The Outlook For HCFC-22


On December 12, 1995 the Montreal Protocol was once again amended to control the use of HCFC refrigerants in the global market. Back in 1992 the London meeting to the Protocol placed a cap of 3.1% on the production growth of HCFCs in developing countries. In addition, a stepped phaseout through 2030 was allowed. In December at the Vienna meeting this 3.1% cap was reduced to 2.8% with a phaseout in new designs in 2020 leaving a small 1/2% service tail to 2030. For developing countries HCFC consumption will be capped at 2016 with a total phaseout by 2040.

With this phaseout schedule, what is the outlook for refrigerant HCFC-22? Currently there are seven replacements for HCFC-22 proposed and only 3 in actual use. Those in use are typically for comfort air conditioning. With a 24 year life of the product, why the rush to replace HCFC-22? The market size is the reason. HCFC-22 is the most used refrigerant in commercial cooling and residential air condition applications.

Production of HCFC-22 has increased over the last several years as shown.


This huge market for HCFC-22 looks very promising for the advocate of HCFC-22 replacements. With this market promotion there is a tendency by users of HCFC-22 to panic, and believe that HCFC-22 is gone tomorrow. In reality, some very interesting facts should be realized prior to any rash decisions.

So what is the outlook for HCFC-22? Only one problem - looking out to when HCFC-22 will no longer be manufactured, 2030, there will be such a large quantity remaining that a good environmental means of destroying the stock will be required.