By Eamonn Ryan
As the world moves to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), natural refrigerants like R290 (propane) are gaining attention as climate‑friendly alternatives. At the Green Cooling Summit 2026, organised by GIZ and the German Environment Agency on behalf of the German Ministry for the Environment and Climate, experts gathered to confront a central question: Why are natural refrigerants still of minor prevalence in the global cooling market, even though the technology is already here? This is part two of a three-part series.
Julika Schmitz, facilitator.
Yet one issue repeatedly surfaces in technical, regulatory and public discussions: safety. At the Green Cooling Summit 2026, safety was highlighted within the welcoming comments by Dirk Messner, UBA and Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven, GIZ as a “crucial issue” for the future of cooling. This article examines the safety dimension of natural refrigerants in room and building air conditioning and explains what needs to change in building codes, standards and training to unlock their full potential.
Why safety matters for green cooling
Natural refrigerants can deliver substantial climate benefits: they typically have ultra‑low or near‑zero global warming potential and can be used in highly efficient systems. However, some of the most promising options are flammable. R290, for example, is widely recognised as an efficient refrigerant with excellent thermodynamic properties – but it must be handled with care.
Public authorities, engineers, installers and building owners are understandably cautious. They need assurance that systems can be designed, installed and maintained in ways that minimise risk to occupants and workers. Without clear and up‑to‑date frameworks, many actors will default to familiar HFC‑based technologies, even when these have much higher environmental impacts.
The role of building codes and safety standards
The summit emphasised that building codes and safety standards must evolve to support a safe transition to natural refrigerants. In many jurisdictions, codes were written with older technologies and non‑flammable refrigerants in mind. As a result:
- Charge limits for flammable refrigerants may be overly restrictive or inconsistent.
- Requirements for ventilation, leak detection and system design may not reflect current best practices.
- Approval processes can be slow or unclear when innovative solutions are proposed.
Updating codes and standards is not about weakening safety. On the contrary, it is about making them risk‑based and technology‑informed, so they both protect people and allow climate‑friendly technologies to scale. When well‑designed, such frameworks can encourage innovation, support manufacturers and give building owners confidence.
Training and capacity building
Technical standards are only as effective as the people applying them. The summit underscores the need for comprehensive training and education around flammable refrigerants:
- Installers and technicians need skills in system design, safe handling, charging, leak testing and maintenance for R290 and similar refrigerants.
- Inspectors and regulators must understand the specific risks and mitigation measures associated with natural refrigerant systems.
- Building owners and facility managers benefit from awareness of operational best practices and emergency procedures.
This human dimension is crucial. Even the best standards cannot deliver safety if practitioners lack the knowledge and tools to implement them.
Ongoing debate and continuous improvement
The Green Cooling Summit 2026 signals that the conversation on safety is far from over. Stakeholders will “continue the debate” on building codes, standards and training, particularly for flammable refrigerants such as R290. The goal is continuous improvement – refining rules and practices as experience grows and technologies advance.
As more projects demonstrate that natural refrigerant systems can be operated safely in real‑world buildings, confidence in these solutions will rise. With the right combination of regulation, training and practical experience, safety will transform from a barrier into a cornerstone of climate‑friendly cooling.
© RACA Journal
