Refrigerant Compliance Guide
Refrigerant & GWP: Where VoltAire Stands
GWP ≤ 700 requirements are showing up in enclosure-cooling specs. Here is the straight answer on what VoltAire ships today, what is changing by the end of 2026, and what passes a refrigerant screen right now.
Quick Summary
Current-production VoltAire AT and AN enclosure air conditioners use R-134a — an ASHRAE A1 nonflammable refrigerant in a hermetically sealed, factory-charged circuit. R-134a's 100-year GWP (commonly cited at 1,430 under IPCC AR4, 1,300 under AR5) does not pass the GWP ≤ 700 screens now appearing in telecom and enterprise specifications. VoltAire engineering has confirmed the lineup is transitioning to R-513A — GWP roughly 631 (AR4) / 573 (AR5), which passes a ≤ 700 screen under either baseline — with new-refrigerant units planned by the end of 2026. They are not available for sale today. If your spec requires ≤ 700 before then, VoltAire heat exchangers contain no refrigerant at all and pass any GWP screen by definition.
The Basics
What GWP Is — and Why ≤ 700 Keeps Showing Up
Global Warming Potential (GWP) measures how much heat a gas traps in the atmosphere relative to CO₂ over a set period — almost always 100 years in specifications. CO₂ is the baseline at 1. A refrigerant with a GWP of 1,430 traps roughly 1,430 times as much heat as the same mass of CO₂ over a century. The values engineers cite come from IPCC assessment reports; AR4 numbers appear in most U.S. regulatory tables, and AR5 numbers in many corporate sustainability templates. The two baselines differ slightly, which is why this guide lists both.
The number 700 is not arbitrary. The federal AIM Act is phasing down HFC refrigerant production and imports, and its technology-transition rules set GWP limits — frequently 700 — for many categories of new air conditioning and refrigeration equipment. Large telecom operators and enterprises have folded the same threshold into their own procurement standards, which is why the question reaching our sales desk is usually worded exactly this way: “We need refrigerant with GWP ≤ 700. Does VoltAire have R-513A?”
Whether a specific regulation applies to your enclosure-cooling installation depends on the equipment category, date, and jurisdiction — that determination belongs to your engineering and compliance team. What we can give you is a straight answer on what is in the box.
The Numbers
R-134a vs R-513A at a Glance
100-year GWP values as commonly cited from IPCC assessment reports. Both refrigerants are ASHRAE class A1 — nonflammable, low toxicity.
| Refrigerant | Where You'll Find It | GWP (AR4) | GWP (AR5) | Passes ≤ 700? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-134a A1 (nonflammable, low toxicity) | Current production — all VoltAire AT & AN air conditioners | 1,430 | 1,300 | No |
| R-513A A1 (nonflammable, low toxicity) | VoltAire transition target — new units planned by end of 2026 | 631 | 573 | Yes |
| None No compressor, no refrigerant circuit | VoltAire HIX & HTC heat exchangers — available today, most models in 48VDC | 0 | 0 | Yes |
GWP values are the commonly cited IPCC 100-year figures, not legal determinations. Your specification may name a specific baseline — check which report it references. Under the newer AR6 report, R-134a is roughly 1,530 and R-513A roughly 676: the pass/fail conclusions hold, with a thinner R-513A margin.
The Roadmap
VoltAire's R-513A Transition
Confirmed by VoltAire engineering: new-refrigerant units are planned by the end of 2026.
Today
R-134a in production
Every AT and AN unit ships with a factory-sealed R-134a circuit, as published on the current product data sheets. We will not claim these units pass a ≤ 700 screen — they don't.
By End of 2026
R-513A units planned
VoltAire engineering has confirmed the transition timing. Model-level details, pricing, and data sheets have not been published yet — this is a production plan, not a shipping guarantee on any specific date.
For Your Project
Flag it with us early
Planning a 2027 install with a GWP requirement? Tell us now. We confirm current transition status with VoltAire engineering before you commit a spec — in writing, not from a brochure.
Honest pricing, honest roadmaps: R-513A units are not available for sale today, and we don't take orders against unpublished specifications. When the data sheets publish, this page and our quotes will say so.
Practical Paths
Need GWP ≤ 700 Before the Transition?
If ambient air at your site runs far enough below your target internal temperature for your heat load, a heat exchanger is the cleanest answer: VoltAire HIX cross-flow and HTC counter-flow units move heat through a sealed core with no compressor and no refrigerant of any kind. Capacity is rated in watts per °F of temperature difference, so sizing is a delta-T calculation — one we run for you. GWP zero, nothing to phase down, nothing to report on the refrigerant line of your submittal — and they are BABA-compliant, GR-487 compliant, and most models are available in true 48VDC for telecom plants.
If your heat load or ambient conditions genuinely require active air conditioning, you have a timing decision. A current R-134a unit is a sealed, factory-charged circuit — but it will not pass a ≤ 700 screen, and we won't pretend otherwise. Depending on your install date, the right move may be to hold the spec for the R-513A transition, phase the project, or split it: heat exchangers where ambient allows, air conditioners where it doesn't. That conversation costs nothing and we'll give you the trade-offs straight.
FAQ
Refrigerant & GWP Questions, Answered Straight
What refrigerant do VoltAire enclosure air conditioners use today?
Do current VoltAire units meet a GWP ≤ 700 requirement?
When will VoltAire units with R-513A be available?
What is R-513A?
My specification requires GWP ≤ 700 right now. What are my options?
Is R-513A flammable or does it change safety handling?
Can my existing R-134a VoltAire units be retrofitted to R-513A?
Does the refrigerant transition change BABA or GR-487 compliance?
Have a GWP Requirement on Your Spec?
Send it over. We'll tell you exactly what passes today, what's coming by the end of 2026, and put VoltAire engineering's current answer in writing.
This guide is informational and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. GWP figures are commonly cited IPCC 100-year values (AR4/AR5). Refrigerant requirements for a specific installation are determined by your project's engineering and compliance team. Roadmap timing as communicated by VoltAire engineering in July 2026 — final specifications will appear on official VoltAire data sheets at release.