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Yesterday, reporters learned from the Longquan Industrial Innovation Research Institute of Zhejiang University that the national standard GB/T 45816-2025 Safety Requirements for Refrigerant Systems of Automotive Air Conditioning Systems for Road Vehicles, with the institute as the lead drafting unit, has been officially released and will come into formal implementation on February 1, 2026.

This standard applies to the air conditioning systems of passenger and commercial vehicles using HFC-134a, HFO1234yf and R744 refrigerants, and specifies basic requirements such as refrigerant tightness and system design safety. Aiming at the air conditioning systems equipped with these mainstream and new types of refrigerants, the standard sets forth specific safety performance specifications, which is intended to reduce potential risks to personnel, vehicles and the environment caused by system or refrigerant malfunctions, and ensure a safety level equivalent to that of systems using R134a refrigerants.

"As the largest pillar industry in Longquan City, the auto parts (thermal management) industry has a mature and competitive industrial chain, and also boasts a number of innovation platforms including the Zhejiang Provincial Technical Committee for Automotive Air Conditioning Standardization, the Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Thermal Management for New Energy Vehicles and industrial innovation research institutes. We are fully equipped with the foundation, conditions and strength to carry out this work," said Xiong Shusheng, Dean of the Longquan Industrial Innovation Research Institute of Zhejiang University. Against this backdrop, the institute launched the standard formulation work in 2020.

To successfully complete the standard formulation, the Longquan Industrial Innovation Research Institute of Zhejiang University joined hands with R&D institutions of complete vehicle enterprises including FAW, SAIC, Dongfeng Motor and China Automotive Engineering Research Institute (CAERI), well-known auto parts enterprises such as Sanhua, Denso and Mahle, as well as local backbone enterprises in Longquan like Kebole, Lantong, Santian and Songxin to participate in the work, thus forming a standard formulation model featuring "industrial foundation + platform support + enterprise participation".

In the process of formulating the standard, the institute referred to international standards such as ISO 13043-2011 Road vehicles - Refrigeration systems for motor vehicle air conditioning (MAC) - Safety requirements. It optimized the standard in light of the actual development of China's air conditioning industry and supplemented the unclear descriptions and ambiguous contents in the international standards, which not only maintains international coordination, but also aligns with the development of China's air conditioning industry.

"Participating in the formulation of national standards has enabled Longquan to shift from 'passive compliance' to 'active leadership'," Xiong Shusheng stated. As the leading unit for the standard formulation, the institute leveraged the advantages of Longquan's industrial base to integrate resources from complete vehicle enterprises, auto parts enterprises, R&D institutions, testing institutions and other relevant parties. Meanwhile, among more than 200 auto parts enterprises in Longquan, several backbone ones have taken part in the standard formulation, which will greatly enhance their influence and voice in the industry and help them gain a favorable position in market competition.

Edited by Xu Liujie | Responsible Editor: Zhong Qiufen | Reviewed by Liu Qi