Since 2003 it's been illegal to manufacture air conditioning containing R22 refrigerant because it is harmful to the environment. The unit of measurement for this damage is Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP.)
What does Ozone Depletion Potential represent?
ODP is a unit of measurement based on R11, another damaging gas. The base reference of R11 is 1.0 and all other harmful gases are benchmarked against this.
ODP is the potential of a molecule of refrigerant to destroy the ozone layer. The lower the number, the less damage a refrigerant will do to the environment.
What is R22's ODP?
R22 has an ODP of 0.05. While that may not seem a lot, the UK government and European Union legislators have decided it is too high and this has led to the wider use of new refrigerants such as R404A, R407A and R407C.
The Future
As of early 2015, R22 can no longer be used for servicing and maintenance. New refrigerants, known as 'drop-ins', can be used to replace R22, but advancements in technology and energy efficiency mean a replacement system may be the best option.
If you are concerned about your system's ODP, or want to know more about your air conditioning and how it works, please contact our Technical Consultants. With decades of experience in mechancial services, the 361 Degrees can help you choose an air conditioning system that strikes the right balance between efficiency and performance for your building.
Further Reading
