HFC-32 Refrigerant Receives EPA Approval via SNAP Program
HOUSTON—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the coming final approval of HFC-32 (R-32) refrigerant for use in certain refrigeration and air conditioning applications. This final action addresses President Obama’s Climate Action Plan that calls on EPA’s Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) Program to identify and approve additional climate-friendly chemicals as determined by the EPA.
“This acceptance of R-32 is a great achievement for the Daikin organization. Not only did Daikin representatives submit the application to the EPA,” states Takeshi Ebisu, President and CEO, “but this action represents the EPA’s first SNAP approval of a lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant for any household comfort cooling HVAC application in the United States.” Ebisu added: “A critical part of the SNAP review and approval process is EPA’s consideration of whether an alternative is safe in its proposed use. EPA’s SNAP approval is based on EPA’s conclusion that R-32 can be safely managed in these applications.”