R-416A PT Chart and Refrigerant Profile

Where you will find R-416A

R-416A is an R-12 replacement made of R-134a, HCFC-124 and a small share of n-butane (59/39.5/1.5 by mass, per ASHRAE 34 and the ASPEN Refrigerants SDS). The HCFC-124 makes it an ozone-depleting blend. It is not HFC-only, whatever some listings say; the SDS classes it as hazardous to the ozone layer.

EPA’s SNAP program listed it for R-12 motor vehicle A/C on Jun 13 1995. Stationary listings followed in 1996 and 1998: household refrigerators and freezers, vending machines, water coolers, ice machines, supermarket and stand-alone equipment, cold storage, transport, centrifugal chillers, dehumidifiers and industrial process refrigeration. ACHR News described Frigc R-416A in 2000 as an R-12 drop-in, marketed by producer CFC Refimax with InterCool Distribution.

The naming is muddled. EPA’s SNAP tables label “FRIGC FR-12” as R-416A, but EPA’s blend compositions page lists FRIGC FR-12 separately with a different makeup, and ACHR News calls FR-12 a sister product. Products with similar names, such as the Freeze 12 family, are not confirmed to be R-416A. Identify by the label and SDS, not the brand name, and test any unknown charge before adding refrigerant (see how to identify a refrigerant).

The legacy cylinder color assigned in AHRI Guideline N-2017 was yellow-green (lime). Containers made since 2020 are light green-gray.

Charging R-416A

Accuracy first. This site’s R-416A chart is computed from a custom mixture model. Against the only published chart found, from Hudson Technologies, it reads 0.3 to 2.8 psi high between 40°F and 100°F. The largest gap is 2.8 psi on the liquid (bubble) column at 100°F. Use the manufacturer’s chart or the equipment charging data when you set a charge, and treat this table as a reference only. The spot check is listed under “How this chart was computed” below.

R-416A is a zeotropic blend with a modest glide (about 4°F on the computed table). Like any zeotrope it should leave the cylinder as liquid. Vapor charging shifts the blend.

No manufacturer charging procedure for R-416A was found: no charge percentage against R-12, no superheat or subcooling target. Follow the retrofit tag or the equipment maker. For superheat, read suction pressure against the dew column; for subcooling, read liquid-line pressure against the bubble column. The PT chart guide explains both, and the subcooling calculator does the arithmetic.

On vehicles, follow EPA’s MVAC requirements for the substitute. EPA’s MVAC SNAP page lists R-416A as unacceptable in new light-duty vehicles from model year 2017 under its July 20 2015 rule; check that page for the conditions on existing vehicles.

Oil and compatibility

No R-416A lubricant guidance was found from a refrigerant maker or compressor maker. The SDS is silent, and BITZER and Copeland do not list the blend. So the only safe rule is the compressor manufacturer’s approval for this refrigerant.

Do not mix R-416A with R-12, R-134a or another blend in the same system. A mixture matches no chart and cannot be charged by pressure. The refrigerant oil types guide covers the oil families found in R-12 era equipment.

Safety, handling and recovery

R-416A is A1: lower toxicity, no flame propagation, despite the butane share. ODP is 0.009, from its HCFC-124 content (40 CFR 82 Appendix B). Knowingly venting it is prohibited, recovery is required, and sales are restricted to certified technicians.

For stationary equipment it is a medium-pressure refrigerant: its 104°F liquid saturation pressure sits well inside the 45-170 psia band even allowing for the chart difference. Small appliances need Type I certification, other equipment Type II; Universal covers both. Vehicle work needs Section 609 certification and approved recovery equipment.

Appliances with 50 lb or more fall under the ODS leak-repair rules in 40 CFR 82.157.

Status and replacements

Since Jan 1 2020, newly produced HCFC-124 may be used as a refrigerant only in equipment made before that date, and HCFC-124 allowances decline to zero in 2030 (40 CFR 82.15). R-416A therefore has no place in new equipment. It also contains HFC-134a, so its HFC share counts under the AIM Act (EPA basis 843.8). Hudson Technologies’ line card still lists R-416A in 25 and 125 lb cylinders.

No manufacturer or EPA source names a successor. When an R-416A system needs major work, the realistic paths are the ones for any R-12 era system: R-134a or R-513A after recovery and an oil review. The R-12 vs R-134a and R-134a replacement pages cover those conversions.