In 2016 the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) announced that all refrigerant containers should have one uniform paint color, a light-green grey (RAL 7044), and that existing individually assigned container paint colors should be transitioned to that color by 2020. Container labels and markings remain the preferred method for identification for refrigerants. While this change is voluntary the HVAC industry is moving towards adopting this new color scheme and we anticipate that most refrigerant suppliers will utilize this new color system form 1/1/2020 onwards.
In anticipation of this industry change ASPEN Refrigerants made the transition to light-green grey cylinders in 2017. As such you are already receiving refrigerant product cylinders from ASPEN Refrigerants that conform to the revised requirements.
This change and others are stipulated in AHRI Guideline N, Assignment of Refrigerant Container Colors, available free to download from the AHRI website. The guideline previously stipulated specific paint colors for refrigerant containers as an additional means of refrigerant identification. As the number of refrigerants approved for use has increased, concern over the potential misidentification of similarly colored containers caused AHRI committee members to address the paint identification guidelines. The committee cited concerns over operating pressures and flammability as part of their decision for the changes.
The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 49 for hazmat transportation regulations and CFR Title 29 for occupational safety and health regulations require that all hazardous material containers, including refrigerant cylinders and drums, be properly labeled to clearly identify the contents. These container labels and markings should always be used as the primary means to identify the type of refrigerant in a container.
AHRI will continue to assign individual PMS ink colors for printed materials only, including the product label on containers and container cartons. The guideline already requires that all flammable refrigerants include a red band on top of their containers.