A-Gas warns of contaminated refrigerant
11th November 2026
NEW ZEALAND: A-Gas New Zealand has raised concerns over contaminated illegally-imported refrigerant being sold through online marketplaces and social media.
As has happened in European and elsewhere, New Zealand is facing a growing market in illegally imported refrigerants being sold at prices well below normal market rates.
While these sales undermine the legitimate market and break environmental laws, A-Gas has found that the illegal refrigerants often bypass the necessary quality controls, traceability requirements, and safety checks.
Analysis of refrigerants acquired from an unverified seller on an online marketplace are said to have shown significant contamination.
Tests carried out on a refrigerant labelled as “R410A” at A-Gas New Zealand’s Auckland laboratory failed to meet several AHRI Standard 700 specifications, including purity, composition, moisture, high-boiling residue, particulates and solids, and non-condensable gases.
While any of these could seriously affect equipment performance and reliability if the refrigerant was used, the supposed R410A was not even what it claimed to be. While R410A is a straight 50%/50% blend of R125 and R32, the refrigerant tested was found to be 21% R32 and 79% R134a.
A-Gas has warned that introducing contaminated refrigerant into a refrigeration system can result in compressor damage and premature equipment failure; reduced cooling capacity; costly downtime and repairs; potential safety risks where incompatible or flammable refrigerants have been introduced without the owner’s knowledge.
