R32 is a type of refrigerant gas commonly used in air conditioning systems. It is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) with a low global warming potential (GWP) and is considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to older refrigerants such as R22 or R410A.
R32 has a good thermodynamic performance. It is also more energy-efficient than R22 and R410A, which can lead to lower operating costs and reduced carbon emissions. R32 is being increasingly used in residential, commercial, and industrial air conditioning systems as a replacement for R22 and other older refrigerants.
Globally, small air conditioning systems are rapidly transitioning from R410A to R32. In 2019, R32 systems (small, pre-charged) made up 71 per cent of the market, an increase from 52 per cent in 2018 and up from effectively zero in 2013.
This gas is categorized under flammability level A2 (ISO 817:2014) hence care has to be taken when using this gas. It is very close to R-410A in terms of operating conditions and performance. Other refrigerants that are being considered for use in the future are R1234yf and R1234ze.
The current air source heat pump R410A is a mixture of R32 and R125 at a mass ratio of 50/50. The ban will take effect at the beginning of 2025, but manufacturers have already taken steps to prepare for the future.