As the HVAC industry transitions to flammable A2L refrigerants, we’re proud to announce that RLS flame-free fittings are now approved for use with a wide range of common A2Ls.  This means that in addition to the increased efficiency that RLS users already enjoy, they will now also benefit from an increased level of safety when working with flammable refrigerants.

For a little history on the transition, the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, enacted by Congress in 2020, authorized the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to phase down the production and importation of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are greenhouse gasses with high global warming potential, according to the EPA. The majority of common refrigerants in use today, such as R134a, R410A, R404A and many others, are all HFCs.

In response to the AIM Act, the EPA issued a final rule in October of 2023, which calls for the elimination of HFC refrigerants in most new air conditioning and refrigeration systems beginning January 1, 2025. As the HVAC/R industry transitions away from HFCs, the refrigerants replacing them, mostly A2L and A3 fluids, will have varying levels of flammability.

This puts RLS flame-free press technology at the forefront of technician safety by eliminating the need to use a torch with flammable refrigerants nearby. So, one thing RLS users won’t have to change during this industry transition is the reliable press fittings they have used for years.

To prove RLS fitting compatibility with the new refrigerants, we worked with independent third-party facilities to put our products through extensive testing to verify their reliability and durability in systems using a number of A2L refrigerants. As a result, our new list of approved refrigerants includes a broad range of A1 and A2Ls:

R32, R134A, R404A, R407, R410A, R417A, R421A, R422, R424A, R427A, R434A, R437A, R438A, R445A, R446A, 447A, R447B, R448A, R449, R450A, R451A, R451B, 452B, R453A, R454A, R454B, R454C, R455A, R456A, R460A, R460B, R460C, R463A, R507, R513, R718, R1234yf, R1234ze, Ethylene Glycol

Our new ICC-ES (ICC Evaluation Service) report has been issued (download here), listing all of the approved refrigerants above. Before you consider using any another manufacturer’s press fittings, you should be always sure to check their ICC report to verify compatibility with the refrigerant you are using – for your safety and for the integrity of your project.