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New substitutes to ozone-depleting substances [US]

EPA proposes listing new substitutes and prohibiting other hydroflurocarbons as alternatives under the Significant New Alternatives Policy program

In the April 18, 2016 issue of the Federal Register, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed approving new substitutes to ozone-depleting substances and listing several other substances as unacceptable. Public comments will be accepted through June 2, 2016.

Proposed acceptable alternatives

EPA proposes listing three substances as acceptable alternatives, with use conditions. For refrigeration, EPA proposes listing propane as an acceptable alternative in new commercial ice machines, new water coolers, and new very low temperature refrigeration equipment. For motor vehicle air conditioning systems, EPA proposes listing HFO-1234yf as an acceptable alternative in newly manufactured medium-duty passenger vehicles, heavy-duty pickup trucks, and complete heavy-duty vans. Finally, for fire suppression and explosion protection, EPA proposes listing 2-BTP as a total flooding agent for use in engine nacelles and auxiliary power units on aircraft, and as a streaming agent for use in handheld extinguishers in aircraft.

refrigerationequipment

Proposed unacceptable alternatives

EPA proposes listing all refrigerants identified as flammability Class 3 in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2013 and all refrigerants that meet the criteria for flammability Class 3 in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2013 as unacceptable alternatives for retrofit residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps. Some of the refrigerants that meet the criteria for flammability Class 3 in ANSI-ASHRAE 34-2013 include R-22a, 22a, Blue Sky 22a refrigerant, Coolant Express 22a, DURACOOL-22a, EC-22, Ecofreeeze EF-22a, EF-22a, Envirosafe 22a, ES-22a, Frost 22a, HC-22a, Maxi-Fridge, MX-22a, Oz-Chill 22a, Priority Cool, and RED TEK 22a.

Proposed change of listing status

FOR12A, FOR12B, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea, HFC-236fa, HFC-245fa, R-125/134a/600a (28.1/70/1.9), R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407C, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-423A, R-424A, R-434A, R-438A, R-507A, RS-44 (2003 composition), and THR-03 as unacceptable for new centrifugal chillers, except under a narrowed use limit.

FOR12A, FOR12B, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea, KDD6, R-125/134a/600a (28.1/70/1.9), R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407C, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-424A, R-434A, R-437A, R-438A, R-507A, RS-44 (2003 composition), SP34E, and THR-03 as unacceptable for new positive displacement chillers, except under a narrowed use limit.

For new centrifugal chillers, EPA proposes listing as acceptable:

  • HFC-134a for military marine vessels and HFC-134a
  • R-404A for human-rated spacecraft and related support equipment

For new positive displacement chillers, EPA proposes listing as acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, listing:

  • HFC-134a for military marine vessels
  • HFC-134a and R-404A for human-rated spacecraft and related support equipment

For new cold storage warehouses, EPA proposes listing HFC-227ea, R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407A, R-407B, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-421B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-423A, R-424A, R-428A, R-434A, R-438A, R-507A, and RS-44 (2003 composition) as unacceptable.

For new retail food refrigeration, EPA proposes listing as unacceptable HFC-227ea, KDD6, R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407F, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-421B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-424A, R-428A, R-434A, R-437A, R-438A, R-507A, RS-44 (2003 formulation).

For new household refrigerators and freezers, EPA proposes listing as unacceptable FOR12A, FOR12B, HFC-134a, KDD6, R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407C, R-407F, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-421B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-424A, R-426A, R-428A, R-434A, R-437A, R-438A, R-507A, RS-24 (2002 formulation), RS-44 (2003 formulation), SP34E, and THR-03.

For rigid polyurethane high-pressure two-component spray foam, EPA proposes listing as unacceptable HFC-134a, HFC-245fa, and blends thereof; blends of HFC-365mfc with at least four percent HFC-245fa, and commercial blends of HFC-365mfc with seven to 13 percent HFC-227ea and the remainder HFC-365mfc; and Formacel TI.

For rigid polyurethane one-component foam sealants, EPA proposes listing as unacceptable HFC-134a, HFC-245fa, and blends thereof; blends of HFC-365mfc with at least four percent HFC-245fa, and commercial blends of HFC-365mfc with seven to 13 percent HFC-227ea and the remainder HFC-365mfc; and Formacel TI.

For all foam blowing end-uses except for rigid polyurethane spray foam, EPA proposes for all HFCs and HFC blends previously listed as unacceptable for space- aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2022 that these HFCs and HFC blends would be unacceptable for space- aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025.

For flexible polyurethane foam applications, integral skin polyurethane foam applications, and polyolefin foam applications EPA proposes listing methylene chloride as unacceptable.

Other changes

EPA also proposes prohibiting the use of closed cell foam products and products containing closed cell foam manufactured with an unacceptable foam blowing agent on or after either one year following the publication of the final rule, or the date of the unacceptability listing, whichever is later. EPA also proposes clarifying the listing for Powdered Aerosol D (Stat-X®), which is currently listed as both “acceptable” and “acceptable subject to use conditions.” EPA proposes removing the listing as “acceptable subject to use conditions.”

Sources:

EPA, Notice of proposed rulemaking, Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Proposed New Listings of Substitutes; Changes of Listing Status; and Reinterpretation of Unacceptability for Closed Cell Foam Products Under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program; and Revision of Clean Air Act Section 608 Venting Prohibition for Propane, 81 FR 22809, April 18, 2016

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