The Significant New Alternatives Policy (also known as Section 612 of the Clean Air Act or SNAP, promulgated at 40 CFR part 82 Subpart G) is a program of the EPA to determine acceptable chemical substitutes, and establish which are prohibited or regulated by the EPA. [1] It also establishes a program by which new alternatives may be accepted, and promulgates timelines to the industry regarding phase-outs of substitutes.
Originally, Section 612 was limited by ozone-depleting chemicals. However, after passing regulations to phase-out R134a, an HFC refrigerant with no ozone-depleting potential, this phase-out was defended by a subsidiary of DuPont siding with the EPA as it was challenged by a major manufacturer of R134a, and was struck down in 2017. This decision was upheld in 2018. [2] [3] In 2021, a new law was passed as part of the appropriations bill extending the EPA's scope to substances with high GWP as well. [4]
The EPA looks at available chemical substitutes in the following industrial sectors:
Evaluations are ongoing as technological understanding improves, and can only prohibit substance where the EPA has determined other available substitutes that pose less overall risk to human health and the environment. [5]
In order to submit new proposed chemicals, along with general contact and marketing information, for a complete submittal, the EPA requires reports on:
One important, changing aspect of SNAP is its effect on the HVAC industry. Particularly because it decides which refrigerants may be legally used, it coordinates refrigerant phaseouts in the U.S., and which are prohibited against venting in concordance with Section 608. The following is a list of accepted refrigerants, or phase-out periods according to the EPA.
| MVAC Passenger Air Conditioning in Vehicles [7] | MVAC Passenger Air Conditioning in Buses and Trains [8] | Centrifugal Chillers [9] | Positive Displacement Chillers [10] | Industrial Process Refrigeration [11] | Cold Storage Warehouse [12] | Commercial Ice Machines [13] | Household Refrigerators and Freezers [14] | Ice Skating Rinks [15] | Industrial Process Air Conditioning [16] | Residential and Light Commercial Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps [17] | Residential Dehumidifiers [18] | Refrigerated Transport [19] | Stand Alone Equipment [20] | Refrigerated Food Processing and Dispensing Equipment [21] | Remote Condensing Units [22] | Typical Supermarket Systems [23] | Vending machines [24] | Very Low Temperature Refrigeration [25] | Water Coolers [26] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammonia / Water Absorption | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ammonia Absorption | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||
| Ammonia Vapor Compression | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||
| Ammonia Vapor Compression with Secondary Loop | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||
| Chlorine | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cryogenic Transport Refrigeration System | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| Desiccant Cooling | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||
| Direct Nitrogen Expansion | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| Evaporative Cooling | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||
| FOR12A | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019. | Acceptable | ||||||
| FOR12B | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | ||||||
| Freeze 12 | Unacceptable as of MY 2017. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||
| G2018C | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||
| GHG-HP | Unacceptable as of MY 2017. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||
| GHG-X5 | Unacceptable as of MY 2017. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||
| HC Blend A | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| HC Blend B | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| HCFC-123 | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| HCFC-124 | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| HCFC-22 | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||
| HCFC-22/HCFC-142b | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||
| HCFO-1233zd(E) | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||
| HFC-134a | Unacceptable as of Model Year (MY) 2021, except where allowed under a narrowed use limit through MY 2025. Unacceptable for all newly manufactured vehicles as of MY 2026. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit for military marine vessels and human-rated spacecraft and related support equipment, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit for military marine vessels and human-rated spacecraft and related support equipment, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable, Applicable to new uses below 125 degrees F ambient | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019. | Acceptable | |
| HFC-134a/HBr (92/8) | Acceptable | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as the primary heat transfer fluid in secondary-loop equipment for not-in-kind replacements. | Acceptable | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as the primary heat transfer fluid in secondary-loop equipment for not-in-kind replacements. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as the primary heat transfer fluid in secondary-loop equipment for not-in-kind replacements. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as the primary heat transfer fluid in secondary-loop equipment for not-in-kind replacements. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as the primary heat transfer fluid in secondary-loop equipment for not-in-kind replacements. | |||||||||||||
| HFC-152a | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| HFC-227ea | Unacceptable, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable with Use Conditions: When manufactured using any process that does not convert perfluoroisobutylene (PFIB) directly to HFC-236fa in a single step. | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017 | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017 | ||||||||||||
| HFC-23 | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| HFC-32 | Acceptable with Use Conditions | |||||||||||||||||||
| HFC-236fa | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| HFC-245fa | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||
| HFE-347mcc3 (heptafluoropropyl methyl ether) | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| HFE-449s1 (methoxynonafluorobutane, iso and normal) | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as the primary heat transfer fluid in secondary-loop equipment for not-in-kind replacements. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. | ||||||||||||||
| HFE-569sf2 (ethoxynonafluorobutane, iso and normal) | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as the primary heat transfer fluid in secondary-loop equipment for not-in-kind replacements. | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. | |||||||||||||||
| HFO-1234ze | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| HFO-1336mzz(Z) ((Z)-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene) | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||
| HFO-1336mzz(Z)/dichloroethylene blend (R-514A) | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| Ikon A | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||
| Ikon B | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||
| ISCEON 89 | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| NARM-502 | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| Pressure stepdown | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| R-1224yd(Z) | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||
| R-125/R-134a/R-600a (28.1/70.0/1.9) | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||
| R-125/R-290/R-134a/R-600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5) | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | |||
| R-170 (Ethane) | Acceptable with Use Conditions | |||||||||||||||||||
| R-1270 (Propylene) | Unacceptable as of January 3, 2017. | Unacceptable as of January 3, 2017. | Acceptable | Unacceptable, as of January 3, 2017. | Unacceptable, as of January 3, 2017. | |||||||||||||||
| R-290 (Propane) | Acceptable | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions: For use in self-contained room air conditioningee rule for detailed conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions | ||||||||||||
| R-401A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||
| R-401B | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||
| R-402A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||
| R-402B | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||
| R-403B | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| R-404A | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit for human-rated spacecraft and related support equipment, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit for human-rated spacecraft and related support equipment, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2018 | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016. Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019. | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||
| R-406A | Unacceptable as of MY 2017 | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||
| R-407A | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||
| R-407B | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2018 | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016. Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017. | |||||||||||
| R-407C | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019. | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||
| R-407D | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| R-407F | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||
| R-407H | Acceptable: For use in refrigerated trucks and trailers only | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||
| R-408A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||
| R-409A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||
| R-410A | Acceptable | Unacceptable, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | Acceptable | |
| R-410B | Unacceptable, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||
| R-411A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||
| R-411B | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||
| R-414A | Unacceptable as of MY 2017. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||
| R-414B | Unacceptable as of MY 2017. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||
| R-416A | Unacceptable as of MY 2017. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||
| R-417A | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | |||
| R-417C | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||
| R-420A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||
| R-421A | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | |||
| R-421B | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2018 | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016. Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017. | Acceptable | ||||||||
| R-422A | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2018 | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016. Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017. | ||||||||||
| R-422B | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||
| R-422C | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2018 | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016. Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017. | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||
| R-422D | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2018 | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016. Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017. | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | ||
| R-423A | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||
| R-424A | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||
| R-426A | Unacceptable as of MY 2017. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | ||||
| R-427A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||
| R-428A | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2018 | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016. Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017. | ||||||||||
| R-434A | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2018 | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016. Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017. | Acceptable | |||
| R-437A | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | ||||
| R-438A | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | ||
| R-441A | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions: For use in self-contained room air conditioning | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions | ||||||||||||||||
| R-442A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||
| R-443A | Unacceptable as of January 3, 2017. | Unacceptable as of January 3, 2017. | Unacceptable, as of January 3, 2017. | Unacceptable, as of January 3, 2017. | ||||||||||||||||
| R-448A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable: Low temperature Use | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||
| R-449A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable: Low temperature Use | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||
| R-449B | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable: Low temperature Use | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||
| R-450A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||
| R-452A | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| R-452B | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable: For use in refrigerated trucks and trailers only. | ||||||||||||||||||
| R-452C | Acceptable: For use in refrigerated trucks and trailers only. | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| R-453A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable: For use in refrigerated trucks and trailers only. | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||
| R-454A | Acceptable with Use Conditions | |||||||||||||||||||
| R-454B | Acceptable with Use Conditions | |||||||||||||||||||
| R-454C | Acceptable with Use Conditions | |||||||||||||||||||
| R-457A | Acceptable with Use Conditions | |||||||||||||||||||
| R-458A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||
| R-507, R-507A | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2018 | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016. Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2017. | Unacceptable in retrofit equipment as of July 20, 2016.Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019. | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||
| R-508A | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| R-508B | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||||||||||||
| R-513A | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable with Use Conditions: Low temperature | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||
| R-515B | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||
| R-600 (Butane) | Acceptable | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable with Use Conditions | ||||||||||||||||
| R-744 (Carbon Dioxide, CO2) | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||
| RB-276 | Unacceptable as of MY 2017. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||
| RS-24 (2002 formulation) | Acceptable with Use Conditions | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | ||||
| RS-44 (2003 formulation) | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2023. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||
| Self-chilling cans using CO2 | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||||
| SP34E | Unacceptable as of MY 2017. | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment as of January 1, 2019 | Acceptable | |||||||
| Stirling Cycle | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | |||||||||||
| THR-01 | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| THR-02 | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||
| THR-03 | Unacceptable, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Unacceptable in new equipment, except as otherwise allowed under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1, 2024. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Unacceptable in new equipment, as of January 1, 2021. | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable with Use Conditions: For use in residential window unit air conditioning. | Acceptable | Unacceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||
| THR-04 | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | Acceptable | ||||||||
| Trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene | Acceptable | |||||||||||||||||||
| Water / Lithium Bromide Absorption | Acceptable |
Isobutane, also known as i-butane, 2-methylpropane or methylpropane, is a chemical compound with molecular formula HC(CH3)3. It is an isomer of butane. Isobutane is a colourless, odourless gas. It is the simplest alkane with a tertiary carbon atom. Isobutane is used as a precursor molecule in the petrochemical industry, for example in the synthesis of isooctane.
A refrigerant is a working fluid used in the refrigeration cycle of air conditioning systems and heat pumps where in most cases they undergo a repeated phase transition from a liquid to a gas and back again. Refrigerants are heavily regulated due to their toxicity, flammability and the contribution of CFC and HCFC refrigerants to ozone depletion and that of HFC refrigerants to climate change.
A chiller is a machine that removes heat from a liquid coolant via a vapor-compression, adsorption refrigeration, or absorption refrigeration cycles. This liquid can then be circulated through a heat exchanger to cool equipment, or another process stream. As a necessary by-product, refrigeration creates waste heat that must be exhausted to ambience, or for greater efficiency, recovered for heating purposes. Vapor compression chillers may use any of a number of different types of compressors. Most common today are the hermetic scroll, semi-hermetic screw, or centrifugal compressors. The condensing side of the chiller can be either air or water cooled. Even when liquid cooled, the chiller is often cooled by an induced or forced draft cooling tower. Absorption and adsorption chillers require a heat source to function.
Difluoromethane, also called difluoromethylene, HFC-32Methylene Fluoride or R-32, is an organic compound of the dihalogenoalkane variety. It has the formula of CH2F2. It is a colorless gas in the ambient atmosphere and is slightly soluble in the water, with a high thermal stability. Due to the low melting and boiling point, (-136.0 °C and -51.6 °C respectively) contact with this compound may result in frostbite. In the United States, the Clean Air Act Section 111 on Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) has listed difluoromethane as an exception (since 1997) from the definition of VOC due to its low production of tropospheric ozone. Difluoromethane is commonly used in endothermic processes such as refrigeration or air conditioning.
Propane refrigeration is a type of compression refrigeration. Propane (R290) has been used successfully in industrial refrigeration for many years, and is emerging as an increasingly viable alternative for homes and businesses. Propane's operating pressures and temperatures are well suited for use in air conditioning equipment, but because of propane’s flammability, great care is required in the manufacture, installation and servicing of equipment that uses it as a refrigerant.
1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (also known as norflurane (INN), R-134a, Klea®134a,Freon 134a, Forane 134a, Genetron 134a, Green Gas, Florasol 134a, Suva 134a, or HFC-134a) is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and haloalkane refrigerant with thermodynamic properties similar to R-12 (dichlorodifluoromethane) but with insignificant ozone depletion potential and a lower 100-year global warming potential (1,430, compared to R-12's GWP of 10,900). It has the formula CF3CH2F and a boiling point of −26.3 °C (−15.34 °F) at atmospheric pressure. R-134a cylinders are colored light blue. A phaseout and transition to HFO-1234yf and other refrigerants, with GWPs similar to CO2, began in 2012 within the automotive market.
Chlorodifluoromethane or difluoromonochloromethane is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). This colorless gas is better known as HCFC-22, or R-22, or CHClF
2. It was commonly used as a propellant and refrigerant. These applications were phased out under the Montreal Protocol in developed countries in 2020 due to the compound's ozone depletion potential (ODP) and high global warming potential (GWP), and in developing countries this process will be completed by 2030. R-22 is a versatile intermediate in industrial organofluorine chemistry, e.g. as a precursor to tetrafluoroethylene.
R-410A, sold under the trademarked names AZ-20, EcoFluor R410, Forane 410A, Genetron R410A, Puron, and Suva 410A, is a zeotropic but near-azeotropic mixture of difluoromethane (CH2F2, called R-32) and pentafluoroethane (CHF2CF3, called R-125) that is used as a refrigerant in air conditioning and heat pump applications. R-410A cylinders were colored rose but are no longer specially color-coded, now bearing a standard light gray color.
Vapour-compression refrigeration or vapor-compression refrigeration system (VCRS), in which the refrigerant undergoes phase changes, is one of the many refrigeration cycles and is the most widely used method for air conditioning of buildings and automobiles. It is also used in domestic and commercial refrigerators, large-scale warehouses for chilled or frozen storage of foods and meats, refrigerated trucks and railroad cars, and a host of other commercial and industrial services. Oil refineries, petrochemical and chemical processing plants, and natural gas processing plants are among the many types of industrial plants that often utilize large vapor-compression refrigeration systems. Cascade refrigeration systems may also be implemented using two compressors.
Natural refrigerants are substances that serve as refrigerants in refrigeration systems. They are alternatives to synthetic refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) based refrigerants. Unlike other refrigerants, natural refrigerants are non-synthetic and can be found in nature. The most prominent of these include various natural hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water. Natural refrigerants are preferred to their synthetic counterparts for their higher degrees of sustainability. With the current technologies available, almost 75 percent of the refrigeration and air conditioning sector has the potential to be converted to natural refrigerants.
Refrigerant reclamation is the act of processing used refrigerant gas which has previously been used in some type of refrigeration loop such that it meets specifications for new refrigerant gas. In the United States, the Section 608 of the Clean Air Act of 1990 requires that used refrigerant be processed by a certified reclaimer, which must be licensed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the material must be recovered and delivered to the reclaimer by EPA-certified technicians.
2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene, HFO-1234yf, is a hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) with the formula CH2=CFCF3. It is also designated R-1234yf as the first of a new class of refrigerants: it is marketed under the name Opteon YF by Chemours and as Solstice YF by Honeywell.
The Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), formed in 2008 by a merger of the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association (GAMA), is a North American trade association of manufacturers of air conditioning, heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment.
Section 608 of the Clean Air Act serves as the main form of occupational licensure for technicians in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry in the United States. The law requires that all persons who maintain, service, repair or dispose of appliances that contain regulated refrigerants be certified in proper refrigerant handling techniques. The regulatory program helps to minimize the release of refrigerants, and in particular ozone depleting refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons, as well as other regulated refrigerants as determined by Section 612. The licensure program complies with the requirements under the Montreal Protocol. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published implementing regulations at 40 CFR Part 82.
Pentafluoroethane is a fluorocarbon with the formula CF3CHF2. Pentafluoroethane is currently used as a refrigerant (known as R-125) and also used as a fire suppression agent in fire suppression systems.
1,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze(E), R-1234ze) is a hydrofluoroolefin. It was developed as a "fourth generation" refrigerant to replace fluids such as R-134a, as a blowing agent for foam and aerosol applications, and in air horns and gas dusters. The use of R-134a is being phased out because of its high global warming potential (GFA). HFO-1234ze(E) itself has zero ozone-depletion potential (ODP=0), a very low global warming potential (GWP < 1 ), even lower than CO2, and it is classified by ANSI/ASHRAE as class A2L refrigerant (lower flammability and lower toxicity).
Fluorinated gases (F-gases) are chemical compounds containing fluorine that are gases near room temperature.
Barbara Haviland Minor is an American chemical engineer who has worked at DuPont and Chemours. She develops new refrigerants to be used in air conditioning and refrigeration systems, in Europe, North America, Australia and other countries. As of 2018, 50% of all new vehicles produced by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are believed to use her refrigerant, HFO-1234yf, an important contribution to countering global warming.
Life Cycle Climate Performance (LCCP) is an evolving method to evaluate the carbon footprint and global warming impact of heating, ventilation, air conditioning (AC), refrigeration systems, and potentially other applications such as thermal insulating foam. It is calculated as the sum of direct, indirect, and embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated over the lifetime of the system “from cradle to grave,” i.e. from manufacture to disposal. Direct emissions include all climate forcing effects from the release of refrigerants into the atmosphere, including annual leakage and losses during service and disposal of the unit. Indirect emissions include the climate forcing effects of GHG emissions from the electricity powering the equipment. The embodied emissions include the climate forcing effects of the manufacturing processes, transport, and installation for the refrigerant, materials, and equipment, and for recycle or other disposal of the product at end of its useful life.
