It is a clear move to boost climate protection – from 1 January 2027, the EU is restricting the use of refrigerants in cooling units and chillers with cooling capacities up to 12 kW. From that date on, only cooling units containing a refrigerant with a global warming potential (GWP) lower than 150 may be placed on the market. From 2032, the use of refrigerants containing F-gases will also be prohibited in these products. From 2027, new chillers with a cooling output above 12 kW must only contain refrigerants that have a GWP below 750. Other regulations around the world, such as in the USA, have specified a GWP of 700 for the refrigerants used in this type of equipment since 2025.

All this poses a challenge for machine and plant manufacturers, who need to make sure the cooling systems they use are fit for the future and comply with legislation – and sooner rather than later.

THE RIGHT CHOICE

The key issue is choosing an appropriate refrigerant. The lower the GWP, the more environmentally friendly the refrigerant is – but the more challenging from a safety perspective, too. That’s because a refrigerant’s flammability increases as its GWP drops. Many of the new substances are flammable, so special safety measures are needed.

Rittal responded quickly in 2024, switching all its cooling units and chillers over to the refrigerant R-513A, which has a GWP of 631. Starting in the first quarter of 2026, Rittal is taking the next step switching its entire Blue e+ cooling unit portfolio to the refrigerant R-1234yf, which has a GWP of just 0.5. The Blue e+ chillers will follow suit in the second quarter. As a result, Rittal climate control units will comply with the regulations right up to 2032. Rittal will also act in good time to offer appropriate solutions that will meet the requirements taking effect in 2032.

ASSESSED AS LOW RISK

Although the refrigerant R-1234yf is flammable, it only ignites at temperatures above 400 degrees Celsius, so it is categorised as mildly flammable (safety classification A2L). The risk analysis conducted by Rittal for the use of this refrigerant in enclosure cooling units deemed it “low risk”. In the automotive industry, various tests and analyses for using R-1234yf have been performed. The results show the overall risk to be higher than when using R-134a, but they also show no relevant general increase in risk in the event of an accident. In Japan, R-1234yf has been used in enclosure cooling units and other cooling systems for many years now. As Rittal has been supplying units containing R-1234yf to the Japanese market since 2018, it has gathered a lot of experience with this substance. Machine manufacturers can therefore use Rittal cooling units and chillers in enclosures and other applications for the foreseeable future without having to make any major changes. This means they can sell their equipment worldwide and remain in compliance with the relevant regulations.

Thanks to UL and IEC certifications, the very low volumes of A2L used, and a safety-optimised design, these Rittal units can be used anywhere in the world without any need for additional safety measures.

CREATING PLANNING CERTAINTY

Rittal offers its customers a complete, future-proof portfolio that covers all applications. The cooling unit and chiller technology delivers a sustainable, energy-efficient and viable solution for the long term – one that extends well beyond mere transitional technology. For special cases in which operators document an unacceptable risk in their application, Blue e units with the refrigerant R-513A (GWP 631) continue to be available.