What We Supply
- Products
- R-290 (propane), R-600a (isobutane)
- Purity
- 99.5%+, documented against AHRI 700
- Certificate of analysis
- Provided with every batch
- Cylinder sizes
- 20 lb, 100 lb, 420 lb
- Certification
- DOT-compliant cylinders
Hydrocarbon refrigerants displaced high-GWP HFCs in appliance and commercial refrigeration because they work, they are cheap, and their global warming potential is negligible. What they are not is forgiving of impurity. Moisture freezes in capillary tubes, sulfur attacks copper, and non-condensables raise head pressure. The purity spec is the product.
What AHRI 700 Actually Requires
AHRI Standard 700 is the reference specification for fluorocarbon and other refrigerants, and it is what a refrigeration buyer means when they ask whether your material is refrigerant grade. For R-290, R-600 and R-600a, the 2024 edition sets a minimum purity of 99.5% by weight.
The purity figure alone is not the whole specification, and the secondary limits are where commodity LPG fails. Moisture must be no more than 10 ppm. Non-condensable gases must be no more than 1.5% by volume. Volatile impurities must be no more than 0.5%. The material must carry no sulfur odor when tested per ASTM D1296.
That sulfur requirement is the one that most often disqualifies ordinary fuel-grade product. Commercial propane is deliberately odorized with mercaptan for leak detection, and that sulfur compound is corrosive to the copper and brass inside a sealed refrigeration system. Refrigerant-grade hydrocarbon is non-odorized by definition.
Why the Documentation Matters as Much as the Purity
A compressor manufacturer qualifying a refrigerant supply does not take the assay on faith. They want lot-level analysis, because a single contaminated charge can field-fail an entire production run months after it ships.
This is the same discipline that high-purity extraction supply demands, which is why the two markets are served by the same material. We provide a certificate of analysis with every batch — the document that lets your incoming QC sign off rather than re-test.
If you are qualifying a new supplier, tell us the specification you are working to and what your incoming inspection requires. That conversation is faster than a sample cycle.
Charge Limits Are Moving — Check Before You Design
Hydrocarbon refrigerants are classified A3 under ASHRAE Standard 34: low toxicity, higher flammability. That classification drives charge limits, and those limits have been revised repeatedly as the regulatory picture matures.
The household refrigerator charge limit in the US rose from 57 g to 150 g effective September 2018, and higher limits for self-contained commercial cases have been through rulemaking since. EPA SNAP approval is specific to equipment designed for the refrigerant, not blanket.
We supply the material. The charge limit, equipment listing, and technician handling requirements that apply to your application are yours to confirm with current EPA and listing-body guidance — they change faster than any supplier's website.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is your propane refrigerant grade, or fuel grade?
- Refrigerant grade. Our hydrocarbons are 99.5%+ purity, non-odorized, with a certificate of analysis provided for every batch, and we can document against AHRI 700. Fuel-grade propane is odorized with mercaptan, which is corrosive to the copper and brass inside a sealed system.
- What purity does AHRI 700 require for R-290 and R-600a?
- The 2024 edition specifies a minimum of 99.5% by weight, with moisture no more than 10 ppm, non-condensable gases no more than 1.5% by volume, volatile impurities no more than 0.5%, and no sulfur odor per ASTM D1296.
- Can you provide lot-level analysis for incoming QC?
- Yes. A certificate of analysis accompanies every batch. If your incoming inspection works to a specific protocol, tell us what it requires and we will confirm what we can document before you place an order.
- What cylinder sizes do you supply refrigerants in?
- 20 lb, 100 lb, and 420 lb DOT-compliant cylinders. Contact our team to discuss the size and delivery cadence that matches your service or production volume.