SWORDS, Ireland — As of Jan. 1, 2025, all newly manufactured commercial chillers for comfort heating and cooling, plus newly manufactured packaged and split-system HVAC units, must ship with low-GWP refrigerants in order to meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) HFC phase-down requirements.

“At Trane, we believe performance and sustainability can coexist. Transitioning to low-GWP refrigerants is one of the most effective decarbonization strategies for commercial buildings,” said Oakley Roberts, vice president of product management at Trane, said in a press release. “Trane is quickly transitioning its product lines, so our customers have the solutions they need to help successfully comply.”

According to a UL safety standard, ducted HVAC systems with more than 3.91 pounds of R-454B refrigerant must include one or more refrigerant leak-detection sensors. Trane is adding factory-installed leak-detection systems to models with more than 3.91 pounds of refrigerant charge, Trane’s press release said. In addition, those systems will be equipped with building automation systems (BAS) points so building engineers can use Trane’s integrated Symbio controllers to help detect and mitigate leaks.

Trane has updated the following product lines with R-454B refrigerant and a standard factory-installed leak-detection system on models with a refrigerant charge of more than 3.91 pounds:

• IntelliPak 3 rooftop units (RTUs)

• Axiom horizontal and vertical water-source heat pumps

• Axiom vertical-stack water-source heat pumps

“Factory-installed leak detection systems help give contractors and engineers peace of mind, save time and money by not having to install leak-detection systems in the field, and help give them confidence that low-GWP systems are operating safely and efficiently on day one,” said Roberts.

Trane’s air-cooled and Thermafit modular units are designed to help reduce direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions. With higher efficiency and the use of low-GWP refrigerant, they help owners comply with changing regulations and help meet sustainability goals, the press release said. The following product lines have changed over to low-GWP refrigerants:

• Trane air-cooled models ACS, ACX, and CGAM are available with R-454B.

• The Trane air-cooled model ACR is available with R-513A.

• The Thermafit modular-unit chillers, models AXM, WXM, MWC, MWS, and AMC, are now available with R-454B.

Transitioning products to next-generation low-GWP refrigerants is an important part of Trane’s climate commitment, the company said. In alignment with this commitment, all Performance Climate Changer air-handling units (models UCCA, CSAA, PSCA, TCFS, TCPA) are now available with A2L refrigerants.