Under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published a final rule listing three hydrocarbons as acceptable substitutes, subject to use conditions, for chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 in household and retail food refrigerators and freezers. 

The acceptable alternatives are isobutane (R-600a) and R-441A for use in household refrigerators and freezers, and propane (R-290) for use in retail food refrigerators and freezers (stand-alone units only).  However, each substitute is subject to the following use conditions:

• Use in new equipment only and specifically designed for the alternatives;
• Use in equipment meeting UL Standard 250 for household refrigerators, and UL Standard 471 for retail food refrigerators;
• A refrigerant charge not exceeding 57 grams (2 ounces) for household refrigerators/freezers and 150 grams (5.3 ounces) for retail food refrigerators/freezers;
• Permanent safety markings on the equipment;
• Service ports marked in red Pantone Matching System (PMS) #185; and
• Service aperture fittings that are different from fittings used in equipment or containers that use non-flammable refrigerants.

In addition, EPA is listing propane (R-290) as an acceptable substitute to R-502 in retail food refrigerators and freezers.  The final rule will become effective on February 21, 2012.

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