R448A, R449A, R290 and CO₂ in commercial rooms
Where each refrigerant fits
- R448A / R449A — the drop-in HFO blends for existing condensing units. GWP ≈ 1 273–1 397, legal under F-gas until the 2030s for small charges; no licence change for installers already handling HFC.
- R290 (propane) — GWP 3. Charge limited to ~500 g per circuit under EN 378 for typical room units, which caps the practical capacity per unit. Excellent efficiency; requires spark-free construction and trained installers.
- CO₂ (R744) — GWP 1, unlimited charge, high pressures (transcritical above +31 °C). The honest choice for larger engine rooms and supermarket-scale plants, not for a 10 m³ plug-in box.
What the rules mean for a small cold room
For pre-assembled rooms up to roughly 30 m³, R448A/R449A units remain the pragmatic EU answer today, and R290 units are the pragmatic answer for buyers who want to be future-proof: no F-gas quota, no phase-down exposure, and a better COP in warm climates — as long as the charge limit fits the room.
Cost effect
Refrigerant choice moves the equipment price by roughly ±5 % at this size class. The bigger cost lever is the refrigerant you will need in five years: a unit sold today on a high-GWP blend is a re-gas liability under the phase-down.