Future Proof 314.534.3111 PFTCU Federal regulations in the refrigerant industry are centered on Global Warming Potential (GWP) of past, current, and future refrigerants. Global warming potential (GWP) is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere. It compares the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide. A GWP is calculated over a specific time interval, usually 100 years. GWP is expressed as a factor of carbon dioxide (whose GWP is standardized to 1). Given the rapid change of refrigerants and the upcoming regulations, Darwin Chambers may be your best option. All of our R-404a systems are compatible with the new R-448a. Additionally, Darwin Chambers utilizes the PFTCU unit to minimize refrigerant and make quick compressor swap-outs easy whenever possible. Our reach-ins eliminate the compressor entirely when feasible with thermoelectric technology at moderate temperatures. One of the more common refrigerants used is for environmental rooms is R-404a (44±2% C2HF5 · 52±1% C2H3F3 ·4±2% C2H2F4). Its primary use is in medium to low temperature applications. However, it is fairly high in GWP at 3,922. Another common refrigerant used in the industry is R-134a (1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane) for high temperature refrigeration. R-134a has a GWP of 1300. Both of these have significantly higher GWP than proposed replacements, but are much more safer and efficient. Two proposed replacements are propane (R-290 with a GWP of 3) and ammonia (R-717 with a GWP of 0). Flammability and exposure with these replacements is different from R-404a and R-134a and their use will be somewhat slow to be universally adopted. In the meantime, manufacturers of refrigerants are coming out with better refrigerants that have a lower GWP than R-404a and R-134a and better safety than ammonia and propane. HoneyWell and DuPont, the largest refrigerant manufacturers, are introducing replacements such as R-448a. R-448a has a 66% lower GWP than R-404a and similar efficiency with very few safety issues. Commercial refrigeration of the future will certainly change.