Effective Jan 1, 2025, manufacturers of Self-Contained refrigeration equipment are required to provide new equipment using environmentally compliant, low-GWP refrigerants. This will significantly impact Arctic clients and partners if not prepared for the new regulations. Arctic supports the new guidelines as an environmentally responsible organization, yet we are committed to ensuring your projects are in compliance and on schedule.
Self-Contained refrigeration is any refrigeration equipment that is ready to use out of the box (no refrigerant charge or piping necessary). Many Arctic customers specify their projects using top mount Self-Contained units.
Top mount Self-Contained unit. Image courtesy of Heatcraft Refrigeration Products.
Effective Jan 1, 2026, new refrigeration system installations with remote condensing units are required to use environmentally compliant, low-GWP refrigerants. In addition to the approaching Self-Contained refrigeration changes, 2026 will see comparable alterations to all Remote Pre-Assembled refrigeration units (RPA). Remote pre-assembled units are often engineered into longer-term and custom projects, so attention to these regulations is also of the highest urgency.
A remote refrigeration system is any system that requires field assembly (charging, piping, electrical, etc). A large number of Arctic customers specify their projects using remote refrigeration systems.
Remote pre-assembled refrigeration system – Air cooler remote condensing unit (left) and evaporator coil(right). Image courtesy of Heat Transfer Products Group, LLC a member of Rheem.
Current less environmentally friendly refrigerants like R-448A/449A will be phased out, beginning on January 1st, 2025. The new regulations will require the use of semi-flammable or natural refrigerants and preparing your teams and projects in advance of January is a priority for the Arctic team.
The use of new refrigerants will result in an estimated price increase of 7-15% in manufactured refrigeration equipment. Low-GWP refrigerants are more environmentally friendly, yet these refrigerants have a low level of flammability. This mandates the addition of leak detection and leak response safety features. Our team is standing by to explain the details and makeup of the pending changes and how Arctic can be of service in providing advanced solutions for engineering, project design, quoting, and resource location.
Arctic’s team is dedicated to placing the customer first and, thought leadership is our strategy ahead of this significant industry alteration. Please contact us today at sales@arcticwalkins.com so we can work through the refrigeration regulations with you.