Arkema’s Forane^® 449B (R-449B) refrigerant has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use in multiple refrigeration applications under the agency’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. This approval allows R-449B to be installed in new and retrofit R-22 and R-404A commercial refrigeration supermarket systems, remote condensing units, low-temperature stand-alone equipment, refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment, commercial ice machines, and refrigerated transport.

 R-449B is classified by ASHRAE as a non-flammable, non-ozone depleting class A1 refrigerant with a global-warming potential (GWP) of 1,296. According to Arkema, equipment testing demonstrates that R-449B can offer improved efficiency over R-404A of up to 11 percent while cutting the GWP by two-thirds.

Arkema said R-449B refrigerant, along with R-407A, is an alternative to R-404A, R-507A, and R-22 in refrigeration applications. As of January 1, 2017, in supermarket systems, and January 1, 2018, in remote condensing units, R-404A, R-507A, and several other high-GWP refrigerants cannot be used in new installations.  R-407A will continue to be an approved solution for end users looking to transition away from R-404A or R-507A. In R-22 retrofits for these applications, as well as air conditioning, R-427A can also be used as an EPA-approved solution.

For more information, visit www.arkema.com.

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