Whether or not HCs become major refrigerant players in the United States depends on who you talk to. Advocates point to extremely lower global warming potential, low cost, and a proven track record in Europe and Asia as making such refrigerants desirable. Others see the flammability issue, A3 safety rating, and current building and fire codes limiting use to smaller applications.
On the regulatory front, advocates say interest in HCs will jump start with pending action by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) giving Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) approval for the use of HCs, which at the time this story was written in mid-November had not yet taken effect.