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EPA Finalizes SNAP Rule 26
The final rule lists 10 alternative refrigerants for commercial and industrial refrigeration
On May 22, 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule titled “Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Listing of Substitutes under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP) in Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration.” Also known as SNAP Rule 26, the final action lists 10 alternative refrigerants as acceptable with use conditions for the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, see Table 1. These listings are for new commercial ice machines, new industrial process refrigeration, new cold storage warehouses, new ice skating rinks, and certain types of new equipment in the retail food refrigeration end-use.
ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES, WITH USE CONDITIONS
TABLE 1: SNAP Rule 26 lists 10 alternative refrigerants as acceptable with use conditions for the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. (Courtesy of EPA)
| End-Use | Substitutes | Conditions1 |
| Refrigeration & Air Conditioning | ||
| Commercial Ice Machines (New) | HFC-32,2 HFO-1234yf, R-454A,2 R-454B,2 R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A | Acceptable Subject to Use Conditions |
| Industrial Process Refrigeration (New) | HFC-32,3 HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454A,4 R-454B,3 R- 454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A | Acceptable Subject to Use Conditions |
| Cold Storage Warehouses (New) | HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454A,5 R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A | Acceptable Subject to Use Conditions |
| Ice Skating Rinks (New) | HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A | Acceptable Subject to Use Conditions |
| Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Refrigerated Food Processing and Dispensing Equipment and Stand-alone Units | HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A | Acceptable Subject to Use Conditions |
| Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Refrigerated Food Processing and Dispensing Equipment | R-290 (propane) | Acceptable Subject to Use Conditions |
| Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Supermarket Systems and Remote Condensing Units | HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454A,5 R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A | Acceptable Subject to Use Conditions |
Courtesy of the EPA
1 For specific use conditions for substitutes listed as Acceptable Subject to Use Conditions, consult the final rule.
2 HFC-32, R-454A, and R-454B may only be used in self-contained Commercial Ice Machines with batch-type ice harvest rates greater than 1,000 lb of ice per 24 hours, in self-contained Commercial Ice Machines with continuous-type ice harvest rates greater than 1,200 lb of ice per 24 hours, or in remote Commercial Ice Machines.
3 HFC-32 and R-454B may only be used in Industrial Process Refrigeration chillers and direct expansion Industrial Process Refrigeration equipment with exiting fluid refrigerant temperatures entering the evaporator less than or equal to -30° C.
4 R-454A may only be used in chillers for Industrial Process Refrigeration, or in direct expansion Industrial Process Refrigeration equipment with the refrigerant temperature entering the evaporator less than or equal to -30° C, in equipment with a refrigerant charge capacity less than 200 pounds and with the refrigerant temperature entering the evaporator higher than -30° C, and in the high-temperature side of a cascade system with the refrigerant temperature entering the evaporator higher than -30° C.
5 R-454A may only be used in equipment with a refrigerant charge capacity less than 200 pounds, or in the high-temperature side of a cascade system for Cold Storage Warehouses and for Retail Food Refrigeration—Supermarket Systems and Remote Condensing Units.
This action also modifies use conditions for the previously listed refrigerant R-290 (propane) when used in new commercial ice machines and new stand-alone units in retail food refrigeration, see Table 2, and allows for a transition period between the existing and updated use conditions.
ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES, WITH MODIFIED USE CONDITIONS
TABLE 2: The final rule modifies use conditions for R-290 when used in new commercial ice machines and new stand-alone units in retail food refrigeration. (Courtesy of EPA)
| End-Use | Substitutes | Conditions1 |
| Refrigeration & Air Conditioning | ||
| Commercial Ice Machines (New)—Self-contained Units | R-290 | Acceptable only for use in new equipment2 specifically designed for the refrigerant and must be consistent with ASHRAE 15-2022 and UL Standard 60335-2-89, 2nd Edition, including testing, charge sizes, ventilation, usage space requirements, and certain hazard warnings and markings |
| Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Stand-alone Units | ||
Courtesy of the EPA
1 For specific use conditions, consult the final rule.
2 Applies to new equipment manufactured after the effective date of this final rule. Consult the final rule for details on when UL 563 or UL 471 may still be followed and when ASHRAE 15 and UL 60335-2-89 must be followed.
According to the fact sheet, the EPA previously found R-290 acceptable, subject to use conditions, in new self-contained commercial ice machines and stand-alone equipment in SNAP Rules 21 and 17, respectively. This final action modifies those use conditions to incorporate by reference the ASHRAE 15-2022 standard and UL Standard 60335-2-89, 2nd Edition, in place of UL Standards 563 and 471, respectively, and would apply to equipment manufactured after the effective date of this final rule. For that equipment, the final rule allows charges of up to roughly 500 g of R-290 for open stand-alone units, or roughly 300 g for those with doors and drawers. EPA said these changes allow the use of R-290 in larger equipment than previously and provide more options for industry.
In addition to listing propane as acceptable, subject to use conditions, as a refrigerant in new refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment, the EPA is also exempting propane from the venting prohibition under the Clean Air Act’s section 608 requirements in that end use.
An advance copy of the final rule will be updated and available online once the rule is published in the Federal Register. To view the public docket, visit www.regulations.gov and search for docket number EPA-HQ-OAR-2023-0043.
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