Lower GWP A2L refrigerants in SNAP list proposals

USA: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to add a number of new lower GWP refrigerants to its SNAP list of acceptable substances for refrigeration and air conditioning applications.

The new refrigerant proposals are for use in new equipment and are subject to specific use conditions. These include rules on charge sizes, ventilation rates, usage space requirements, hazard warnings and markings relating to potential flammability hazards.

The refrigerants being considered for addition to the list are:

R1234yf, R454A, R454B, and R454C for use in chillers used in comfort cooling, including commercial and industrial process air conditioning; 

R32 and R452B for use in scroll and rotary chillers used in comfort cooling, including commercial and industrial process air conditioning; 

R1234yf, R32, R452B, R454A, R454B, and R454C as acceptable for use in residential dehumidifiers; 

R32 as acceptable for use in non-residential dehumidifiers and for use in self-contained room air conditioners and heat pumps;  

Listing R1150 (ethylene) as acceptable, subject narrowed use limits, for use in very low temperature refrigeration.

Details of the proposals and full information on conditions of use can be found here.