Figure A1. Examples of common refrigerants and their climate and environmental impact
High-GWP: red; Medium-GWP: yellow; Low-GWP: green
United Nations Environment Programme & ASHRAE. (2025). Update on new refrigerants designations and safety classifications June 2025.
| Refrigerant | Type | GWP (20-yr) | GWP (100-yr) | Lifetime (yr) | Ozone depleting? | PFAS? | Safety Class* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R11 | CFC** | 8,320 | 6,230 | 52 | Yes | A1 | |
| R12 | CFC** | 12,700 | 12,500 | 102 | Yes | A1 | |
| R22 | HCFC*** | 5,690 | 1,960 | 11.9 | Yes | No | A1 |
| R141b | HCFC*** | 2,710 | 860 | 9.4 | Yes | ||
| R125 | HFC | 6,740 | 3,740 | 30 | No | A1 | |
| R134a | HFC | 4,140 | 1,530 | 14 | No | Yes | A1 |
| R143a | HFC | 7,840 | 5,810 | 51 | No | Yes | A2L |
| R404A | HFC blend | 7,258**** | 4,808**** | No | Yes | A1 | |
| R407C | HFC blend | 4,457**** | 1,908**** | No | Yes | A1 | |
| R410A | HFC blend | 4,715**** | 2,256**** | No | Yes | A1 | |
| R452A | HFC/HFO blend | 4,273**** | 2,292**** | No | Yes | A1 | |
| R32 | HFC | 2,690 | 771 | 5.4 | No | No | A2L |
| R513A | HFC/HFO blend | 1,822**** | 673**** | No | Yes | A1 | |
| R452B | HFC/HFO blend | 2,275**** | 779**** | No | Yes | A2L | |
| R454A | HFC/HFO blend | 943**** | 270**** | No | Yes | A2L | |
| R290 Propane | Natural | 0.072 | 0.02 | 0.036 | No | No | A3 |
| R600a Isobutane | Natural | <1 | <1 | 0.019 | No | No | A3 |
| R717 Ammonia | Natural | <1 | <1 | <1 | No | No | B2L |
| R744 CO₂ | Natural | 1 | 1 | No | No | A1 | |
| R1234yf | HFO | 1.81 | 0.501 | 0.033 | No | Yes | A2L |
| R1234ze (E) | HFO | 4.94 | 1.37 | 0.052 | No | Yes | A2L |
*Safety classes based on ASHRAE Standard 34:
A1: non-flammable, lower toxicity
A2L: lower flammability, lower toxicity
A3: higher flammability, lower toxicity
B2L: lower flammability, higher toxicity
**chlorofluorocarbon: an ozone-depleting compound containing carbon, chlorine, and fluorine
***hydrochlorofluorocarbon: an ozone-depleting compound that contains hydrogen, carbon, chlorine, and fluorine
****own calculations