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The US EPA has published a long awaited proposed rule allowing the use of certain hydrocarbons in new household refrigerator and freezer equipment, as well as new stand-alone commercial refrigeration equipment. The US is one step closer in catching up with the rest of the world, where several millions of refrigeration equipment units already use ozone and climate friendly hydrocarbon refrigerants.

“Globally, hydrocarbon refrigerants have been in use for over 10 years including in countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Japan. In Europe and Asia, equipment manufactures have designed and tested household and commercial refrigerators and freezers to account flammability and safety concerns associated with using hydrocarbon refrigerants. Due to the fact that hydrocarbon refrigerants have zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and very low global warming potential (GWP), many companies are interested in using hydrocarbon refrigerants in the United States (U.S.) as well” reads the introduction to the proposed rule under the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) programme.

To the liking of these industry players that have been testing hydrocarbon equipment in the country, the US EPA is proposing to list four types of hydrocarbons, namely isobutane, propane, HCR-188C, and HCR-188C1 as acceptable substitutes, subject to use conditions, for ozone-depleting CFC-12 and HCFC-22 in household and light commercial applications.

New equipment only; not intended for use as a retrofit alternative

The four hydrocarbon refrigerants must be used only in new equipment that has been designed and manufactured specifically for use with the listed alternative refrigerant. Propane will thus be allowed in stand-alone retail food refrigeration, while the other three hydrocarbon refrigerants will be allowed in household refrigerators and freezers as well as their combinations. Existing equipment designed for other refrigerants may not be converted or retrofitted to use any of these four hydrocarbon refrigerants.

Safety standards

The hydrocarbon refrigerants may be used only in equipment that meets all requirements in Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Standard 250 10th edition regarding isobutane, HCR-188C, and HCR-188C1 in household refrigerators and freezers and UL 471 9th edition regarding propane in retail stand-alone equipment. UL has developed acceptable safety standards including requirements for construction, for markings, and for performance tests concerning refrigerant leakage, ignition of switching components, surface temperature of parts, and component strength after being scratched.

Refrigerant charge size

Reflecting standards UL 250 and UL 471, the US EPA is proposing the following charge size limits:

• Household refrigerators and freezers: 57grams (2.0 ounces), equivalent to approximately the charge size contained in two disposable lighters, and well below the international household refrigerator and freezers standard’s charge size limit of 150 grams (5.3 ounces)

• Retail food refrigeration in stand-alone units: 150 grams (5.3 ounces), equivalent to approximately the charge size contained in five disposable lighters or less, and in line with the IEC 60335-2-89 standard for commercial appliances, which has a charge size limit of 150 grams (5.3 ounces).

EPA is taking comment on the charge size limits.

Other use conditions and recommendations

Other use conditions and recommendations included in the proposed rule that the US EPA is seeking comments upon are:

• Colour-coded hoses and piping: Equipment must have distinguishing colour-coded hoses and piping to indicate use of a flammable refrigerant that will help technicians identify the use of a flammable refrigerant, reducing the risk of using sparking equipment or otherwise having an ignition source nearby.

• Labelling: Warning labels featuring letters at least 1 inch high must be permanently affixed to the equipment until their end of life.

• Unique fittings: Household and retail refrigerators and freezers using hydrocarbon refrigerants must have fittings unique to flammable refrigerants.

• Small containers: To prevent purchase by untrained people, the hydrocarbon refrigerants will not be sold in containers in quantities of less than five pounds (2.8 kg).

• Handling by trained personnel only: The US EPA recommends that only technicians specifically trained in handling flammable refrigerants undertake the servicing or disposal of equipment containing hydrocarbon refrigerants. The agency is thus requesting any information regarding the development of industry-wide technician training program or standard that fully covers the safe use of flammable refrigerants, including the timeline needed to develop it in order to begin training a nation-wide fleet of technicians.

Next steps

The proposed rule is expected to be published in the Federal Register within one week. Following this, the US EPA will be accepting comments from the public within the next 60 to 75 days, depending on whether a public hearing on the issue is requested.