What are GWP and ODP? How environmental impact is assessed for refrigerants

Global Warming Potential (GWP) compares the climate impact of a gas to carbon dioxide over a stated time horizon — commonly 100 years. A GWP of 675 means one kilogram has roughly the same integrated effect as 675 kg of CO₂ under that convention.

Datasheets often cite IPCC AR4 100-year values because many regulations and OEM tables still reference that set. Always note which assessment report and horizon a figure uses when comparing products.

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) measures a substance’s relative ability to destroy stratospheric ozone, normalised to CFC-11 = 1. Modern HFC refrigerants in ACC’s current product range have ODP of zero.

Historical ozone concern centred on CFCs and HCFCs such as R22. Phasing out those chemistries shifted industry focus toward GWP and energy efficiency for HFCs and newer molecules.

Illustrative figures used on many ACC product summaries: R32 GWP about 675; R410A about 2088; R404A notably higher; R134a and R407C also carry meaningful GWP. All five listed HFC products are ODP zero.

Lower GWP alone does not make a fluid correct for a machine. Safety class, pressure, oil and OEM approval decide fitness. GWP informs policy and tender scoring; the correct refrigerant must be selected from the manufacturer’s specified product code.

Public and private tenders increasingly ask for GWP disclosure per refrigerant line, sometimes with maximum GWP thresholds for new installations. Separate each ASHRAE/ISO code in the bill of materials.

ACC Documents and product pages supply the figures and SDS references buyers attach to compliance annexes. Ask Contact if a project needs a consolidated table across all five ACC HFC products.

Indirect emissions from electricity often dominate lifetime climate impact of HVAC/R systems. A lower-GWP fluid in an inefficient machine can underperform a well-maintained higher-efficiency design.

Selection therefore combines fluid metrics, equipment efficiency, leak tightness and service quality. ACC supports the refrigerant and equipment side of that equation for B2B projects.