The path to higher charge limits for flammable refrigerants has opened again, after the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) revised last month’s surprise no vote, on May 9 (see previous news item). At this stage it is not clear why or how the vote was reversed, although as the original count only failed by 0.7 per cent, it is possible that a single revised country vote would see the draft accepted. The new draft standard would lift the maximum allowable charge of flammable refrigerants such as hydrocarbons from 150g to around 500g in certain types of appliances. It will have major implications in light commercial refrigeration, specifically in the supermarket sector, where there will be much greater scope for hydrocarbon-based refrigerated display cabinets and water-loop systems. Indeed, given that the draft standard had been xpected to pass at the original vote, a number of companies appeared to have developed plans for exploiting the new rules already. With the standard passed, the way will once again be open for new technology, and greater use of hydrocarbons.