Solstice yf refrigerant is a safe refrigerant for use in vehicle air conditioning systems. Numerous laws and other regulations are in place to ensure that when properly used these substances pose no threat to people and the environment.
During development of the product, Honeywell initiated detailed studies that yielded data for the regulatory requirement submissions for chemical substances. Solstice yf refrigerant is already registered as a refrigerant according to the EU REACH regulation. It is approved for use in Japan, South Korea and China; we fully expect approval in the US shortly.
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Applied Amounts |
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In vehicles: about 600 grams |
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In car repair shops: usually 10 kg cylinders |
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| Tests for Regulatory Reviews |
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| Additional Tests |
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Fiat tested Solstice yf refrigerant in a crash test with the Fiat 500, performed at 40 mph (according to EuroNCAP Protocol). |
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Peugeot tested Solstice yf refrigerant in a crash test with the Peugeot 308, performed at 35 mph (according to ECE 94). The test was conducted at a high temperature. |
In both tests, no fires occurred and no toxic substances were released.
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| Acceptable Exposure Limits for Solstice yf refrigerant in Daily Use (8 Hour Time Weighted Average) |
Acceptable limits: 500 ppm (parts per million) in the workplace (according to the American Industrial Hygienists Association).
Factual Exposure: vehicle: <1 ppm, stationary place: <1 ppm.
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| Classifications |
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Toxicity Screening: Class A (lowest toxicity in accordance with the classification of American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, ASHRAE). |
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H220: (Extremely flammable, but non-toxic according to Regulation (CLP) No. 1272/2008, which replaces 67/548/EEC and introduces two categories of flammability based on the Lower Flammability Limit (<13%) that categorizes gaseous substances A2L (moderately flammable according to ISO 817). |
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| Flammability |
The EU requirements for the classification of gases (Regulation on Classification, Labeling and Packaging of Substances and Mixtures of 30.11.2010, Regulation (EU) No. 1272/2008) designates Solstice yf refrigerant as “extremely flammable”. This classification is solely based on the lower flammability limit and ignores other important parameters such as ignition energy, heat of combustion and flame propagation rate.
The energy required to ignite Solstice yf refrigerant is 5.000 mJ (Millijoule). By comparison:
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Gasoline ignites at 0.2 mJ. |
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Spark plugs need a minimum energy of approximately 40 mJ to ignite fuel. |
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Auto ignition temperature of air/refrigerant mixture: 405 degrees Celsius. |
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In tests no ignition was recorded on contact with hot surfaces with temperatures of up to 800 degrees Celsius. |
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| Decomposition Substance: Hydrofluoric Acid |
Independent, global testing laboratories have conducted comprehensive tests on Solstice yf refrigerant. Based upon the results of these tests, these independent parties have concluded that Solstice yf refrigerant is safe for use in mobile air conditioning.
The risk associated with the formation of hydrofluoric acid is similar to that of the current refrigerant, R-134a. Given the many years of safe use of HFC-134a in automobile air conditioning and the lack of any published medical reports indicating exposures to HF, it has been concluded that Solstice yf refrigerantis safe for use in mobile air conditioning.
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| (Re)fill, Maintenance and Disposal |
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High quality as well as safety standards assure a safe supply chain exclusively to car manufacturers, suppliers and qualified specialized companies. It is not distributed to private users. |
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A/C training prepared by the German Federation for Motor Trades, according to regulation EG No. 307/2008, provides for the safe and proper use of cooling agents. |
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Together with employers' liability insurance associations and leading institutes, among them TÜV Rheinland, Honeywell is developing guidelines for the application in garages and specialized companies. |
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Specialized companies will recover Solstice yf refrigerant for recycling or final disposal. |
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Mobile Air Conditioning 