The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have been evaluating energy use and environmental trends for many years. Although legislative organization began nearly a dozen years ago, trends have largely remained consistent. R-22, or HCFC-22, along with other refrigerants, is being phased out because of its impact on the environment, contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer.
Shortly after the current president took office in 2017, the DOE established new energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. Around the same time, the EPA listed several refrigerants as acceptable in certain applications, refrigerants with medium Global Warming Potential (GWP) values.
The GWP was developed so that various gases could be compared to determine their impact on global warming. Understandably, the DOE and EPA want to reduce the negative impact of refrigerants on the environment to the greatest extent possible.
Accepted refrigerants
SNAP Determination 33 outlines the accepted refrigerants which include R-134A, R-407H, R-442A, R-448A, R-449A, R-449B, R-452A, R-452C, R-453A, R-458A and R-513A. All of these refrigerants have a medium GWP value (630-2,220) and are classified as A1 (non-flammable, non-toxic) according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards, and are suitable for a wide range of end uses.
January 1, 2020 & Commercial Refrigerants
As of January 1, 2020, several refrigerants could be de-listed in states that would adopt EPA SNAP 20
As of January 1, 2020, several refrigerants could be de-listed in states that would adopt EPA SNAP 20, such as California through CARB. This could also occur in additional states that have Governors who are within the U.S Climate Alliance, (at least according to EPA SNAP 20* for stand-alone medium temp refrigeration applications greater than >2,200 BTUH and stand-alone low temp).
These refrigerants include R-134A, R-404A, R-407A/F/C, R-410A and R-507A. Acceptable refrigerants to replace those de-listed include R-290, R-600A, R-450A, R-513A, R-744 for stand-alone medium temp >2,200 BTUH, and for stand-alone low temp R-290, R-134A, R-450A, R-448A, R-449A/B, R-513A, R-600A and R-744.
EPA/DOE refrigerant regulations
With all of the information available online regarding commercial refrigeration and EPA/DOE refrigerant regulations, it can be confusing, to say the least. The goal is to help one navigate through the process as easily as possible, armed with the information one needs to ensure compliance by critical dates.
Heatcraft provides information intended to enlighten manufacturers, wholesalers, end-users, contractors, and OEMs in regards to EPA and DOE regulatory changes and compliance for the commercial refrigeration industry.
