Do you know what refrigerant is going into your installation? Verify its origin and quality before you buy.

The purchase of refrigerant should be preceded not only by comparing prices and checking the marking on the cylinder. Equally important are the product’s origin, its actual composition, quality parameters, and the ability to link the accompanying documentation to a specific batch of refrigerant.

Products of unconfirmed origin or composition may appear on the market, as well as refrigerants whose parameters do not correspond to the information printed on the packaging. Products offered as reclaimed refrigerants call for particular attention. The mere use of the term “reclaimed” is not in itself sufficient confirmation of quality.

What is reclaimed refrigerant?

Under the regulations on fluorinated greenhouse gases, reclamation means the reprocessing of a recovered gas in order to achieve properties equivalent to those of the virgin substance, taking into account its intended use.

Reclamation should not be equated merely with simply purifying the refrigerant or removing some of its contaminants. The process should result in a product with a defined and confirmed composition and quality parameters.

Reclamation may include, among other things:

• identification of the recovered refrigerant,
• analysis of its composition,
• removal of oil, moisture, non-condensable gases, and other contaminants,
• separation of the components of the mixture, where its composition deviates from the required proportions,
• recomposition of the correct refrigerant blend,
• final laboratory quality control.

Only after the appropriate technological process has been carried out and the product’s parameters have been confirmed is it possible to assess whether the refrigerant can be safely placed back on the market and used in a system.

The marking on the cylinder does not confirm the actual composition

A designation such as “R448A,” “R449A,” or “R452A” on the packaging indicates what product should be inside the container. It does not, however, in itself constitute proof that the container holds a mixture with the correct proportions of components.

This applies in particular to refrigerants that are blends of several substances. A change in the proportion of one of the components can affect the properties of the entire product, including:

• operating pressures,
• operating temperatures,
• cooling capacity,
• the energy efficiency of the system,
• the behavior of the oil and compressor lubrication,
• the stability and operational safety of the system.

An incorrect composition may result from contamination, the mixing of several refrigerants, uncontrolled recovery, an improper reprocessing process, or the deliberate placing of a product on the market under a non-compliant designation.

How to verify refrigerant before purchase?

A full assessment of refrigerant quality based solely on the appearance of the cylinder is not possible. You can, however, check whether the supplier ensures an adequate level of product traceability and provides documentation relating to a specific batch.

1. Details of the manufacturer, supplier, and party responsible for reclamation

You should establish who places the product on the market and who carried out the reclamation process. The details of the party responsible for the product should be legible, complete, and consistent with the sales documents.

Particular caution is warranted in situations where:

• the source of the product’s origin cannot be clearly established,
• the seller does not indicate the party responsible for reclamation,
• the documentation contains different data than the markings on the container,
• the supply chain is unclear or impossible to trace.

2. Container labeling

The container should be labeled in a legible and durable manner. In the case of fluorinated greenhouse gases, EU regulations require, among other things, that the type of gas be stated, along with information that the product has been reclaimed or recycled. For reclaimed gases, the labeling should also include information on the batch number and the name and address of the reclamation facility.

It is worth checking, above all:

• the name of the refrigerant,
• the information that the refrigerant is reclaimed,
• the quantity of product,
• the details of the responsible party,
• the batch number,
• the technical condition of the container,
• the consistency of the label with the documents received from the supplier.

An illegible, damaged, or relabeled sticker does not automatically determine that the product is non-compliant, but it should prompt the buyer to carry out a more thorough verification.

3. Batch number

The batch number is one of the most important elements enabling product identification. It should make it possible to link a specific container to the production or reclamation process and to the results of the tests carried out.

You should check whether:

• the batch number is on the container,
• the same number appears in the quality document,
• the document actually refers to the product being purchased,
• the supplier is able to indicate where and when the quality control was carried out.

A document without a batch marking may present the general parameters of a given type of refrigerant, but it need not confirm the properties of the product in a specific cylinder.

4. Document confirming composition and quality parameters

The supplier should provide a document confirming the results of quality control, e.g., a certificate of analysis, a test report, or a certificate of quality relating to a specific batch.

In the document, it is worth verifying:

• the name and designation of the refrigerant,
• the batch number,
• the date of testing,
• the details of the laboratory or party performing the analysis,
• the test method used,
• the results concerning chemical composition,
• the moisture content,
• the acidity,
• the content of high-boiling residues, including oil,
• the presence of non-condensable gases,
• the assessment of conformity with the adopted quality requirements.

In the HVACR industry, one commonly used point of reference is AHRI Standard 700, which specifies purity specifications for refrigerants. However, merely citing this standard does not replace test results for a specific batch of product.

5. Consistency of all information

The markings on the container, the quality document, the invoice, and the information provided by the seller should be consistent with one another.

Attention should be paid to discrepancies concerning:

• the name of the refrigerant,
• the type of product – virgin, reclaimed, or recycled,
• the batch number,
• the details of the manufacturer or reclamation facility,
• the date the analysis was performed,
• the quantity of product,
• the origin of the refrigerant.

If the document contains data for a different party, a different batch, or a different type of refrigerant, it should not be treated as sufficient confirmation of the quality of the product being purchased.

A certificate does not always mean the same thing

In trade, there may be documents referred to as a quality certificate, a certificate of quality, an analysis report, or a product data sheet. The name of the document matters less than its actual content.

Before purchasing, it is worth establishing:

• who issued the document,
• whether that party actually performed the tests,
• whether the results relate to a specific batch,
• whether the actual values of the tested parameters have been presented,
• whether the document contains only a general declaration of conformity,
• whether its number, date, and issuer details make it possible to confirm authenticity.

A safety data sheet is not a document confirming the quality of a specific batch. It primarily describes the properties of a substance or mixture, the hazards associated with it, and the rules for safe handling. It does not replace testing of the composition of the product in a specific container.

Why does an incorrect composition pose a hazard?

Using a refrigerant with a composition different from the one declared can lead to operational problems that are difficult to diagnose.

Possible consequences include:

• reduced cooling capacity,
• increased energy consumption,
• incorrect operating pressures and temperatures,
• problems with system regulation,
• compressor overheating,
• deterioration of lubricating properties,
• damage to system components,
• incorrect diagnostics during servicing,
• the need to remove all of the refrigerant and recharge the system.

An unknown composition may also affect the assessment of hazards related to flammability, toxicity, or operating pressure. A person performing servicing work may apply the procedures appropriate for the refrigerant indicated on the label, even though the actual properties of the product are different.

Is documentation enough to confirm quality?

Proper documentation significantly increases the ability to trace the product’s origin, but it does not give complete certainty that the contents of the container match the declaration.

The most reliable way to confirm a refrigerant’s composition is to analyze a sample in a laboratory equipped with the appropriate equipment and test methods.

Testing may be particularly justified when:

• the product comes from an unknown supplier,
• the price differs significantly from market conditions,
• the documentation is incomplete or inconsistent,
• the batch number is missing,
• the label shows signs of tampering,
• the refrigerant shows atypical parameters during system operation,
• there is a suspicion that several substances have been mixed,
• it is necessary to confirm the quality of a larger batch before using it.

What to watch out for with exceptionally attractive offers?

A low price is not proof that a product is illegal or does not match its declaration. It should, however, prompt you to check what accounts for the difference relative to other offers.

Before making a purchase, it is worth asking the seller:

• Who carried out the reclamation of the refrigerant?
• What is the source of the product?
• Is every batch subjected to analysis?
• Does the quality document relate to exactly the batch being purchased?
• Is the batch number on the container?
• By what criteria was the quality of the refrigerant assessed?
• Can the authenticity of the document be confirmed with its issuer?
• What procedure applies in the event that a non-compliant composition is identified?

A lack of answers, avoidance of providing documents, or a seller’s assurances unsupported by test results should be treated as warning signs.

A reclaimed refrigerant can be a fully valuable product

Properly performed reclamation makes it possible to reuse recovered refrigerants, reduces the demand for the production of new substances, and supports the circular economy.

Current EU regulations increase the importance of the recovery, recycling, and reclamation of fluorinated greenhouse gases. In some applications, the ability to service existing equipment with high-GWP refrigerants has been made conditional precisely on the use of reclaimed gas or – under strictly defined conditions – recycled gas.

The condition for the safe use of such a product, however, is a reliable reclamation process, quality control, and the ability to establish its origin.

Pre-purchase checklist

Before purchasing a refrigerant, check:

• whether you know the details of the seller and the party responsible for reclamation,
• whether the container is correctly and legibly labeled,
• whether the product has a batch number,
• whether the batch number matches the documentation,
• whether the document received contains test results for a specific batch,
• whether the composition and the most important quality parameters are indicated,
• whether the data on the cylinder, the invoice, and in the documentation are consistent,
• whether it is possible to confirm the authenticity of the document,
• whether the supplier provides a complaints procedure,
• whether, in case of doubt, an independent sample analysis can be carried out.

Don’t base your decision on the label alone

Correct labeling is important, but it is only the first stage of verification. A reliable supplier should make it possible to identify the product, indicate its origin, and provide quality documentation linked to a specific batch.

If the information is incomplete, inconsistent, or impossible to confirm, it is worth commissioning an analysis of its composition before introducing the refrigerant into a system.

The cost of verification may be considerably lower than the consequences of using a product with unknown parameters: a drop in system performance, damage to components, the need to replace the entire charge, or a hazard to those performing servicing work.

Don’t just ask what symbol is on the cylinder. Check whether its contents have been reliably identified and tested.