World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

EPA to adopt five flammable refrigerants

13kgpropane_1USA: The EPA is about to publish its final rule allowing five flammable refrigerants to be used in certain refrigeration and air conditioning applications. 

The rule confirms ethane (R170), isobutane (R600a), propane (R290), the hydrocarbon blend R441A and the “mildly flammable” low GWP HFC R32 as acceptable under the USA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Programme.

The initial proposal, first reported on the Cooling Post in June, is now due to be published in the US government’s Federal Register. The rule will become effective 30 days after its publication.

The five refrigerant substitutes will be deemed as acceptable, subject to use conditions, in several refrigeration and air conditioning end-uses, including household refrigerators and freezers, retail food refrigeration, stand-alone equipment, very low temperature refrigeration, non-mechanical heat transfer, vending machines and room air conditioning units.

Their use will be subject UL standards regarding refrigerant charge size limits, and requirements for markings on equipment using these refrigerants. This action also exempts the four hydrocarbon refrigerants from the Clean Air Act Section 608 prohibitions on venting, release, or disposal. HFC32, however, remains prohibited from being knowingly vented or otherwise knowingly released.

The full document can be found here.

EPA proposes approval of hydrocarbons June 27, 2014
USA:  The US Environmental Protection Agency has proposed four hydrocarbon refrigerants be approved for use in six refrigeration and air conditioning applications. Read more…

Latest News

22nd June 2025

Samsung confirms APP as heat pump distributor

UK: Samsung has announced that APP Plumbing and Heating has now been confirmed as an official distributor of its EHS range of monobloc heat pumps and hot water tanks.
22nd June 2025

Nicholls steps up at BESA

UK: The Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has appointed Jill Nicholls as director of competence and compliance. She replaces Helen Yeulet who moves to a new position as strategic consultant.
22nd June 2025

Empower implores customers to limit AC to 24ºC

UAE: Dubai-based district cooling service provider Empower has launched its annual summer campaign to limit air conditioning in the region to 24ºC.
22nd June 2025

UNEP support for governments’ NDCs

KENYA: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has produced a guide to support governments in the integration of sustainable cooling into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
21st June 2025

HPA celebrates 20 years with first conference

UK: The Heat Pump Association (HPA) is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary at its first annual conference in London in November.
21st June 2025

Cooling upgrade at remote Jersey data centre

UK: A logistically complex project involving the replacement of cooling units at a data centre in the Channel Islands has been successfully completed by Biggleswade-based Secure IT Environments (SITE).