HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon)
Short answer · Updated 2026
HCFC stands for hydrochlorofluorocarbon: a CFC with hydrogen added so most of it breaks down before reaching the stratosphere. HCFCs such as R-22 (ozone depletion potential 0.055) and R-123 (0.02) deplete far less ozone than CFCs but not zero. US production and import of R-22 ended in 2020, so R-22 systems now run on recovered and reclaimed refrigerant.
Refrigerant families compared
| Family | Contains | Ozone depletion potential | Examples | Status in the US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFC | Chlorine, fluorine, carbon | High (R-11 and R-12 = 1.0) | R-11, R-12, R-113, R-114, R-502 | Production ended after 1995 |
| HCFC | Hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, carbon | Low (R-22 = 0.055, R-123 = 0.02) | R-22, R-123, R-124, R-142b | R-22 production and import ended in 2020 |
| HFC | Hydrogen, fluorine, carbon (no chlorine) | Zero | R-134a, R-410A, R-404A, R-407C, R-32 | Being phased down under the AIM Act |
| HFO | Unsaturated HFC | Zero | R-1234yf, R-1234ze | Low-GWP replacements |
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are the transitional family between CFCs and modern chlorine free refrigerants. By adding hydrogen to the molecule, chemists produced compounds that break down more readily in the lower atmosphere, so a smaller fraction of the chlorine they carry ever reaches the stratosphere. The result is a family with substantially reduced ozone depletion compared to CFCs, but not zero, because chlorine is still present in the molecule.
That not zero is the key fact. HCFCs were adopted as interim substitutes precisely because they bought time: they let industry move away from CFCs quickly while chlorine free alternatives matured. But since they still deplete ozone, they were always scheduled for their own phase down, and the trade has spent years managing equipment designed around HCFC refrigerants as supplies tightened and service practices adapted.
On the exam and in the field, HCFCs occupy the middle of the refrigerant timeline. A technician should be able to place the families in order of ozone impact, recognize that HCFC charges remain in a great deal of working equipment, and understand that the full set of Section 608 handling obligations, from the venting prohibition to recovery and recordkeeping, applies to them exactly as it does to the other regulated families.
Common questions
What are examples of HCFC refrigerants?
R-22 is by far the most common, found in older residential and commercial air conditioning. R-123 is used in low-pressure centrifugal chillers, and R-124 and R-142b appear in blends. All contain chlorine, so all are ozone-depleting substances.
Can you still buy R-22?
Only from existing stocks and reclaimed supply. Production and import of R-22 ended in the US in 2020, so what remains is recovered, reclaimed or previously produced refrigerant, and prices reflect the shrinking supply. Buying it for use in stationary equipment requires Section 608 certification.
What is the difference between HCFC and HFC?
The C for chlorine. HCFCs contain chlorine and deplete ozone slightly; HFCs contain no chlorine and have zero ozone depletion potential, but many HFCs have high global warming potential.
Sources
- Ozone depletion potentials: Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Annexes A and C.
- US phaseout schedule: EPA Stratospheric Protection program under Clean Air Act Title VI (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart A).
- Venting prohibition and recovery rules that apply to every family: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F.
Related terms
| CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) | An early family of refrigerants containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon, with severe ozone depletion effects. |
| HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) | A chlorine free refrigerant family that spares the ozone layer but can strongly trap heat in the atmosphere. |
| Ozone depletion | The destruction of stratospheric ozone by chlorine bearing chemicals, and the original reason refrigerant venting is prohibited. |
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