Refrigerant Types in CRAC Systems Australia (R513A, R32, R134a, R410A)

The Australian HFC phase-down

Under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, Australia is on a phased reduction of HFC refrigerant imports. Bulk import quotas have reduced 25% by 2024, will reduce 65% by 2030, and 80%+ by 2036. This is the regulatory force behind the refrigerant transitions you're seeing in CRAC product lines.

It also means: refrigerants you can buy today may be substantially more expensive or unavailable in 5-10 years. Equipment selection now has a refrigerant lifecycle dimension that didn't exist 10 years ago.

R-410A — the legacy workhorse

GWP (Global Warming Potential): 2,088. Highest GWP of common CRAC refrigerants.

R-410A has been the dominant CRAC refrigerant from approximately 2005-2018. Vertiv Liebert PEX3, early PDX, Stulz CyberAir 3 (DX-A), and Schneider Uniflair LE / TD all shipped with R-410A as standard.

Status in 2026: still widely deployed in existing equipment. New CRAC equipment is no longer being shipped with R-410A in Australia (manufacturers have transitioned to R-513A or R-32 since approximately 2022). Service refrigerant for R-410A remains available but pricing has risen substantially due to import quota reductions.

Implications for owners: R-410A equipment is fine to operate. Plan for refrigerant cost rises on service. Plan equipment replacement at end-of-life with current-generation refrigerant.

R-513A — the current low-GWP standard

GWP: 631. Roughly 70% lower GWP than R-410A.

R-513A is a near-azeotropic blend that has become the default refrigerant for current-generation CRAC equipment. Liebert PEX4, current PDX, Vertiv CoolPhase Perimeter (PAM010-140), and most current Stulz and Daikin Applied product all ship with R-513A.

Performance: comparable cooling capacity to R-410A at similar pressures. Slightly lower efficiency in some operating envelopes (~3-5%) but the GWP reduction substantially outweighs the efficiency penalty in lifecycle environmental terms.

Status in 2026: the prevailing refrigerant in new CRAC equipment shipped to Australia. Long-term availability is the most stable of the current refrigerant choices.

R-32 — the small-system refrigerant

GWP: 675. Similar to R-513A.

R-32 is a single-component (not a blend) refrigerant with very low GWP. Common in residential and light commercial split systems and in some smaller CRAC units (in-row cooling, 10-50 kW range, telco shelter cooling).

R-32 is mildly flammable (A2L safety classification), which constrains its use in larger systems and in occupied environments. CRAC unit certifications must include A2L safety provisions where R-32 is used.

Status in 2026: common in smaller CRAC and split-DX equipment. Not the choice for larger perimeter CRAC due to A2L flammability constraints.

R-134a — the legacy chiller refrigerant

GWP: 1,430. Mid-range GWP.

R-134a is primarily a chiller-plant refrigerant rather than indoor CRAC. Most older centrifugal chillers, water-cooled chillers, and some specialty industrial precision-cooling systems use R-134a.

Status in 2026: being phased out for new chiller installations. Replacement refrigerants are R-513A (drop-in compatible) or R-1234ze (lower GWP, requires specific equipment design). R-134a remains available for service but pricing trajectory is similar to R-410A.

R-1234ze — the next-generation low-GWP refrigerant

GWP: 6 (yes, six). Roughly 99.7% lower GWP than R-410A.

R-1234ze is a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerant with extremely low GWP. Currently used in some current-generation magnetic-bearing chillers (Daikin Applied, Smardt) and some specialty CRAC systems.

Performance: capacity per unit volume is lower than R-134a / R-513A. This means equipment using R-1234ze tends to be physically larger for equivalent cooling capacity. Capital cost is higher but lifecycle emissions are dramatically lower.

Status in 2026: the leading candidate for next-generation CRAC and chiller refrigerant. Adoption is accelerating in chiller plant; CRAC adoption is slower due to system design constraints.

What we're recommending in 2026

For new equipment specifications:

• Perimeter / floor-mount CRAC: R-513A. Stable supply, good GWP profile, full manufacturer support.
• In-row / small CRAC: R-32 where A2L is acceptable, R-513A elsewhere.
• Chillers (CHW plant): R-1234ze where budget allows, R-513A as the practical default.
• Service of existing R-410A equipment: continue with R-410A; plan replacement at end-of-life.
• Service of existing R-22 equipment: R-22 is end-of-supply; equipment must be replaced rather than serviced for any major refrigerant work.

ARCtick licensing and refrigerant logbooks

All refrigerant work in Australia is licensed under the ARCtick framework administered by the Australian Refrigeration Council:

• RAC1 — refrigerant handling licence (held by individual technicians)
• RAC2 — refrigerant trading authorisation (held by businesses)

Every site must maintain a refrigerant logbook recording charge, top-up, recovery, and disposal. The logbook is a regulatory requirement for compliance audits.

UPS Services maintains logbooks for all our service contract sites. Our technicians hold current RAC1 licences and we hold RAC2.

Cost and availability outlook

2026 refrigerant pricing (approximate, AUD per kg, supply only):

• R-22: $200-$400/kg (where available; effectively end-of-life)
• R-410A: $80-$150/kg (rising)
• R-513A: $60-$120/kg
• R-32: $40-$80/kg
• R-134a: $50-$100/kg
• R-1234ze: $300-$500/kg (specialty)

Expect R-410A pricing to rise faster than CPI through 2030. Plan equipment replacement budgets accordingly.

When to call us

For refrigerant work, leak detection, recovery, or new equipment commissioning, contact us. All work performed by ARC-licensed technicians with full logbook compliance.

[Request a Quote](/contact#quick-quote).

References

• Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol
• Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water — HFC phase-down schedule
• ARCtick framework documentation
• AS/NZS 5149 series — Refrigerating systems
• Manufacturer technical data — Vertiv, Schneider, Stulz, Daikin (refrigerant transitions)