R-410A vs R-454B
Reviewed · pressures computed with CoolProp 8.0 from the same data as the PT charts
Can you put R-454B in an R-410A system?
No. R-454B is an A2L (mildly flammable) refrigerant and may only go into equipment designed and listed for it under UL 60335-2-40, with refrigerant detection where the standard requires it. Carrier states it is not a drop-in replacement, and Copeland says A2L refrigerants must not be retrofitted into non-A2L compressors or equipment.
Pressures side by side
Saturation pressure in psig at sea level. Evaporating rows use the vapor (dew) value, condensing rows the liquid (bubble) value, which is what you compare with suction and liquid-line gauges. The last column is R-454B minus R-410A.
| Saturation | R-410A | R-454B | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaporator (vapor, dew) | |||
| -20°F | 26.2 | 22.7 | -3.5 (-13%) |
| 0°F | 48.2 | 42.9 | -5.3 (-11%) |
| 20°F | 78.4 | 70.6 | -7.7 (-10%) |
| 30°F | 97.0 | 87.8 | -9.2 (-9%) |
| 35°F | 107.3 | 97.3 | -10.0 (-9%) |
| 40°F | 118.4 | 107.5 | -10.9 (-9%) |
| 45°F | 130.1 | 118.3 | -11.8 (-9%) |
| 50°F | 142.6 | 129.9 | -12.7 (-9%) |
| Condenser (liquid, bubble) | |||
| 80°F | 236.5 | 225.4 | -11.1 (-5%) |
| 90°F | 275.4 | 262.3 | -13.0 (-5%) |
| 95°F | 296.4 | 282.3 | -14.1 (-5%) |
| 100°F | 318.5 | 303.3 | -15.3 (-5%) |
| 105°F | 341.9 | 325.4 | -16.5 (-5%) |
| 110°F | 366.4 | 348.6 | -17.8 (-5%) |
| 115°F | 392.3 | 373.0 | -19.3 (-5%) |
| 120°F | 419.4 | 398.6 | -20.8 (-5%) |
| 125°F | 447.9 | 425.5 | -22.5 (-5%) |
| 130°F | 477.9 | 453.6 | -24.3 (-5%) |
Properties
| Property | R-410A | R-454B |
|---|---|---|
| Safety class | A1 | A2L |
| Type | HFC, near-azeotropic blend | HFC/HFO, zeotropic blend |
| Composition (mass %) | R-32 50, R-125 50 | R-32 68.9, R-1234yf 31.1 |
| GWP (AR4) | 2,088 | 466 |
| Lubricant | POE (PVE in some compressors) | POE (some OEMs PVE) |
| Boiling point (14.7 psia) | -60.6°F | -59.3°F |
| Critical point | 160.4°F, 711 psia | 172.9°F, 769 psia |
| Glide at 40°F evaporating | 0.2°F | 2.7°F |
| Glide at 100°F condensing | 0.2°F | 2.7°F |
| US status | Since Jan 1 2025 no new residential or light commercial AC/HP may be made with it; servicing existing systems remains legal, and split systems built from pre-2025 components may still be installed. | Meets the 700 GWP limit for new US residential and light commercial AC/HP from Jan 1 2025; SNAP-acceptable in new equipment only, not as an R-410A retrofit. |
Component compatibility
| Item | R-410A | R-454B |
|---|---|---|
| Lubricant | POE (PVE in some compressors) | POE or PVE as specified by the OEM |
| Equipment listing | A1 equipment, no A2L listing | Listed for A2L under UL 60335-2-40 |
| Refrigerant detection | Not part of the design | Where UL 60335-2-40 requires it (Carrier: detection and dissipation) |
| Recovery machine | AHRI 740 machine (40 CFR 82.158 App. B3) | A2L-rated machine (UL 1963 SB / 40 CFR 82.158 App. B4) |
| Gauges and hoses | Rated for R-410A pressures | A2L-rated service equipment per OEM |
| Cylinder | RAL 7044 gray (legacy rose) | RAL 7044 gray with red band; often left-hand thread |
| Charging | Liquid | Liquid |
| PT column | One column is close enough (glide about 0.2°F) | Dew for superheat, bubble for subcooling |
| New equipment (US) | Only with components made or imported before Jan 1 2025 | Allowed (GWP below 700) |
What changes in the field
R-454B runs a little below R-410A. From the PT data, R-454B dew pressure at 40°F evaporating is 10.9 psi lower than R-410A, and at 100°F condensing R-454B bubble is 303.3 psig against 318.5 psig for R-410A. The gap is small enough to fool you if you read the wrong chart, so set the manifold or app to the refrigerant on the nameplate.
The bigger change is glide. R-410A is a near-azeotrope with about 0.2°F of glide, so one column works. R-454B is a zeotrope: at 40°F the bubble point is 113.2 psig and the dew point 107.5 psig. Use the dew value for superheat and the bubble value for subcooling. The PT chart guide covers this in detail.
Both are charged as liquid. Both use POE, and R-454B equipment may also use PVE; Carrier says to use the lubricant the equipment manufacturer specifies and not to move oil from R-410A systems into R-454B equipment.
On the safety side, R-454B is class A2L. Recovery machines must be certified under 40 CFR 82.158 Appendix B4 (UL 1963 Supplement SB) for flammable refrigerants, and OEMs such as Carrier require A2L-rated service equipment. New containers are light green-gray RAL 7044 with a red band for flammables, and many A2L cylinders use left-hand thread valves. See recovery machine compatibility.
Retrofit or replacement
You cannot convert an R-410A system to R-454B. The reasons are specific:
- EPA’s SNAP listing (86 FR 24444) accepts R-454B only in new equipment that meets use conditions based on UL 60335-2-40. An R-410A unit was never evaluated or listed for a flammable refrigerant.
- UL 60335-2-40 sets charge limits and, where required, refrigerant detection and mitigation. Carrier’s R-454B systems include a detection and dissipation system that runs a fan to disperse a leak. An R-410A system has none of that.
- Carrier states R-454B “is not a drop-in replacement” because “equipment components, controls and safety requirements are designed around the specified refrigerant.” Copeland says A2L refrigerants must not be retrofitted into non-A2L compressors or equipment.
Searches for “R-410A to R-454B conversion kits” and adapters have no OEM-backed answer. An R-410A system that fails gets repaired with R-410A, or the system gets replaced with matched R-454B equipment. Repairing R-410A equipment remains legal, and under the 2026 rule (91 FR 31284) new R-410A split systems may still be installed where all specified components were manufactured or imported before Jan 1 2025. Details are on the R-410A phase-out page.
Capacity, efficiency and cost
None of the manufacturer documents used here gives a capacity or efficiency percentage for R-454B against R-410A, so none is quoted. Rated performance belongs to the matched system, so compare AHRI ratings of actual equipment.
GWP is the regulatory driver: R-410A is 2,088 and R-454B 466 on the AR4 basis (EPA’s own 40 CFR 84.64 calculation gives 465). That puts R-454B under the 700 limit for new residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps. Refrigerant cost follows supply. The 2026 final rule preamble discusses shortages of R-454B service cylinders.
Common questions
Can I use R-410A gauges on R-454B?
The pressures fall in the same range. The issue is that OEMs require A2L-rated service equipment, and recovery machines must be certified for flammables. Check that each tool’s listing covers A2L refrigerants and that the PT data inside the tool includes R-454B with both columns.
Can you mix R-410A and R-454B?
No. Each system is charged only with its nameplate refrigerant, and a mixture matches neither PT chart. Recover each refrigerant into its own cylinder.
Is there a conversion chart from R-410A to R-454B?
Use the side-by-side table above. It takes R-454B dew values for evaporator rows and bubble values for condenser rows, and the difference column is R-454B minus R-410A.
PT charts and calculators
Sources
- Carrier: R-454B refrigerant carrier.com
- Copeland AE Bulletin 93-11: Refrigerants and Lubricants Approved for Use in Copeland Compressors webapps.copeland.com
- 86 FR 24444 (May 6 2021), SNAP Rule 23: A2L refrigerants in residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps federalregister.gov
- 40 CFR 84.54: Technology Transitions restrictions ecfr.gov
- 91 FR 31284 (May 26 2026): Reconsideration of Certain Technology Transitions Requirements federalregister.gov
- 40 CFR 82.158: Standards for recovery and/or recycling equipment ecfr.gov
- 40 CFR 84.64: Global warming potentials for Technology Transitions ecfr.gov
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