• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • MARKETS & PRODUCTS
    • Markets


      Construction

      Cybersecurity

      Fixed Gas & Flame Detection

      General Industry

      Healthcare

      HVAC-R

      Oil & Gas

      Training

      Utilities

      Products


      Combustion Analysis

      Confined Space

      Connected Work

      Corporate

      Fall Protection

      Fixed Gas & Flame Detection

      Gas Analysis

      General

      Head Protection

      Heat Stress

      Leak Detection

      Portable Gas Detection

      Refrigerant Analysis

      Respiratory Protection

      Column
  • SUBSCRIBE

Changes to Refrigerant Cylinder Color Code

4 Min Read | Mar 3, 2020

Reading Time: 4 minutesAre you aware of the changes to the refrigerant cylinder color code? Learn the background on the change; what the revision entails; and the importance of refrigerant safe-handling now.

March 3, 2020 by Elizabeth Ortlieb

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Elizabeth Ortlieb


Are you aware of the changes to the refrigerant cylinder color code? Those who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of HVAC-R equipment should be aware of the change to the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute’s (AHRI) Guideline N, Assignment of Refrigerant Container Colors.

In fact, according to this guideline, all refrigerant containers (except for recovered and recycled refrigerants) are to have one uniform paint color, RAL 7044, by January 2020. Because we identified this issue as one of the top things to plan for in 2020, we thought it was important to provide additional details for HVAC-R stakeholders.

This article explores the following in relation to the refrigerant cylinder color code changes:

  • Background on the change;
  • What the revision to Guideline N entails; and
  • the Importance of refrigerant safe-handling practices.

Refrigerant Cylinder Color Code

First, the purpose of AHRI’s Guideline N is for the assignment of refrigerant container colors.

What is the color designation?

Originally, Guideline N stipulated different paint colors for refrigerant cylinders for quick and easy recognition, such as light green for R-22, orange for R-404A, light blue (sky) for R-134a, and rose for R-410A.

This color designation was meant to assist in refrigerant handling, help identify the type of refrigerants in cylinders and prevent their mixing. However, as more and more refrigerants entered the marketplace, the number of colors increased steeply, and confusion ensued.

One of the most obvious turning points was when the colors for some refrigerants started looking too similar. Take R-410A and R-502, for example, which have closely related colors (rose for the former; light purple for the latter) and could easily be mistaken for each other upon first glance.

Revision to Guideline N Announced

The point is, for many stakeholders, this color designation became confusing. In fact, “more than half of respondents to an AHRI survey of refrigerant users found that container colors had caused confusion.” Such concerns over confusion were bolstered by even more refrigerants being introduced on the marketplace and many of them having flammable properties and thereby increasing safety risks.

As a result, revisions to Guideline N were published in 2016 that called for all refrigerant containers (except for those recovered and recycled refrigerants) to have the same paint color, light gray-green RAL 7044, by 2020. Some refrigerant suppliers, like AirGas, implemented the change early on, announcing that it would transition cylinders in the first quarter of 2017.

Uniform Paint Color Takes Effect

The update, the 2017 Guideline for Assignment of Refrigerant Container Colors, makes clear that existing inventories are not required to be repainted, and flammable refrigerants must still have a red band on the top of the container. Additionally, AHRI will continue to assign Pantone Matching System (PMS) colors for printed materials only, including the label on containers and the outer packaging of DOT39 cylinders.

It’s important to note that this is a voluntary guideline (not a mandatory requirement) in the U.S. While it may be used in other countries (e.g., Latin America), it is also not a global guideline. Nonetheless, with only a handful of cylinder manufacturers on the market, we would expect to see wide adoption of this voluntary guideline.

Importance of refrigerant safe-handling

While we do not yet know the broader impact this change could have upon the HVAC-R industry, the most important takeaway from this update is that adhering to and employing refrigerant safe-handling best practices in your day-to-day activities is paramount.

The fact of the matter is, with so many new refrigerants on the market, there is a greater potential for mixed and counterfeit refrigerants. The mixing of refrigerants could negatively affect air-conditioning or refrigeration system operation and ultimately lead to more refrigerant destruction in place of recycling.

That’s why technicians must take their time in grabbing the right cylinder for the application in which they are working on. It cannot be the standard rhythm they are used to. Even more importantly, Zach Ziegler, Product Line Manager at MSA Safety, states, “Not only should technicians ensure they are grabbing the right cylinder, but they also should confirm the refrigerant required in the system.”

Not only should technicians ensure they are grabbing the right cylinder, but they also should confirm the refrigerant required in the system.

Zachary Ziegler, Product Line Manager at MSA Safety

The increased use of A2L and A3 class refrigerants has changed the game, as they come along with flammability risks. In fact, if one is not cognizant of a refrigerant and its appropriate application, there is a greater danger to life, limb, and/or property now, more so than ever before.

Ensure Refrigerant Quality

As such, contractors should avoid costly contamination of refrigerants. Employing methods to confirm the refrigerant required in systems as well as verifying what they have and what they should use on that system is important for safe and efficient operations.

Ultimately, make sure you are purchasing refrigerant from certified dealers to avoid counterfeits, and, when applicable, use a refrigerant analyzer to test all systems before recovery to ensure high quality refrigerant. Such refrigerant analysis is the safest and most efficient way for refrigerant identification and is a good investment for contractors.

Along similar lines, with the changes to the refrigerant cylinder code now in effect, it’s important to assess your application needs and see how you can make improvements to your own operations in terms of determining refrigerant purity.

It begins by answering questions such as:

  • How long are you and your team spending on refrigerant identification now?
  • What safety groups do the refrigerants you work on belong to (e.g., A1, A2L, B1, etc.,), and has there been an increase in servicing one group in recent years?
  • Are you identifying refrigerant in the smartest and fastest way possible?

No matter how this color code change plays out in-the-field, investing in a refrigerant analyzer allows you to quickly and accurately determine refrigerant purity, preparing for the changes that lie ahead and the uncertainties that may come along.

Recommended for You

HVAC-R

How to Track Refrigerant Usage

November 12, 2024
5 Min Read
HVAC-R

Refrigerant Tracking and Compliance Software: An Overview

January 15, 2025
Watch
HVAC-R

MSA Chillgard 5000 and Bacharach Halogen Multi-Zone: Targeted Excellence in the HVAC-R Industry

February 7, 2024
3 Min Read
Gas Cylinders
HVAC-R

What is the AIM Act and what does it mean for the HVAC-R industry?

May 9, 2024
7 Min Read
Share:

Footer

MSA MISSION: That men and women may work in safety and that they, their families, and their communities may live in health throughout the world.

MSASafety.com

  • Construction
  • General Industry
  • Oil & Gas
  • HVAC-R
  • Utilities
  • Fixed Gas & Flame Detection
  • Fire Service
MSA on Facebook   MSA on X   MSA on Instagram   MSA on LinkedIn   MSA on YouTube  

Contact

  • blog@msasafety.com
  • 1-800-672-2222
  • View All Contact Info
  • Subscribe

Other MSA Blogs

  • Fire Service – The Scene
  • FieldServer – The Safety Connection

© 2024 MSA. All rights reserved.

© 2025 MSA . All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT