In 2027, new EU regulations will take effect that further restrict the use of refrigerants in new machinery. In the future, many refrigerants will be banned from sale. This will affect many machines and systems in which enclosure cooling units or chillers are installed. Rittal offers a variety of cooling unit series using the new refrigerant R-1234yf, so that machine manufacturers can future-proof their products, in most cases without further modifications.
From 1 January 2027, EU Regulation 2024/573 will restrict the use of refrigerants in cooling units and chillers with a cooling output below 12 kW. Only cooling units with a refrigerant GWP (Global Warming Potential) of less than 150 may then be marketed in the EU. From 2032 onwards, it will no longer be possible to use any refrigerants containing fluorinated gases (F-gases) in these products. Chillers with a cooling output of over 12 kW that are placed on the market starting in 2027 should use only refrigerants with a GWP <750. Further international regulations, such as those in the USA, have set a GWP of 700 for refrigerants in these appliances since 2025.
Compliance with regulations without any great effort
Rittal responded to the increasingly stringent limits as early as 2024, converting every cooling unit and chiller to the refrigerant R-513A, a mixture of R-134a and R-1234yf, so achieving a GWP of 631. This way, such devices will retain their internationally approved status until further notice. Starting in the first quarter of 2026, the Blue e+ cooling unit portfolio will then be converted to R-1234yf, followed by the Blue e+ series of chillers in the second quarter. “This means that climate control units from Rittal will definitely comply with international regulations until 2032, and we will also have suitable solutions for our customers in good time to meet the requirements applying from 2032,” confirms Ralf Schneider, Head of Solution Sales Climate Control at Rittal.
New refrigerants with a higher fire risk
However, when installing refrigeration systems, it must be borne in mind that the flammability of refrigerants increases as the GWP decreases. “Although R-1234yf is flammable, it only ignites at temperatures above 400 °C and is thus classed as low flammability (safety class A2L),” Ralf Schneider explains. The risk analysis carried out by Rittal on the use of this refrigerant in enclosure cooling units resulted in a “low risk” assessment.
In the automotive industry, a variety of investigations and tests have been carried out on the use of R-1234yf. The results show a higher overall risk than when using R-134a, though no significant increase in the risk of accidents overall. In Japan, R-1234yf has been used in enclosure cooling units and other cooling systems for many years because, unlike with F-gases, regular maintenance is not needed. Since 2018, Rittal has been supplying units filled with R-1234yf to this market and has thus gained extensive experience with the substance. This means that, for the foreseeable future, machine manufacturers can continue to use Rittal’s cooling units and chillers in enclosures and other applications without any major modifications, enabling them to market their systems worldwide in compliance with regulations.
Future-proof product range is guaranteed
With its Blue e+ cooling units using the new refrigerant R-1234yf, Rittal already ensures full compliance with the F-gas specifications, while simultaneously minimising cost risks. This is because refrigerants with a higher GWP, such as R-513A, are becoming increasingly rare and expensive due to the stricter quotas. This means that switching to R-1234yf early also ensures a secure long-term supply, especially after the significant reductions set to take effect in 2027.
Thanks to UL and IEC certifications, the very low A2L charge sizes and a safety-optimised device design, the units can be used worldwide without any further safety measures. The appropriate certificates can be downloaded from the Rittal website.
Rittal offers its customers a complete, future-proof product range covering every application. The cooling unit and chiller technologies provide a sustainable, energy-efficient and long-term viable solution – far more than a mere transitional technology. Units are still available with R-513A (GWP 631) as refrigerant for special cases in which operators document an unacceptable risk in their application.