Which of the following is becoming the industry-accepted replacement for R22?

R410A is widely recognized as the industry-accepted replacement for R22, primarily due to its favorable ozone depletion potential and higher energy efficiency. As R22 is phased out due to environmental concerns, particularly its contribution to ozone layer depletion, R410A has gained popularity in both residential and commercial air conditioning systems.

Being a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blend, R410A does not contain chlorine, which is harmful to the ozone layer. Additionally, R410A operates at a higher pressure than R22, which allows for better heat transfer and improved overall efficiency in air conditioning systems. This makes it a more effective refrigerant in modern HVAC applications, aligning with regulatory standards that promote more environmentally friendly refrigerants.

The other options represent alternatives to R22 but do not hold the same industry acceptance as R410A. For instance, HFO-1234yf is more commonly used in automotive air conditioning systems, while R32 is also being researched and adopted but has not fully established itself as a mainstream replacement in all residential applications. R134A is primarily used in refrigeration and automotive applications and is not a direct replacement for R22 in air conditioning systems.