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R22, or HCFC-22, is a substance that depletes the ozone layer. Since the early 1990s, Australia has gradually phased out the production and import of ozone-depleting substances and equipment containing them. As of 2016, Australia's annual import allowance for hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) is 2.5 ozone depleting tonnes, equivalent to about 45 tonnes of R22. From 1 January 2020, imported R22 could only be used for servicing existing refrigeration, air conditioning, and fire protection equipment. A complete ban on R22 imports will be implemented from 1 January 2030.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is R22 | An ozone-depleting substance, also known as HCFC-22 |
| Ban on production and import | Since the early 1990s |
| Annual import limit from 2016 to 2029 | 2.5 ozone depleting tonnes of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), equivalent to about 45 tonnes of R22 |
| Ban on imports for new equipment | From January 2020 |
| Ban on all imports | From January 2030 |
| Servicing of R22-based systems after January 2030 | Will rely solely on recycled or reclaimed refrigerant |
| Reclaimed R22 | Must be tested to meet manufacturer's specifications to ensure quality |
| R22 equipment already in Australia | Will not be banned and does not need to be decommissioned or retrofitted |
| Existing units using R22 | Can continue to be serviced with R22 |
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What You'll Learn
R22 is an ozone-depleting substance
R22, or HCFC-22, is a well-known ozone-depleting substance. In the early 1990s, Australia began to gradually ban the production and import of bulk ozone-depleting substances, including R22. Since then, further bans have been introduced on the production and import of equipment containing these substances.
From 2016 to 2029, Australia is limited to importing only 2.5 ozone-depleting tonnes of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) annually, which equates to approximately 45 tonnes of R22. This restriction further emphasises the need to reduce the use of ozone-depleting substances and encourage the adoption of more environmentally friendly alternatives.
Starting from January 1, 2020, R22 imported into Australia can only be used for servicing existing refrigeration, air conditioning, and fire protection equipment that was imported or manufactured before this date. It is important to note that existing R22 equipment in Australia will not face a ban and can continue to be serviced with R22. However, regular servicing is recommended to reduce electricity and replacement costs for leaked refrigerant.
From January 1, 2030, R22 imports into Australia will be completely banned. At that point, the servicing of any remaining R22-based systems will rely entirely on reclaimed or recycled refrigerant. This impending deadline underscores the urgency to transition to alternative refrigerants and systems that are less harmful to the environment.
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Production and import of R22 in Australia
R22, or HCFC-22, is an ozone-depleting substance. Australia has been phasing out the production and import of bulk ozone-depleting substances since the early 1990s. Bans on the production and import of equipment containing these substances have been gradually introduced over time.
From 2016 to 2029, Australia was limited to importing 2.5 ozone-depleting tonnes of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) annually, equivalent to about 45 tonnes of R22. This restriction was in place to allow for the servicing of existing refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, as well as fire protection equipment. From 1 January 2020 onwards, R22 imported into Australia could only be used for servicing this existing equipment.
As of 1 January 2030, R22 imports to Australia are banned entirely. Any remaining R22-based systems will need to rely on reclaimed refrigerant for servicing.
It is important to note that existing R22 equipment in Australia is not banned and does not need to be decommissioned or retrofitted. Units using R22 can continue to be serviced with R22, and regular servicing can provide benefits such as reduced electricity and replacement costs for leaked refrigerant. However, new equipment is generally more energy-efficient and may be cheaper to run.
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Banned equipment containing R22
R22, or HCFC-22, is an ozone-depleting substance. Since the early 1990s, Australia has banned the production and import of most bulk ozone-depleting substances, including R22. This has resulted in a gradual phase-out of equipment containing these substances. From 2016 to 2029, Australia's imports of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) were limited to 2.5 ozone-depleting tonnes annually, equivalent to about 45 tonnes of R22.
As of 2020, the import and use of R22 in Australia are restricted. R22 can only be used to service existing refrigeration, air conditioning, and fire protection equipment manufactured or imported before 2020. However, new R22 equipment can no longer be manufactured or imported into Australia, with some exceptions for spare parts and special circumstances.
Existing R22 equipment in Australia is not banned and does not need to be decommissioned or retrofitted. Units using R22 can continue to be serviced with R22, and regular servicing can offer benefits such as reduced electricity and replacement costs for leaked refrigerant. However, it is important to note that newer equipment is generally more energy-efficient and may have lower leakage rates, resulting in potential cost savings.
From 1 January 2030 onwards, R22 imports into Australia will be banned entirely. At that point, servicing R22-based systems will rely solely on reclaimed or recycled refrigerants. This means that R22 will need to be reclaimed and tested to meet manufacturer specifications to ensure its quality.
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R22 imports after 1 January 2030
R22, or HCFC-22, is an ozone-depleting substance. In Australia, the production and import of most bulk ozone-depleting substances have been banned since the early 1990s. From 2016 to 2029, Australia is permitted to import only 2.5 ozone-depleting tonnes of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) annually, which is equivalent to about 45 tonnes of R22.
As of 1 January 2020, R22 or other HCFCs imported into Australia can be used solely for servicing existing refrigeration, air conditioning equipment, and fire protection equipment. However, from 1 January 2030, R22 imports will be banned entirely. After this date, servicing remaining R22-based systems will rely solely on reclaimed refrigerants.
The ban on R22 imports after 1 January 2030 is part of a plan to eliminate the production and use of R22 and other HCFCs. R22 has a high global warming potential (GWP), and when released into the atmosphere, it depletes the Earth's ozone layer, contributing to climate change. As a result, the supply of R22 will continue to decrease, making it harder and more expensive to service R22-based systems in the future.
While existing R22 equipment in Australia will not be banned and does not need to be decommissioned or retrofitted, homeowners are encouraged to transition to more sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives when replacing their R22-based systems. New units will use more sustainable replacement refrigerants, such as R-454B, which has a lower GWP than previous refrigerants.
It is important to note that while R22 systems can still be maintained and serviced by professionals with the existing supply of R22, the availability and affordability of R22 will decrease over time due to the import ban. Therefore, it is advisable for homeowners with R22-based systems to consider transitioning to alternative systems or refrigerants to ensure long-term servicing and cost efficiency.
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Reclaimed R22 for existing equipment
R22, or HCFC-22, is an ozone-depleting substance. In Australia, the production and import of bulk ozone-depleting substances have been banned since the early 1990s. Since then, bans on the production and import of equipment containing ozone-depleting substances have also been introduced.
From 2016 to 2029, Australia is limited to importing 2.5 ozone-depleting tonnes of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) annually, which is equivalent to about 45 tonnes of R22. From 1 January 2020, imported R22 can only be used for servicing existing refrigeration, air conditioning, and fire protection equipment.
From 1 January 2030, R22 imports will be banned entirely. After this date, the servicing of remaining R22-based systems will rely solely on reclaimed refrigerant. Existing R22 equipment in Australia will not be banned and does not need to be decommissioned or retrofitted. Regular servicing of existing units can benefit owners through reduced electricity and replacement costs for leaked refrigerant.
If you are using reclaimed R22, it is important to ensure that it meets the manufacturer's specifications to guarantee its quality and suitability. Contact your refrigerant supplier for further information. The price of R22 may rise depending on demand and availability.
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Frequently asked questions
R22, or HCFC-22, is an ozone-depleting substance.
R22 is not entirely banned in Australia. However, from 1 January 2020, R22 or other HCFCs imported into Australia can only be used to service existing refrigeration, air conditioning, or fire protection equipment.
From 1 January 2030, R22 imports will be banned entirely in Australia.
