EPA Issues Final Rule on HFCs
As expected, R-404A, -407A, -410A, -507A, many others targeted
On July 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its Final Rule — Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Change of Listing Status for Certain Substitutes under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program.
“Under this final rule, various HFCs and HFC-containing blends that were previously listed as acceptable alternatives will be listed as unacceptable in various end-uses in the aerosols, foam blowing, and refrigeration and air conditioning sectors where other alternatives are available or potentially available that pose lower overall risk to human health and the environment,” the EPA said. “Consistent with Clean Air Act section 612 as we have historically interpreted it under the Significant New Alternatives (SNAP) program, EPA is making these modifications based on evaluation of the substitutes addressed in this action using the SNAP criteria for review and considering the current suite of other available and potentially available substitutes.”
The changes are as follows:
RETAIL FOOD REFRIGERATION
• In retrofit supermarket systems, unacceptable as of one year from date of publication of the final rule are R-404A, R-407B, R-421B, R-422A, R-422C, R-422D, R-428A, R-434A, and R-507A.
• In new supermarket systems, unacceptable as of Jan. 1, 2017 are HFC-227ea, R-404A, R-407B, R-421B, R-422A, R-422C, R-422D, R-428A, R-434A, and R-507A.
• In retrofit remote condensing units, unacceptable as of one year from the date of publication are R-404A, R-407B, R-421B, R-422A, R-422C, R-422D, R-428A, R-434A, and R-507A.
• In new remote condensing units, unacceptable as of Jan. 1, 2018 are HFC-227ea, R-404A, R-407B, R-421B, R-422A, R-422C, R-422D, R-428A, R-434A, and R-507A.
• In retrofit stand-alone units, unacceptable as of one year from date of publication of the final rule are R404A and R-507A.
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• In new stand-alone medium-temperature units with a compressor capacity below 2,200 Btuh and not containing a flooded evaporator, unacceptable as of Jan. 1, 2019 are FOR12A, FOR12B, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea, KDD6, R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407F, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-421B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-424A, R-426A, R-428A, R-434A, R-437A, R-438A, R-507A, RS-24 (2002 formulation), RS-44 (2003 formulation) SP34E, and THR-03.
• In new stand-alone medium-temperature units with a compressor capacity equal to or greater than 2,200 Btuh and stand-alone medium-temperature units containing a flooded evaporator , unacceptable as of Jan. 1, 2020 are FOR12A, FOR12B, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea, KDD6, R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407F, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-421B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-424A, R-426A, R-428A, R-434A, R-437A, R-438A, R-507A, RS-24 (2002 formulation), RS-44 (2003 formulation), SP34E, and THR-03.
• In new stand-alone low-temperature units, unacceptable after Jan. 1, 2020 are HFC-227ea, KDD6, R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407F, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-421B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-424A, R-428A, R-434A, R-437A, R-438A, R-507A, and RS-44 (2003 formulation).
VENDING MACHINES
• In retrofit vending machines, unacceptable from date of publication of the final rule are R-404A and R-507A.
• In new vending machines, unacceptable as of Jan. 1, 2019 are FOR12A, FOR12B, HFC-134a, KDD6, R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407C, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-426A, R-437A, R-438A, R-507A, RS-24 (2002 formulation), and SP34E.
Publication date: 6/29/2015
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