The refrigeration and air conditioning industry has made tremendous progress over the past two decades in reducing the use of ozone depleting refrigerants.
Refrigerant manufacturers are responding with the development of new products, and equipment manufacturers are designing more efficient technologies and systems that minimise refrigerant charge. They are also testing, selecting and qualifying new refrigerants. With this, R-32 refrigerant has been tested and proven that it provides low Global Warming Potential (GWP), zero Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) with mild flammability. R-32 also produces a GWP level of only 675 which is significantly low when you compare it to R-410A which produces a GWP level of 2088.
R-32 had not been commercialised as a refrigerant prior to 2012. However, countries around the world have begun to accept refrigerants that are midly flammable, with the goal of reducing global warming. In November 2012, for the first time ever, Daikin began using R-32 for residential air conditioners for the Japanese market. In October 2012, prior to the market release, Daikin held seminars with their installations contractors all over Japan to explain the characteristics of R-32 refrigerant to ensure contractors were qualified to safely install R-32 to the highest quality.
In March 2013, India began the sale of air conditioners using R-32 and Daikin’s next step was to release R-32 air conditioners in other countries for both residential and commercial customers.
Now in August 2015, B-DACS are excited to be the first installer to bring R-32 to Scotland. We have recently installed a Daikin FTXM50K Indoor Unit and RXM50L condensing unit at Wallace House in Stirling. With the environmental benefits aside other features of the system include:
- Discreet, modern design, high quality matt crystal white finish and matching remote control.
- Whisper quiet operation with a sound pressure level that goes down to 19dBA.
- Energy saving during standby mode, reducing current consumption by about 80% when operating in standby. If no people are detected for more than 20 minutes the system will automatically switch to the current-saving mode.
Not only does the R-32 system provide our customer with the above mentioned benefits it has also given us a chance to install the first system using this refrigerant in Scotland and adding to the range of units that we can offer our customers.
Hopefully this sees the first of many installations using this type of refrigerant.