What do all refrigerants produce when exposed to fire?

When refrigerants are exposed to fire, they can decompose and produce toxic fumes. This is a critical point of understanding because many refrigerants, especially those containing chlorine or fluorine, can generate harmful gases such as hydrogen chloride or phosgene when burned. These fumes pose a significant health risk to anyone in the vicinity of a fire involving refrigerants.

It's important to recognize that while water vapor, carbon dioxide, and ozone can also be present in different scenarios relating to fire and combustion, they do not specifically link to the combustion of refrigerants in the same way that toxic fumes do. Water vapor and carbon dioxide are common byproducts of many types of combustion, but they are not indicative of the dangerous outcomes specifically associated with refrigerants. Ozone, which is primarily an atmospheric concern, is not a product of refrigerant combustion. Understanding the potential release of toxic fumes is critical for safety in both handling and responding to refrigerant-related incidents.