World Refrigeration Day 26 June 2019: Refrigerants for Life

This document explains what refrigerants are, where they are used, and why their correct management matters across domestic appliances, food cold chains, medical logistics, laboratories, data centres, transport, and building comfort. It outlines major refrigerant “families” with examples and brief notes, including substances phased out or being phased out under the Montreal Protocol and newer alternatives with lower global warming potential. It describes how refrigerants move heat via phase change and notes practical requirements such as affordability and compatibility with equipment. The text links refrigeration and air-conditioning to food security, healthcare, and communications.