ATLANTA, GA — Has the jumble of new refrigerants and their classifications got you down? A newly published standard may help untangle the web of names and numbers.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has published ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2001, “Designation and Safety Classification of Refrigerants.”

“The standard establishes a simple means of referring to common refrigerants in place of chemical names, formulas or trade names,” the society states. “It also establishes safety classifications based on toxicity and flammability data.”

Standard 34-2001, which has incorporated the 1997 standard as well as 17 previously approved addenda, is published on a three-year cycle. This allows it to coincide with the deadlines for adoption by major building code organizations.

“The standard now contains all addenda in one document, which makes it more convenient and easier to use,” said Steve Szymurski, chair of the Standard 34 committee.

Five new addenda — 34m, 34n, 34r, 34s, and 34t — add designations and safety classifications for R-414B, -416A, and -417A; change the safety classification of R-245fa to B1; and change the composition tolerances for R-402A and -402B.

The cost of the standard is $36 for ASHRAE members, $45 for nonmembers. To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service, 1791 Tullie Circle N.E., Atlanta, GA 30329; 800-527-4723 (U.S. and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide); 404-321-5478 (fax); or visit the Online Bookstore at www.ashrae.org (website).

Publication date: 01/07/2002