Austrian survey on the frequency, location, and detection of leaks in heat pump and cooling systems up to 50 kW nominal capacity
The use of climate-friendly but flammable refrigerants, driven by the EU F-Gas Regulation and the proposed REACH Regulation, presents new challenges for the heat pump and air conditioning sector. These challenges include stricter safety requirements that combine technical, legal, and practical aspects. The international IEA HPT Project 64 contributes to a safe use of flammable refrigerants by increasing the understanding of the risks related to flammable refrigerants, and maintaining the risks at acceptable levels. One focus is on the collection and analysis of field-based data to assess the current state of safety practices, identify common industry patterns, and uncover potential for improvement. This data lays the groundwork for informed decision-making and further recommendations. To support this, the national Project 64 team of Austria conducted a practice-oriented online survey with experts from manufacturers, distributors, installers, and refrigeration services companies. Tailored questionnaires addressed leak frequency, -location, and - detection. Additional questions gathered context on company structure and service models. The responses were analyzed descriptively using frequency distribution and proportions, supplemented by qualitative insights. Results show that expert assessments align only partially across stakeholder groups, which are likely due to differences in roles and service approaches. Notably, 47% of respondents reported that refrigerant circuit leaks occurred in only 1–5% of all service incidents, suggesting such events are relatively rare. When asked about leak locations, 14 potential sources were suggested, with Schrader valves, connection points to components, and evaporator heat exchangers emerging as the most common across all groups. Other sources followed closely. All suggested locations showed variations depending on stakeholder type. The survey offers valuable insights into the frequency and typical causes of system failures. These findings can help guide the development of technical standards, product design, training programs, and service procedures and ultimately reducing environmental risks and enhancing operational safety.