Regulation (EU) 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases, commonly referred to as the F-gas regulation,  came into force on January 1, 2015. One of the consequences is a prohibition on placement after 2020 on the market, of stationary refrigeration equipment containing refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 2500 or more.

To comply with the F-gas regulation the refrigerants in the Lauda circulation chillers Variocool have been changed from  R 404A to R 452A or R 449A.

R 452A has a GWP  of  2140, for  R 449A the value is 1397.  Both are non-flammable refrigerants and can be transported by airplane.

Article numbers for all Variocool chillers remain the same.

Information about type and amount of refrigerant for each Variocool model can be taken from the type plate of the unit. As the VC 600 is discontinued from January 1, 2019, the refrigerant for this type has not been changed.