Guest Bio
Justin Prosser is a senior product compliance specialist at Danfoss. He has a B.S. in engineering from Penn State University and has nearly 20 years of experience in engineering and compliance in the HVAC/R industry.
Episode Summary
Host Vic Marinich is joined by Justin Prosser, senior product compliance specialist at Danfoss, to discuss the evolving codes and standards in the HVAC/R industry and how these changes can be managed.
Main Points
- In the U. S., there is an organization called IAPMO (International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials). It writes the building standards for California and a few other states. Those building standards then reference codes like ASHRAE 15, which sets safety requirements for the systems within those buildings. The systems standard, ASHRAE 15, then references product codes or product standards, such as the UL 60335 series. (2:45)
- The 60335 series references component standards, which could be another 60335 series or could be individual component standards like UL207, which applies to valves and heat exchangers. And companies need to comply with those individual standards and codes wherever they are within the entire compliance chain. (3:20)
- Many changes to codes and standards are occurring, such as minimum efficiency requirements and refrigerant restrictions. Unfortunately, there aren’t one or two codes or standards that are working to address all of these. There are many and they are sometimes competing. (3:55)
- For example, for the minimum efficiency requirements in the U. S., we generally look at the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), or IECC (International Energy Conservation Code) standard, the residential model code for the commercial minimum efficiency, as well as ASHRAE 90.1. And at least at the commercial side, and probably also at the residential side, people are looking more at a system level than an individual component level. (7:10)
- As we move toward electrification, using technologies such as vapor compression in heat pumps with low-GWP refrigerants, there are regulations on the new refrigerants, since they are more flammable. (8:10)
- We are also seeing a globalization of standards, where U.S. safety codes are transitioning to international codes or the U. S. version of these international codes. This is good in some ways, but it means a great deal of change and complexity that manufacturers will need to understand. (9:10)
- With A2L refrigerants being introduced, the safety standards are being updated weekly to address requirements. The goal is to be able to effectively implement the use of these flammable refrigerants within the different products and different building types. (13:55)
- ASHRAE 15, which sets standards for refrigerant use and refrigeration systems, requires equipment using A2L refrigerants to either be in a closed machine room, with a duct system that prevents leaks from escaping to other areas of the building, or outside. But this can present challenges when there are multiple systems – refrigeration, HVAC – in different areas of a building, such as in a supermarket. We need more work to update our safety codes to combine these different systems and address the risks together. (17:40)
- In mid-2023, we were finalizing requirements for A2L refrigerant sensors. That gave manufacturers almost no time to implement these things into their systems. The complexity is increasing and the speed at which we need to adapt to it, is also increasing. The public and private sector need to work together and trust each other. (23:15)
Links
For more information on preparing for the transition to A2Ls, visit https://www.iccsafe.org/products-and-services/i-codes/a2l-refrigerants-transition/
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For more information and additional episodes of the EnVisioneering Exchange podcast, visit https://www.danfoss.com/en-us/about-danfoss/insights-for-tomorrow/envisioneering-exchange/