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Equipment Guideline
The operating pressures of R-410A are significantly higher compared to R-22. To work safely with R-410A, technicians are required to use tools and equipment that are rated for higher pressures. Check with your local wholesaler to ensure your equipment is rated to handle R-410A refrigerant.
Gauges: Pressure gauges, manifold sets and hoses need to be rated for use with R-410A. Consult with the equipment manufacturer or your wholesaler for suitability.
Virgin Cylinders: Refrigerant cylinders containing virgin R-410A can be easily identified by the colour of the cylinder and/or cylinder packaging. While available in several sizes and marketed under a variety of trademarked names, virgin R-410A will always be in rosy-pink coloured cylinders and/or cylinder packaging.
Recovery Cylinders: Because R-410A is a higher-pressure refrigerant, you cannot use the same recovery cylinders that you used to recover R-22. Recovery tanks need to be specified as DOT 4BA400 or 4BW400 in order to withstand the higher pressures of R-410A. These cylinders are rated for 400 psig service pressure and 800 psig test pressure.
Identifying R-410A Equipment in the Field: Air conditioning units are required to have the type of refrigerant they were factory charged with listed on the unit nameplate. In addition, many of the air conditioning manufacturers provide a rose or pink sticker or tag near the service valves (refrigerant connections) to denote R-410A refrigerant. Before servicing an air conditioning unit, be sure to check for these markings to determine whether the unit is charged with R-410A refrigerant.