SPONSOR CPD PROGRAMME Continuing professional development (CPD) is the regular maintenance, improvement and broadening of your knowledge and skills, to maintain professional competence. It is a requirement of CIBSE and other professional bodies. This Journal CPD programme can be used to meet your CPD requirements. Study the module and answer the questions on the final page. Each successfully completed module is equivalent to 1.5 hours of CPD. Modules are also available at www.cibsejournal.com/cpd Propane refrigerant for heat pumps and air conditioners This module considers challenges and developments in the use of propane refrigerant for building services applications It is seven years since CIBSE Journal produced a CPD article specifically on the application of refrigerant R290 propane that, at the time, was likely seen by many as an outlier in the refrigerant marketplace. Over the intervening years, the relative benefits, challenges and opportunities of using such refrigerants one of the natural refrigerants have moved on significantly. This CPD will highlight the continuing challenges, and consider the changes that appear to be ushering in the new era of propane-charged heat pumps and chillers. The quest for more environmentally benign refrigerants gained international prominence when it was discovered that the synthetic refrigerants chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) were adversely impacting the global ozone layer. Under the 1987 Montreal Protocol,1 many countries agreed to phase out CFCs and HCFCs. This accelerated the application of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) that although exhibiting zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) as they have no chlorine content were subsequently associated with global warming. The 2016 Kigali Amendment set a schedule for countries to gradually reduce HFC consumption, initially with developed nations taking the lead, and now recognised by 155 countries.2 The global initiatives to reduce the use of high-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants have a significant focus on the reduction in the use of fluorinated HFCs and hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). In Europe the F-gas regulation,3 initiated in 2016, set the pace, and this has provided the basis of the subsequent UK F-gas regulation. Recently, in October 2023, revisions to the EU F-gas regulation were provisionally agreed4 to accelerate the implementation of measures towards the phasing out of HFC consumption by 2050, with the production of HFCs phased down to a minimum (15%) from 2036. A full ban was provisionally agreed, commencing in 2027, for specific chillers, small (<=12kW) monobloc heat pumps, and air conditioning with F-gases with a GWP >= 150, with complete F-gas phase out in 2032. For split air conditioning and heat pumps that contain F-gases, the agreement was for a full ban starting in 2035, with earlier deadlines for systems with higher-GWP refrigerants. There was some wriggle-room included to support the aspirations of the EU to significantly increase the adoption of heat pumps most of which currently use HFCs. However, the suggested revisions will have a very significant impact on the selection of refrigerants and systems. Notably, the revisions also introduce certification schemes covering the safe handling of natural refrigerants. Simultaneously, the US Environmental Protection Agency5 announced enhanced provisions for the reduction and reuse of HFCs that will apply to products both produced in the US and imported. This will undoubtedly influence the global marketplace. Separately, a recently completed consultation6 by the European Chemicals Agency considered proposals to restrict the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across the EU. The inclusion in the potential banned list of single component gases R125, R134a, R143a and the HFOs R1234yf and R1234ze(E) affects virtually all new and current lower-GWP HFC/HFO refrigerant blends.7 This has excited a huge response, including from trade organisations representing the refrigeration and air www.cibsejournal.com December 2023 43 CIBSE Dec 23 pp43-46 CPD Module 226 Swegon.indd 43 24/11/2023 16:12