Indian VRF Refrigerant Transition — R-22 to R-410A to R-32 to R-454B
By MEPVAULT Editorial Team · MEP Consultant · HVAC · 11 May 2026
Reading time ~ 8 min · Originally published: 09 May 2026 · Last revised: 11 May 2026
In 2010 every new Indian VRF used R-22 — GWP 1,810. In 2026 R-32 is the mainstream choice at GWP 675. By 2032 the Kigali Amendment forces a 10 % HFC step-down, by 2047 it forces 85 %. The Indian market has run through three full refrigerant generations in 25 years. What changed, what the practical install differences look like at site, and what we specify in 2026 design basis.
The 25-year refrigerant arc in Indian VRF
India’s HFC phase-down under the Kigali Amendment ratified the timeline: 10 % HFC reduction by 2032, 20 % by 2037, 30 % by 2042, 85 % by 2047. VRF in India has run through three full refrigerant generations since 2000:
| Era | Refrigerant | GWP (100-yr) | ODP | Status India 2026 | BEE listed brands using it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-2015 | R-22 | 1,810 | 0.055 | Phased out for new install (Montreal Amend.) | None new; service-only legacy |
| 2010-2025 | R-410A | 2,088 | 0 | In use; will phase down 2030-2035 | Daikin VRV IV+, Mitsubishi City Multi G-Series, Hitachi Set Free Σ, LG MULTI V 5 |
| 2020-now | R-32 | 675 | 0 | Mainstream for new install; mandatory for residential AC under MEPS | Daikin VRV X / Z; Mitsubishi Heavy KX-Z; Toshiba SMMS-i, SMMS-u; Hitachi VRF FSX-N |
| 2024 onwards | R-454B / R-32-blends | 466 / 675 | 0 | Pilot programmes (data centre + hospitality) | Carrier AquaForce R-454B; selected Daikin commercial chiller lines |
What changed when we shifted from R-410A to R-32
R-32’s volumetric capacity is ~17 % higher than R-410A at the same pressure ratio. Practical implications on site:
- Refrigerant charge per TR drops ~20 % — a 20 HP VRV using R-32 charges around 9.5 kg vs 12 kg for the same nominal capacity on R-410A. Lower total charge means easier compliance with the IEC 60335-2-40 Annex GG charge-limit rules now being adopted in India.
- ISEER improves 12–18 % for the same compressor map — at the BEE star-label boundary, this is the difference between 4-star and 5-star.
- A2L flammability class introduces installation constraints — minimum room volume per kg charge, sensor + alarm in mechanical rooms, vertical-pipe runs to be reviewed against leak-dispersion modelling. These constraints are now in BIS draft IS 3615 (revision under review).
- Compressor + heat-exchanger oil compatibility — R-22 service tooling does not work; vacuum gauges, recovery cylinders, and brazing rods need to be R-32-rated.
What R-454B brings vs R-32
R-454B is an HFC/HFO blend (R-32 + R-1234yf, ~69/31). GWP drops from 675 to 466, a 31 % reduction over R-32 and a 78 % reduction over R-410A. ISEER improvement vs R-410A is ~17 % — slightly better than pure R-32. Cost premium today on 1 TR equivalent: ~₹8,000–12,000 vs R-32, narrowing fast as production scales.
For long-life equipment (chillers with 20+ year lifecycle, ducted-split installations at IT campuses with strong sustainability mandate), specifying R-454B today future-proofs against the 2032 HFC step-down. For typical commercial VRF replacement cycles (10–12 years), R-32 is still the safer commercial choice in 2026.
Practical specification rule for 2026 projects
- Residential and small commercial (≤ 30 TR plant): R-32 mandatory per BEE MEPS schedule.
- Mid-rise commercial VRF (30–500 TR plant): R-32 default; R-454B option for tenants with corporate sustainability mandates (Microsoft, Google, ITC, Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt corporate properties).
- Large central chiller plants (≥ 500 TR): evaluate HFO blends (R-1234ze, R-513A) or natural refrigerants (NH3, CO2, low-pressure R-1233zd) — these have GWP under 10 and meet 2030 sustainability targets without phase-down risk.
- Specify the BoQ refrigerant explicitly with the AHRI/Eurovent rating reference — contractors substitute. Make refrigerant non-negotiable on the technical evaluation.
- For A2L (R-32, R-454B) refrigerants: add the IEC 60335-2-40 charge-limit check to the design-basis report; size mechanical ventilation per ISO 5149-1 §5.
References
- Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, UNEP 2016 — HFC phase-down schedule, Group I (developing countries) timeline.
- IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) Working Group I — Chapter 7 Appendix 7.A: 100-year Global Warming Potentials, IPCC 2021.
- AHRI Standard 1230 (I-P): 2024 — Performance Rating of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Multi-Split Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment, AHRI Arlington VA.
- IEC 60335-2-40: 2022 — Household and Similar Electrical Appliances — Safety — Part 2-40: Particular Requirements for Heat Pumps, Air-Conditioners and Dehumidifiers, IEC Geneva (Annex GG charge limits for A2L refrigerants).
- ISO 5149-1: 2014 — Refrigerating Systems and Heat Pumps — Safety and Environmental Requirements — Part 1: Definitions, Classification and Selection Criteria, ISO Geneva.
- Bureau of Energy Efficiency — Star Rating Schedule for Variable Capacity Inverter Air Conditioners (current revision 2024).
- India HFC Phase-Down National Cooling Action Plan — Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change, GoI, March 2019.
- Indian Standard IS 3615 (under revision 2025) — Glossary of Terms Used in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Bureau of Indian Standards.
// About the Author
MEPVAULT Editorial Team — A team of practising MEP consultants based in India. ISHRAE Mumbai chapter member; FSAI affiliate.