R290 vs R404A Display Freezers: What Importers Should Check Before Ordering

Short answer: order R290 unless you have a specific reason not to. It is the only choice if the cabinets will be sold or used in the European Union, it has almost no climate impact, and it is not affected by HFC phase-down rules. Choose R404A only when three things are true at the same time: the cabinets stay outside the EU, your local technicians are not yet able to service R290 safely, and the model you want is offered with R404A.

R290 is the standard refrigerant on every cabinet we build. On many models, including all our island freezers and upright glass door freezers, R404A is available as an option for non-EU markets. This guide walks through the checks we run with importers before they decide.

What actually differs between R290 and R404A

R290 is propane, a natural hydrocarbon. R404A is a blend of three HFCs (R125, R143a and R134a). Both work well in plug-in display cabinets, but they differ in four ways that matter to a buyer:

• Climate impact. R290 has a global warming potential (GWP) of about 3. R404A has a GWP of 3,922. One kilogram of R404A leaking out has roughly the same warming effect as almost four tonnes of CO₂.
• Flammability. Under ISO 817 and ASHRAE 34, R290 is class A3 (flammable) and R404A is class A1 (non-flammable). This is why R290 cabinets use a small charge in a sealed circuit, and why servicing needs extra care.
• Regulation. R404A is restricted in the EU and is covered by HFC phase-down schedules in many other countries. R290 is not an HFC, so these schedules do not apply to it.
• Service practice. Most refrigeration technicians have worked with R404A for years. R290 needs training, suitable tools and good ventilation.

In a plug-in cabinet designed for it, R290 also needs a much smaller charge by weight than the same system on R404A, and it performs well at high room temperatures. The decision is rarely about cooling performance. It is about rules, service and the years ahead.

Step 1: Check where the cabinets will end up

Start with the final destination, not the port of entry. Under the EU F-gas rules, new self-contained (plug-in) commercial refrigerators and freezers using HFCs with a GWP of 2,500 or more have been banned since 1 January 2020, and the limit dropped to a GWP of 150 from 1 January 2022. R404A is far above both thresholds.

So if you sell into the EU, or re-export to an EU customer, the answer is R290. This is also why our product pages say "R404A available for non-EU markets" rather than simply "R404A available".

Outside the EU, check your own country's rules. Some countries have their own limits on high-GWP refrigerants or require import permits for HFC equipment. Your customs broker or the national refrigerant authority can confirm this before you place the order.

Step 2: Check who will service the cabinets

For most importers outside Europe, this is the real question. A cabinet runs for many years, and sooner or later a technician will open the circuit to replace a compressor, fix a leak or change a component. That technician must be ready for the refrigerant inside.

Servicing R290 safely means:

• training in handling flammable refrigerants,
• a leak detector suitable for hydrocarbons, and tools that do not create sparks,
• good ventilation and no open flame nearby while the circuit is open,
• recovering or venting the gas safely and purging the circuit with nitrogen before any brazing.

R404A service is familiar to most technicians. The main rule is that, as a blend, it should be charged as a liquid so the mix stays correct.

If you run your own service team, or your customers are supermarket chains with trained contractors, R290 is rarely a problem. If your cabinets will be serviced by small independent workshops that have never handled hydrocarbons, either plan training before the cabinets arrive or consider R404A where the model offers it.

Step 3: Understand the charge limit and what it means for cabinet design

Because R290 is flammable, the safety standard for commercial refrigerating appliances, IEC 60335-2-89, limits how much can be in each refrigerant circuit. Older editions capped it at 150 g. The 2019 edition raised the ceiling to about 500 g for some designs, subject to extra safety requirements. Which edition applies depends on what your country has adopted.

For a buyer this has two practical effects. First, larger cabinets may use more than one refrigeration circuit to stay within the limit. Second, R290 cabinets are normally marked with a flammable refrigerant warning symbol on or near the nameplate. When your shipment arrives, check that the nameplate shows the refrigerant you ordered, and make sure your installers know what the symbol means.

Step 4: Think about refrigerant supply over the cabinet's life

Under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, countries that have ratified it are phasing down HFCs, including the gases that make up R404A. Most developing countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia belong to a group whose HFC consumption freeze started in 2024. The Gulf states are in a group whose freeze starts in 2028. Reductions follow in later years.

This does not mean R404A will disappear soon. It does mean that a cabinet bought today on R404A will spend most of its working life in a market where HFC supply is being reduced. R290 avoids that question entirely. If you choose R404A for service reasons, make sure your service partners can source it for the years you expect the cabinets to run.

Step 5: Check which models offer R404A

Not every cabinet type is offered with both refrigerants. In our range:

• R404A option available (non-EU only): all island freezers, such as the sliding glass lid combination island freezer and the deep-well glass lid island freezer; every model in our upright glass door cabinet range, such as the 3-door bottom-mount glass door freezer and the multi-door upright glass door freezer; and many serve-over counters.
• R290 only: our bakery and specialty cabinets, the open multideck chiller, and several serve-over counters such as the fan-cooled curved glass dual-zone deli counter.

The refrigerant line on each product page is the reference. If a mixed order contains both types, list the refrigerant next to every model on the purchase order so there is no confusion at the factory or on arrival.

Mistakes to avoid

• Converting a cabinet in the field. Do not recharge an R404A cabinet with R290, or the other way round. The compressor, expansion device and electrical parts are selected for one refrigerant. A conversion voids the design basis and can be dangerous.
• Mixing up gas cylinders. In a mixed fleet, label cabinets clearly and keep a record of which store has which refrigerant. Topping up the wrong gas ruins the system.
• Choosing on purchase price alone. Look at the whole life of the cabinet: who will service it, what the gas will cost and whether it will still be easy to buy in ten years.
• Forgetting the power supply. Refrigerant and voltage are both fixed at the factory. Our cabinets are available in 220–240V/50Hz, 220V/60Hz and 110–120V/60Hz. Confirm both on the same order line. For power figures, tell us the model and we will provide the rated power.

Checklist before you order

1. Will any of these cabinets be sold, installed or re-exported in the EU?
2. Does your country restrict high-GWP refrigerants or require import permits for HFC equipment?
3. Who will service the cabinets, and are they trained and equipped for R290?
4. If you want R404A, does each model page list it as an option?
5. Is the refrigerant written next to every model on the purchase order?
6. Are voltage and frequency confirmed for each installation site?
7. Do your installers know how to read the nameplate and the flammable refrigerant symbol?

FAQ

Is R290 safe in a busy supermarket?

Yes, when the cabinet is built to the applicable standard. The charge is small and sealed inside the circuit, and the standard limits how much each circuit can hold. The main risk is during servicing, which is why technician training matters more than the cabinet itself.

Does R290 cool as well as R404A in hot climates?

Yes. R290 is widely used in plug-in commercial cabinets and performs well at high room temperatures. What matters more in hot stores is condenser clearance, cleaning and correct voltage. See our guide to display refrigeration for hot and humid stores.

Can I order some models in R290 and others in R404A in one container?

You can mix different models in one container, from one sample unit upwards. For non-EU orders, each model can be specified with the refrigerant it is offered with. Samples take 7–15 days, and bulk orders ship 25–35 days after the deposit.

Can an R404A cabinet be converted to R290 later?

No, not by recharging it. R290 needs a compressor and components selected for a flammable refrigerant. If you expect to move to R290 within a few years, it is simpler to order R290 now.

Not sure which refrigerant suits your market?

Send us your destination country, the models you are considering and who will service them. We will confirm which refrigerant each model can be built with and help you plan the order. Request a quote.