EPA Makes Changes to Refrigerants Allowed in A/C, Refrigeration Systems, Spray Foams

The Environmental Protection Agency is making changes to the list of substances allowed and prohibited for the protection of stratospheric ozone, in a final rule (here). Effective Jan. 3, EPA is listing as acceptable the use of propane in certain refrigeration equipment, HFO-1234yf in certain motor vehicle air-conditioning systems and 2-BTP in certain fire suppression equipment on aircraft. Also effective that date, EPA is listing as unacceptable the use of all refrigerants identified or meeting the criteria of flammability class 3 in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2013. Finally, effective Jan. 1, 2024, EPA is changing the listing status to unacceptable for certain refrigerants used in centrifugal chillers, positive displacement chillers, cold storage warehouses, retail food refrigeration, household refrigerators and freezers and certain spray foams.