Refrigerant for supermarkets and retail display
Why retail leaks more than other sectors
A supermarket refrigeration system is long. Centralised racks feed dozens of cabinets and cold rooms through pipework running the length of the shop floor, with a joint at every connection. Cabinets are moved during refits. Trolleys hit them. Doors get replaced.
The result is that leak rates in retail are consistently among the highest of any refrigeration sector. For a chain, that is both an operating cost and, once someone counts it, a material Scope 1 emission.
R-404A and the quota squeeze
R-404A works well at both medium and low temperature, which is why it became the retail standard. Its GWP of about 3,922 on IPCC AR4 is the highest in common commercial use.
The Kigali phase-down allocates quota by CO₂-equivalent, not by tonnage. A kilogram of R-404A consumes roughly three times the quota of a kilogram of R-448A. That arithmetic, not a ban, is what makes high-GWP fluids tighten first in price and availability.
The price impact guide sets out the mechanism.
Moving to R-448A
R-448A is the mainstream replacement, a blend of R-32, R-125, R-1234yf, R-134a and R-1234ze with a GWP around 1,387. R-449A is closely comparable and R-452A is used where a smaller capacity shift is wanted.
None is a drop-in. They are zeotropic with more glide than R-404A, they need POE oil, and expansion valves normally need adjusting or replacing. Discharge temperatures run higher, which matters on low-temperature packs. The retrofit guide covers what a conversion actually involves.
For a chain, the realistic approach is usually to convert at refurbishment rather than as a standalone project, and to specify the new fluid on all new stores from the outset.
What about R-290 cabinets
Self-contained plug-in cabinets increasingly use R-290 propane, factory-charged in small quantities under charge limits. They are efficient and have negligible GWP, and they change the maintenance model because there is no site pipework to leak.
We do not stock R-290. It is A3, fully flammable, and normally handled through the equipment manufacturer rather than a gas counter.
What we supply
R-404A, R-448A, R-134a and R-407C, from Hyderabad, with the documentation a chain's compliance file expects. If you run multiple stores on a maintenance contract, a known offtake pattern is easier for both sides than emergency calls.
Quick answers
What refrigerant do supermarket display cases use?
Centralised systems run predominantly R-404A, with R-448A and R-449A on newer and converted plant. Self-contained plug-in cabinets increasingly use R-290 propane.
Is R-448A a drop-in replacement for R-404A?
No. It is zeotropic with more glide, needs POE oil, and normally requires expansion valve adjustment. It is an established retrofit route, not a straight swap.
Why is R-404A getting harder to buy?
Kigali quota is allocated by CO2-equivalent. At a GWP around 3,922, R-404A consumes roughly three times the quota per kilogram that R-448A does, so it tightens first.
Do you supply R-290 for plug-in cabinets?
No. R-290 is A3 flammable and normally handled through the equipment manufacturer under specific charge limits.
- IPCC Fourth Assessment Report · GWP values used across this site · ipcc.ch.
- UNEP Ozone Secretariat · Kigali Amendment phase-down schedules · ozone.unep.org.
- Greenhouse Gas Protocol · Scope 1 fugitive emissions · ghgprotocol.org.
This guide is general information compiled from the cited sources — not legal, safety or engineering advice. Read our full disclaimer.
Related: R-404A retrofit options · R-448A supply · Cold storage choice · Scope 1 emissions