R-22 PHASEOUT: Ready or Not?

Are you ready for the start of the HCFC R-22 phaseout? On January 1, 2010, the production and import of the HCFC refrigerant R-22 will cease (unless for use in equipment manufactured prior to that date). Until 2020, R-22 will only be manufactured and imported in amounts deemed sufficient to service existing equipment.

For this article — our last in our series of articles on the phaseout over the past year — we spoke with refrigerant formulators and equipment manufacturers, to learn if they believe the industry is ready — or not — for the R-22 phaseout.

Our panel of experts: Joyce Wallace, global business manager, DuPont; David Diggs, global business director, Honeywell; Bob Swilik, director of product management, Carrier Corp., Craig Thomas, business manager, refrigerants, Arkema North America; Gus Rolotti, technical marketing director, fluorochemicals, Arkema North America; Gordon McKinney, president, ICOR International; Ken Ponder, president, RMS of Georgia.

The deadline for the first big step towards a total R-22 phaseout is less than two months away. How have HVAC contractors responded?

Wallace: need for increased supply/servicing awareness.

Joyce Wallace: “Awareness of the R-22 phaseout for new equipment is certainly growing. We see that in the corresponding sales of R-410A to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and to the aftermarket as well. We've seen these sales continuing to increase all year long. However, while contractors seem very aware of the new equipment aspects of the R-22 phaseout, awareness is not as high as it should be, relative to R-22 supply issues, and servicing of existing R-22 equipment.”

Swilik: some component questions remain.

Bob Swilik: “For Carrier Corp, this is a bit of yesterday's news. We've been using Puron (R-410A) for 14 years. About 80 to 90% of our business in 2009 is already in R-410A. We hear of contractor concerns only in cases where contractors are trying to use components that are already in place, such as linesets that are in a wall and can't be replaced. Or, maybe they changed out a coil a year or two ago in an R-22 system and would like to continue using that coil with an R-410A system.

“Those questions have pretty well been answered, and we have well-documented procedures in place for dealing with those types of things.”

Diggs: new products help speed change.

David Diggs: “Contractor response to the new equipment R-22 phase-out has been varied. By and large, however, they've learned to use HFC-based equipment, through training offered either by OEMs, or through wholesalers. The new products are safe to use and provide energy efficiency benefits. The technology is basically the same; the only changes have been to the oil and the pressures, which are a little bit higher.”

Craig Thomas: “As the R-22 OEM phaseout approaches, we've seen some HVACR contractors who've taken the initiative. They've found it to be a good opportunity to obtain more R-410A training and education. We've seen a bump in contractor participation in Arkema's training. From an overall perspective however, in terms of the amount of activity related to moving on from R-22, the progress has been rather slow. We don't see the visibility and volume of reclamation activity as we thought we'd see. Part of this is due to the fact that it's a costly activity for contractors. Like anything else in this industry, it seems like we wait until the change is upon it, and then we adjust.

“The bottom line is, that R-22 supply will be reduced in 2010 by the Environmental Protection Agency. How that will affect pricing will depend on demand. R-22 demand has been reduced by conditions in the economy.