85% by 2047. The full schedule and baseline formula.
Are HFCs like R-32 and R-410A banned in India?
No — HFCs are being phased DOWN under Kigali from 2028, not phased OUT like HCFCs. Why the distinction matters and what remains fully legal to buy and use in 2026.
What are the GWP values of R-22, R-32, R-410A, R-134a and R-404A?
R-22 = 1,810 (AR4); R-32 = 675; R-410A = 2,088; R-134a = 1,430; R-404A = 3,922. Why AR4 and AR5 differ, which regulators use, and how blend GWPs are calculated.
What is the ODP of R-22 versus HFC refrigerants?
R-22 has an Ozone Depletion Potential of 0.055 under Montreal Protocol Annex C; R-32, R-410A, R-134a and R-404A are all zero-ODP because they contain no chlorine.
What is the difference between CFC, HCFC, HFC and HFO refrigerants?
Four chemical families, four regulatory fates: CFCs banned, HCFCs phasing out, HFCs phasing down, HFOs emerging. The chemistry that decides each one's status.
Is there an anti-dumping duty on imported R-134a in India?
Yes — a definitive five-year anti-dumping duty on R-134a from China took effect 24 December 2025, with per-producer reference values from US$4,423 to US$5,251/MT. Full details and buyer impact.
What PESO licences apply to storing, filling or transporting refrigerant cylinders in India?
Refrigerants are compressed gases under the Gas Cylinders Rules 2016: Form E licenses filling and storage, Form F licenses storage, applications go via Form C, and licences run up to 10 years.
Selection & comparison
R-22 vs R-32 vs R-410A vs R-134a vs R-404A: what does each do?
Five refrigerants, five jobs: legacy ACs, modern splits, the 2006–2024 installed base, automotive and appliances, and cold chain. Properties, safety classes and where each belongs.
What can replace R-22 in an existing system?
Three mainstream retrofit paths out of R-22 — R-407C, R-427A and R-438A/MO99 — plus R-407A for low-temp refrigeration. Oil requirements, capacity trade-offs, and the rules that make or break a retrofit.
Why are manufacturers switching from R-410A to R-32?
GWP of 675 vs 2,088, about 20–30% less charge, up to 12% better efficiency in Daikin testing, and ~370 million units sold globally — the numbers behind the R-32 transition.
Which refrigerant do new air conditioners in India use in 2026?
New Indian split and window ACs predominantly ship on R-32, with some R-410A models and a growing set of R-290 window units. Why R-32 won, and what it means for service stock.
Can you mix refrigerants or top up with a different refrigerant?
Mixing refrigerants creates an unidentifiable blend with unpredictable pressures, defeats superheat/subcool diagnostics, and can kill the compressor. What the rules are and why they exist.
What is the difference between single-component, zeotropic and azeotropic refrigerants?
Single-component fluids boil at one temperature; zeotropic blends glide across a range and must be liquid-charged; azeotropes behave like single fluids. Why the 400/500-series numbering tells you how to handle a gas.
R-22 vs R-410A: which for servicing?
Two different pressure regimes, two oils, zero interchangeability — how to service each side of the installed base.
Safety, handling & storage
What do ASHRAE refrigerant safety classifications (A1, A2L, A3, B1) mean?
ASHRAE Standard 34 grades refrigerants by toxicity (A/B, 400 ppm OEL threshold) and flammability (1, 2L, 2, 3). What each class means and where the common gases sit.
Which refrigerants are flammable and which are non-flammable?
R-22, R-410A, R-134a and R-404A are non-flammable A1; R-32 is mildly flammable A2L; R-290 is highly flammable A3. What the classes require — and why 'non-flammable' still doesn't mean flame-safe.
What is an A2L refrigerant and what special handling does it need?
A2L means lower-toxicity, mildly flammable, burning velocity ≤10 cm/s. The tools, leak-detection, ventilation and IEC 60335-2-40 charge-limit rules R-32 work requires.
What are the refrigerant cylinder colour codes — and are they still valid?
R-22 green, R-410A rose, R-134a sky blue, R-404A orange — historically. AHRI Guideline N moved all containers to one grey-green (RAL 7044) from 2020: colour is no longer identification.
How should refrigerant cylinders be stored safely?
Upright, secured, ventilated, fire-resistant, away from heat and sun, below marked temperature limits, never repainted — the Gas Cylinders Rules 2016 storage duties in practice.
What happens if refrigerant is exposed to a flame?
Halogenated refrigerants decompose in flames and on hot surfaces into hydrogen fluoride — and, for chlorinated gases like R-22, hydrogen chloride and phosgene. The mechanism, symptoms and safe practice.
What is a refrigerant Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and why do buyers need it?
The SDS documents hazards, handling, storage, first aid, exposure limits and decomposition products. Why legitimate suppliers provide it, and how procurement teams should use it.
What are the transport rules for refrigerant cylinders in India?
Delivery only to licensed or exempt holders, cylinders supported and never dropped or rolled, competent personnel, valve protection — the Gas Cylinders Rules 2016 transport duties.
Product & technical
Why do R-410A and R-32 run at higher pressures than R-22?
R-410A runs roughly 50–60% higher pressure than R-22 — about 125–145 psig suction and 350–410 psig discharge on a 95°F day. Why the difference exists and why gear is never interchangeable.
Why can't you use mineral oil with R-410A or other HFCs?
Mineral oil doesn't dissolve in HFCs, so it never returns to the compressor — starvation and bearing failure follow. Which oil goes with which refrigerant, and the retrofit flushing rule.
What is the AHRI 700 standard and why does it matter?
AHRI 700 specifies acceptable contaminant levels for fluorocarbon refrigerants regardless of source — new, reclaimed or repackaged — and the test methods to verify them. Why it protects your equipment.
What purity does AHRI 700 require — what does “99.5% purity” mean?
For a single-component fluorocarbon: impurities capped at 0.5% by weight, water at 10 ppm, non-condensables at 1.5% by volume, R-40 at 300 ppm. What each number protects against.
What cylinder sizes and formats is refrigerant sold in?
Three container families — disposable cans/cylinders, refillable cylinders, and large bulk containers — and the GCR 2016 rule that non-refillables must never be refilled. Pack sizes vary by brand.
Buying & authenticity
How can you tell genuine refrigerant from counterfeit?
Buy branded product from registered sellers; verify SDS, batch and AHRI 700 conformity; inspect for scraping, repainting and tampered labels; check brand authentication features. Labels alone are not proof.
Why is fake or contaminated refrigerant dangerous?
Counterfeits often carry R-40 (methyl chloride), which reacts with aluminium to form spontaneously flammable trimethyl aluminium — the mechanism behind fatal reefer explosions. Even 2% of the wrong chemical can destroy a compressor.
What documentation should a legitimate refrigerant supplier provide?
Manufacturer SDS, GST tax invoice naming brand and product, batch number or COA where applicable — and for R-22, evidence of ODS seller registration. The complete paper set and what each item proves.
How to verify a licensed R-22 (ODS) seller
The four-step check: registration number, Form 4 discipline, branded SDS-backed product, and the paper trail that proves it.
Availability & market
Will R-22 still be available for servicing after 2025?
Yes — India permits a 2.5% annual-average servicing allowance through 2030–2040, supplemented by reclaimed gas. What the supply curve looks like and how equipment owners should plan.
Why is R-22 still produced if it's being phased out?
R-22 used as feedstock to make other chemicals — chiefly TFE for PTFE fluoropolymers — is exempt from Montreal Protocol controls. India is the world's second-largest HCFC producer and makes only HCFC-22.
What is the A2L transition and what do technicians need to know?
As R-410A phases down, the industry moves to mildly flammable A2L fluids — R-32 today, R-454B globally. Training, tools, charge limits and habits that separate A2L-ready shops from the rest.
Does refrigerant reclamation, recovery or buyback happen in India?
Recovery, recycling and reclamation are built into the Montreal Protocol servicing strategy; the ODS Rules register reclaimers and destroyers (Form 14), and reclaimed gas must meet AHRI 700 to be reused.
What refrigerant should I use for cold storage or commercial refrigeration?
R-404A has been the fluorocarbon standard for low-temperature and commercial refrigeration; its 3,922 GWP is driving migration to R-407A/R-407F. How the choice actually gets made — and where ammonia rules.
Which refrigerant does automotive air conditioning use?
Indian automotive AC runs on R-134a (GWP 1,430), with newer global platforms moving to R-1234yf. Why the duty on Chinese imports matters, and what workshops should stock and verify.
Will India's HFC phase-down affect refrigerant prices?
Likely yes, over time: Kigali caps supply from 2028, the R-134a anti-dumping duty already firms one gas, and CO₂e quota maths squeezes high-GWP fluids first. Directional analysis — not a forecast.