Refrigerant Comparison Tool

Compare two or three refrigerants side-by-side across GWP, ODP, safety class, boiling point, critical temperature, glide, oil type, and EU/US regulatory status. Color-coded for fast decisions.

⚖️ Select Refrigerants to Compare

Pick 2 refrigerants to compare. A third is optional and adds a column.

Refrigerant 1
Refrigerant 2
Refrigerant 3 (optional)
Select at least two refrigerants and click Compare to see the side-by-side table.

How to Compare Refrigerants

Choosing the right refrigerant means balancing four competing factors: environmental impact (GWP and ODP), safety (flammability and toxicity), thermodynamic performance (capacity and efficiency), and regulatory status (what you are still allowed to use in your region). The comparison table above puts all of these on one screen so you can see the trade-offs at a glance.

Color coding explained

  • GWP row - colored by absolute value: green < 150, yellow < 750, orange < 2500, red ≥ 2500. The lowest GWP in your selection gets a ✓.
  • Safety row - colored by ASHRAE class: A1 green, A2L yellow, B2L orange, A3/B3 red. The safest class gets a ✓.
  • Boiling / critical temp, glide - the value closest to the "preferred" direction (lower glide, higher critical temp for most AC applications) gets a ✓.
  • ODP - any non-zero ODP is flagged red; zero ODP is the modern baseline.

Reading the summary

After the table you get a short recommendation block: Best for low GWP, Best for safety, Best efficiency potential (highest critical temperature), and Lowest glide (most stable for metering and charging). These are heuristics, not a substitute for full system design - always confirm with the compressor manufacturer's datasheet and local codes.

Refrigerant families at a glance

  • CFC / HCFC (legacy) - R-22, R-12. High ODP, phased out under the Montreal Protocol. R-22 is included here for comparison only.
  • HFC - R-410A, R-134a, R-404A, R-407C, R-507A. Zero ODP but high GWP. Being phased down under the Kigali Amendment, EU F-Gas Regulation, and US AIM Act.
  • HFO / HFC-HFO blends - R-1234yf, R-1234ze(E), R-513A, R-448A, R-449A, R-454B, R-452B, R-514A. Very low GWP, mostly A2L. The mainstream replacements for high-GWP HFCs.
  • Natural - R-744 (CO2), R-717 (ammonia), R-290 (propane), R-1270 (propylene). GWP ≤ 3, zero ODP. Excellent environmental profile but require specific system designs (high pressure for CO2, toxicity for ammonia, flammability for hydrocarbons).

Regulatory status: EU vs US

The EU F-Gas Regulation uses a quota and phase-down system with bans on high-GWP refrigerants in new equipment by specific dates. The US AIM Act (American Innovation and Manufacturing Act) directs the EPA to phase down HFC production and consumption by 85% by 2036, and the SNAP program restricts specific uses. The EU Status and US Status columns in the table summarize the current position - verify against the latest official text before specifying for a project, because phase-down schedules change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between R-32 and R-410A?
R-32 is a single-component HFC refrigerant with a GWP of 675 and an A2L (mildly flammable) safety class, while R-410A is a 50/50 blend of R-32 and R-125 with a much higher GWP of 2088 and an A1 (non-flammable) class. R-32 has roughly 30% lower operating pressure than R-410A, is more energy efficient, and is becoming the preferred choice for new residential AC under the AIM Act phase-down of high-GWP HFCs.
What is temperature glide in a refrigerant blend?
Temperature glide occurs when the components of a zeotropic refrigerant blend evaporate or condense at different temperatures. Instead of a single boiling point, the blend boils across a range. For example, R-407C has a glide of about 5-7°C, meaning the evaporator outlet may be several degrees warmer than the inlet liquid composition predicts. Pure refrigerants like R-32 or R-134a have zero glide. High glide can affect charge accuracy, superheat control, and system efficiency.
Which refrigerant has the lowest GWP?
Natural refrigerants have the lowest GWP. R-744 (CO2), R-717 (ammonia), R-290 (propane), and R-1270 (propylene) all have a GWP of 3 or less. Among HFOs, R-1234yf and R-1234ze(E) have a GWP below 1. By contrast, legacy HFC blends such as R-404A (3922) and R-507A (3985) have very high GWP and are being phased down globally.
What does the ASHRAE safety class mean?
ASHRAE Standard 34 assigns each refrigerant a two-character safety class. The letter indicates toxicity: A = lower toxicity, B = higher toxicity. The digit indicates flammability: 1 = no flame propagation, 2L = lower flammability with low burning velocity, 2 = lower flammability, 3 = higher flammability. So A1 is the safest, A3 and B3 are the most hazardous. A2L refrigerants like R-32 and R-454B are mildly flammable but widely considered acceptable for modern equipment when proper installation standards are followed.
What is replacing R-410A in new air conditioners?
The main R-410A replacements for residential and light commercial AC are A2L HFC/HFO blends: R-454B (GWP 466), R-452B (GWP 676), and R-32 (GWP 675). These reduce GWP by 65-78% while keeping an A2L safety class and operating conditions close to R-410A, so equipment redesigns are modest. R-410A itself is being phased down in the US under the AIM Act (production capped starting 2022, step-down through 2036) and in the EU under F-Gas rules.
Is R-32 flammable and is it safe for home AC?
R-32 is classified A2L, meaning it is mildly flammable with a low burning velocity. It will only ignite at high concentrations (above ~14% by volume in air) and requires a strong ignition source. Modern room air conditioners and split systems are designed with charge-size limits, leak-detection features, and installation rules that keep R-32 well within safe limits. It is approved for residential use in most major markets including the EU, Japan, India, and the US (under updated UL and ASHRAE standards).
What oil should I use with each refrigerant?
Oil compatibility depends on refrigerant chemistry. HFCs (R-410A, R-404A, R-134a, R-407C) and HFO blends (R-454B, R-448A) require polyol ester (POE) oil. HFC/HFO single fluids like R-32 also use POE. Natural refrigerants vary: R-290 (propane) and R-1270 (propylene) use POE or polyalphaolefin (PAO); R-717 (ammonia) uses mineral oil or polyalkylene glycol (PAG) because it reacts with POE; R-744 (CO2) uses POE or PAG. Legacy HCFCs like R-22 used mineral oil. Always follow the compressor manufacturer's specification.

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