UL Solutions

To address growing concerns about climate change and environmental sustainability, regulatory bodies, consumers and other stakeholders have placed an increased focus on the reduction of potent greenhouse gas emissions, such as traditional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants, to the atmosphere. In the U.S., several states have introduced measures curtailing the use of these products, including the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) global warming potential (GWP) limit of 750,...

Heat pumps are not new technology. They have long been utilized in residential applications to improve the efficiency of HVAC systems, reducing overall energy costs. As a simple description, a heat pump is a mechanical refrigeration system that is engineered to operate in reverse mode, producing heating instead of cooling. technology drivers In recent years, there has been a trend of new and increased applications for this technology coming from two primary drivers: Advances in technolog...

The fourth edition of UL 60335-2-40, the Standard for Household and Similar Electrical Appliances - Safety - Part 2-40: Particular Requirements for Electrical Heat Pumps, Air-Conditioners and Dehumidifiers, was published on December 15, 2022. This bi-national standard includes the following updates:   Updated definition and test method for releasable charge with relation of refrigerant leaks into the occupiable space Refinement of leak detection system requirements to accommodate variou...