For new residential and light commercial central air conditioning equipment, the AHRI petition seeks a regulation requiring that equipment manufacturers use refrigerants with a global warming potential (GWP) of 750 or less in equipment made after Jan. 1, 2025, with the exception of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) equipment, whose deadline would be Jan. 1, 2026.

With precise management of capacity, VRF systems reliably maintain each zone’s set point without the noisy and energy-intensive start/stop cycles of conventional systems.

Building owners and specifiers can experience design flexibility, reduced operational costs and reliable, energy-efficient comfort year-round with variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems even in extreme cold climates. Modern VRF systems far exceed the capabilities of conventional heat pumps at low outdoor ambient temperatures. They are positioned to replace fossil fuel burning equipment in almost any climate.

Most often, leaks are the result from improper installation, factory defects, mechanical wear from vibration, or physical damage.