On March 3, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a pre-publication Federal Register notice adopting new low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants under the Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) program. The final rule adopts the following refrigerants, subject to use conditions:

• R-32 in room air conditioning units.
• Isobutane in retail food refrigeration (e.g., stand-alone commercial refrigerators and freezers) and in vending machines;
• Propane in household refrigerators, freezers, combination refrigerators and freezers, vending machines, and room air conditioning units;
• R-441A in retail food refrigeration (e.g., stand-alone commercial refrigerators and freezers), vending machines and room air conditioning units; and
• Ethane in very low temperature refrigeration and in non-mechanical heat transfer;

According to the EPA's definition, room air conditioning units include packaged terminal air conditioners and heat pumps, window air conditioners, and portable air conditioners designed for use in a single room.

Specifically excluded from the definition are central air conditioners, and mini-split and multi-split air conditioners and heat pumps.

Finally, with the exception of R-32, the EPA is exempting all the above listed refrigerants from the non-venting provision of the Clean Air Act.

Editor's Note: CR4 would like to thank Larry Butz, President, GEA Consulting Associate, for contributing this blog entry.