R-449A PT Chart and Refrigerant Profile

Where you will find R-449A

R-449A is Chemours’ Opteon XP40, also sold as Forane 449A. It shows up in supermarket rack systems, cold storage, condensing units and industrial DX equipment (Arkema), both as factory charge and as the most common retrofit for R-404A and R-507A. Chemours also lists it for R-22 and R-407A conversions.

On a retrofit the compressor nameplate usually still reads R-404A, R-507A or R-22. Look for the retrofit label near the service valves, and check the cylinder on site. On this site’s computed charts R-449A reads 71.2 psig at a 40°F evaporating dew point, against 85.4 psig for R-404A, so an R-404A chart on an R-449A system makes the evaporator look much colder than it is.

Charging R-449A

R-449A is a zeotropic blend with about 10.1°F of glide at 40°F evaporating and 8.5°F at 100°F condensing (computed data). Chemours’ instruction is to remove liquid only from the charging cylinder. Charging vapor from a zeotropic blend cylinder would shift the composition in both the cylinder and the system.

At 40°F the bubble pressure is 87.9 psig and the dew pressure 71.2 psig, 16.6 psi apart. Use the dew column against suction pressure for superheat and the bubble column against liquid-line pressure for subcooling. The glide calculator gives the spread at the pressure you are actually reading.

For a retrofit, Chemours suggests an initial charge of about 85% of the original R-404A or R-507A charge by weight, with further charge added as the guideline describes (XP40 retrofit guidelines). On TXV and EEV systems, finish against the manufacturer’s subcooling target using the subcooling calculator. Self-contained units with capillary tubes are charged by weight. The target superheat calculator uses the CEC comfort-cooling table and does not apply to refrigeration cases.

This chart was spot-checked against the Chemours pressure-temperature guide; the largest difference was 0.4 psi.

Oil and compatibility

R-449A runs on POE. Chemours states that the existing POE is suitable when converting an R-404A or R-507A system, so no oil change is normally needed on that conversion. Copeland’s approved-lubricant bulletin (AE 93-11) lists POE for R-449A.

R-22 systems are different. Chemours recommends changing the mineral oil to POE and replacing seals when converting from R-22, so plan for an oil change and new elastomer seals on those jobs. The oil types guide covers POE, mineral oil and alkylbenzene.

Safety, handling and recovery

R-449A is A1: lower toxicity and no flame propagation, even with 25% HFO in the mix. Standard (non-A2L) tools and recovery equipment apply; a recovery machine certified to Appendix B3 (AHRI 740) is the right class.

It is a high-pressure appliance refrigerant under 40 CFR 82.152: Section 608 Type II or Universal certification is required, and sales are restricted to certified technicians. Recovery to 0 in Hg on systems under 200 lb and 10 in Hg on 200 lb or more (equipment made after November 15, 1993, 40 CFR 82.156).

From January 1, 2026, appliances with 15 lb or more of HFC fall under the leak repair rules of 40 CFR 84.106, and commercial refrigeration with 1,500 lb or more needs automatic leak detection (84.108).

The legacy label color for R-449A is grayish blue. New containers since January 1, 2020 are light green-gray (RAL 7044) under AHRI Guideline N-2017, so read the label. See cylinder colors.

Status and replacements

R-449A’s GWP is 1,397 on the AR4 basis and 1,396.3 in EPA’s own 40 CFR 84.64 calculation. EPA’s SNAP pages round it to 1,400. The 84.64 value is the one EPA uses for Technology Transitions limits, and it falls below 1,400.

The May 2026 final rule (91 FR 31284) set a 1,400 GWP limit for new remote condensing units from July 27, 2026 and new supermarket systems from January 1, 2027, so R-449A can still go into those new systems until the lower 150/300 limits apply on January 1, 2032 (40 CFR 84.54). It is above the 700 limit for new cold storage from July 27, 2026.

Its HFC content is subject to the AIM Act allowance phasedown (30% of baseline from 2029). From January 1, 2029, servicing supermarket systems, refrigerated transport and automatic commercial ice makers must use reclaimed refrigerant (40 CFR 84.112(e)).

For new equipment that must meet the 2032 limits, the options are A2L blends such as R-454A, R-454C and R-455A, or CO2 (R-744). Compare R-449A with its closest sibling in R-448A vs R-449A, and see all R-404A replacement options.

Common questions

What is the difference between R-448A and R-449A?

Both are A1 POE blends of R-32, R-125, R-1234yf and R-134a. R-448A also contains 7% R-1234ze(E) and has a GWP of 1,387 against 1,397 for R-449A; R-448A’s glide at 40°F is slightly larger (10.8°F vs 10.1°F computed). Charge the one the system is tagged for and do not mix them.

What oil does R-449A use?

POE. Existing POE can stay in R-404A and R-507A conversions; R-22 conversions need the mineral oil changed to POE (Chemours).