ACR Journal

The RAC Engineer’s Guide to Low GWP Refrigerants TheSpecialistMerchant Finding your way to the right solution CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai CMYK / .ai acrjournal.uk 37 REFRIGERATION What does the next F-Gas stepdown mean for contractors and end users? Find out more about the options available and the best way to prepare for change in the 36-page guide included with this issue of the magazine. “We only ever use the highest quality components. Our business is all about providing long-term solutions and our team o er support at all levels, from the initial enquiry right through to installation.’’ Wolseley knows that some contractors require more guidance with the next F-Gas stepdown in January 2021, which will squeeze the availability of high GWP refrigerants. Woods said: “Now is the time to start thinking about alternative refrigerants, such as A2Ls, to provide a long-term solution, rather than continue with R448 or R449 where the cost and availability is uncertain and is an interim solution. I’m not sure that everyone fully understands that. “I would also be thinking about what type of plant I’m putting in with regards to resilience. So, if I’ve got a central packaged system of 400kW and I’m running a suite of 7 or 10 large cold rooms, do I really want all my eggs in one basket where one leak could cost me a fortune? Would it not make more sense to have a modular system where a condensing unit runs one or two cold rooms, so I’m not going to lose my business with one central plant? “We are already producing A2L systems for the most forward-thinking contractors with long standing customers prepared to make the investment. These systems will become the bread and butter of the industry as more equipment becomes available. Franklin added: “If, as we expect, A2L systems do become the default, we are perfectly positioned to supply that part of the market with what we can produce here.’’ wolseley.co.uk