Seismic anchoring requirements vary because seismic forces are not uniform. Ground motion, soil behavior, and structural response change by location, and anchoring systems are designed to match those conditions.
Seismic design is not defined by magnitude alone. It is driven by how quickly the ground accelerates, how frequently motion reverses direction, and how long those forces are applied. Ground movement occurs in horizontal, vertical, and rotational directions, with intensity varying by region.
Seismic zones reflect expected ground acceleration, shaking duration, regional fault behavior, and local soil conditions. These variables determine the forces that anchored equipment must resist.
Refrigeration system design has shifted significantly over the past decade. As facilities grow more complex and performance expectations increase, system architecture has become a defining element of refrigeration design. Where refrigeration capacity sits, how it is controlled, and how it is serviced all influence outcomes that matter long after startup: stability, maintainability, expansion flexibility, and overall operating strategy.
Designers, end users, and regulators distinguish between centralized, distributed, and decentralized refrigeration systems. Yet distributed and decentralized are still frequently used interchangeably, despite representing fundamentally different approaches to how refrigeration capacity is applied, managed, and supported.
Architecture decisions directly influence refrigerant charge, energy performance, reliability, service strategy, and long-term operational flexibility. While both distributed and decentralized systems reduce reliance on traditional centralized rack systems, they are not variations of the same model. Each is built around different engineering priorities and is intended to solve different challenges.
Refrigerants Shape Systems, Not Just Performance
Refrigerants do more than transfer heat. The refrigerant selected for a refrigeration system influences system architecture, component selection, safety strategy, and control philosophy—and this has always been true in refrigeration engineering. Early refrigeration systems were built around natural refrigerants such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and hydrocarbons (R-290), which delivered excellent thermodynamic performance but introduced distinct engineering challenges.
Ammonia required careful handling due to toxicity, carbon dioxide systems operated at high pressures, and hydrocarbon refrigerants introduced flammability considerations. At the time, refrigeration system technology was limited; materials, controls, and monitoring tools were not yet capable of actively managing these characteristics at scale.
As synthetic refrigerants such as CFCs, HCFCs, and later HFCs emerged, refrigeration architecture evolved around their lower pressures, reduced flammability risk, and low toxicity, making systems easier to design, install, and operate for decades. The principle remains the same today: refrigeration systems are designed around refrigerant behavior. What has changed is that modern engineering now allows natural refrigerants to be used again—not because the refrigerants have changed, but because refrigeration system technology has.
CO2 (R‑744) refrigeration systems are increasingly becoming a consideration for modern commercial and industrial refrigeration systems. As regulations tighten and sustainability goals move from long‑term aspirations to immediate requirements, the industry is re‑examining refrigerant choices with a focus on environmental impact, system performance, and long‑term viability.
With a global warming potential (GWP) of 1, CO2 offers a future‑ready alternative to high‑GWP synthetic refrigerants. Beyond regulatory compliance, CO2 systems have demonstrated strong performance characteristics, particularly in applications that benefit from heat rejection capability and opportunities for heat reclaim.
At the same time, CO2 refrigeration presents a different set of design considerations than traditional HFC systems. Operating pressures are significantly higher, particularly in transcritical applications, placing greater demands on system components, piping, and controls. Gas cooler performance, oil management strategies, and effective capacity modulation all play a critical role in ensuring reliable, efficient operation.
These elevated pressures require components specifically engineered to withstand sustained mechanical and thermal loads. From compressors and valves to piping and heat exchangers, system durability is not optional—it is foundational to long‑term performance and safety in CO2 refrigeration.
New York State adopted new refrigerant rules (Part 494) targeting high-GWP refrigerants. These rules may have an impact on refrigeration equipment, the refrigerants that can be used, and the timing of what can be installed in the state.
New York is eliminating high-GWP refrigerants
New York State uses GWP20 (20-year Global Warming Potential), which is different than the federal EPA’s GWP100 scale. While GWP20 assigns higher numeric values to many HFCs, the state adjusted its regulatory thresholds, so they roughly align with EPA GWP100 limits. As a result, the intent was not to accelerate the phaseout timeline relative to federal rules, but to enable the transition to lower-GWP refrigerants while still emphasizing near-term climate impacts.
Although the federal EPA regulations have a low-enforcement period for some high-GWP refrigerants, New York’s rules override and take precedence within the state.
Propane is not a new refrigerant. It is a proven solution that has re-emerged as the industry evaluates efficiency, safety, and environmental impact together.
Early refrigeration systems relied on refrigerants that were effective but carried significant drawbacks. As technology and regulations evolved, so did refrigerant selection. Today, propane refrigeration represents a return to a refrigerant that meets modern performance requirements while aligning with current environmental standards.
The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act directs the EPA to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and transition to alternative refrigerants. The phasedown began in 2022 and continues through 2036. In October 2023, the EPA finalized the Technology Transition Rule, which sets guidelines for new system installations, retrofits and remodels, and the disposal of older systems. In September 2025, the EPA proposed a new technology transition rule, signaling ongoing regulatory updates as the phasedown progresses. No changes are official until the rule is finalized and published in the Federal Register.
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on these regulations.
At Zero Zone, innovation is more than adopting new technology—it’s about delivering solutions that meet real-world challenges. Every advancement begins with listening to our customers and engineering systems that combine performance, compliance, and sustainability. This year, that commitment has driven major advancements in the Zero Zone lineup:
- The Launch of our new Services Division
- The Guardian® Propane Merchandiser for sustainable, plug-and-play merchandising
- Adopting the use of A2L refrigerants to meet evolving environmental standards
- 90-bar CO2 Display Cases for system reliability
- The Expansion of our Systems Division in Ramsey, Minnesota
These developments reflect our focus on efficiency, sustainability, and service—practical innovations designed to meet our customers’ needs.
The refrigerant landscape is evolving rapidly. Regulatory pressure, sustainability targets, and supply-chain volatility are accelerating the industry’s shift away from high-GWP HFCs. For many future systems, A2L refrigerants are a low-GWP option—particularly where solutions are needed to balance performance, safety, and compliance.
But this transition is more than a refrigerant swap. With federal allocation limits tightening under the AIM Act, organizations face increasing risk of equipment becoming stranded—meaning systems designed for refrigerants being phased down may no longer be serviceable or compliant. The shift to A2Ls affects system design, safety controls, technician training, installation oversight, and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) approval. Organizations that plan ahead will avoid costly rework, compliance delays, and operational disruption.
Zero Zone goes above and beyond in testing the durability and resilience of its reach-in coolers and freezers to provide you with peace of mind. But sometimes, real life delivers the most demanding tests imaginable—ones that no laboratory can fully replicate.
In two separate real-world events, Zero Zone display cases were put to the test. One store was completely submerged under floodwater. Another experienced severe structural damage and flooding after a roof collapse. In both cases, the result was the same: the Zero Zone system and cases powered back on—and functioned as intended.