A refrigerant is the working fluid circulated within a refrigeration system that transfers heat by alternately evaporating and condensing, enabling the low temperatures required for freezing and cold storage of food.
In trade practice
IQF freezing tunnels and large cold stores in Ukraine and the EU commonly use ammonia for its high efficiency and low environmental impact, while CO₂ systems are increasingly adopted for their low global-warming potential. Synthetic hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants are subject to phase-down obligations under EU F-gas regulation, which buyers and suppliers with EU-based cold-store partners need to monitor. Refrigerant type and charge size are recorded in equipment registers maintained by certified technicians; leaks must be reported and repaired under applicable environmental rules. Buyers auditing supplier facilities may review refrigerant management as part of a broader environmental and food-safety assessment.
In a specification
Equipment specifications for cold stores and freezing plants state the refrigerant type, system design pressure and required maintenance intervals; these details are typically reviewed during supplier facility audits rather than appearing in product purchase contracts.