The Role of Sensors in Managing the Transition to A2L Refrigerants

Julie Furber, CEO of Sensience, answers questions for HVAC Refrigeration Daily about the role of the company’s sensors in supporting the transition to A2L refrigerants.

Can you provide a brief introduction to Sensience?

JF: Absolutely. Most readers are probably familiar with our products, but maybe not the company behind the products. That’s because we operated as Therm-O-Disc, a business of Emerson, until the beginning of 2023 when we became an independent company under the Sensience name. We continue to support our legacy product brands, including Therm-O-Disc and Fusite, and prioritize the attributes that make these brands so popular in the industry, especially quality, reliability and safety. What our new organization does is enable a heightened focus on innovation in areas such as A2L refrigerants and other advanced sensors to support our customers on their ESG journeys and as they strive to meet regulatory and advanced technology requirements. The name Sensience was intentionally chosen to reflect our commitment to precision and performance while our purple brand color captures our passion for innovation and outstanding customer service.

So Sensience already has a strong presence in the HVAC industry?

JF: Yes, we offer a full range of sensing solutions and products for HVAC OEMs. Our thermal cut-offs, bimetal limiters, thermostats and fuses are all well-known and widely used in the industry. We also provide temperature and pressure sensors, hermetic feedthroughs and connectors, gas and vapor sensors, and Pactrol electronic sensors among other products.

What role do Sensience sensors play in the transition to A2L refrigerants?

JF: The refrigerant detection systems used with A2L refrigerants require precision sensors to detect the presence of potentially flammable gases. To keep equipment operating safely, these sensors must operate reliably across a wide range of harsh temperature and humidity environments without maintenance. Sensience provides a cost-effective sensing solution for this application that does not need calibration and is based on proven technology used in military and homeland security applications. We were the first company in the industry to receive UL certification for an A2L gas sensor and are committed to staying ahead of industry needs as this transition evolves.

What support does Sensience offer to OEMs making the switch to A2L refrigerants?

JF: Sensience partners with our customers’ engineering, procurement and regulatory teams to provide expertise in navigating the requirements of agencies like UL and IEC, as well as organizations like AHRI that can support the transition based on federal regulations. Our solutions are reliable and supported by an industry leading engineering team that works with our customers to navigate and accelerate certification processes.

What should OEMs expect when working with Sensience?

JF: They should expect a partner focused on quality, reliability, delivery, and overall service. Our sales and operations teams go the extra mile to ensure that solutions are delivered on time and on budget. We also co-develop configured solutions with our customers while helping them navigate agency and regulatory hurdles. Plus, our portfolio of sensing and hermetic products creates a one-stop shop for OEM needs across the appliance, HVAC, water heater, transportation, energy, industrial and defense markets.

Originally published in HVAC Refrigeration Daily (page 33)