Ice  Rinks and the  Phaseout  of HCFC-22
What You  Need  to Know
What Is the HCFC Phaseout?
Under the U.S. Clean Air Act and the Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer, the United States is phasing out the production
and import of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
in order to protect the stratospheric ozone layer.
By phasing out the production of ozone-depleting
substances (ODS) like HCFCs, we are reducing the risk
of skin cancer caused by exposure to UV radiation. In
addition, many of these ozone-depleting substances,
as well as their substitutes, are greenhouse gases that
contribute to climate change.

No Immediate Change Is Required
HCFC-22 is used as a refrigerant in many applications,
including ice rinks. Starting on January 1, 2020, U.S.
production and import of HCFC-22 will end. This does
not mean that use of HCFC-22 must stop at that
time. Since a significant inventory of virgin HCFC-22
exists, and recovered and reclaimed material will be
available, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) expects use of HCFC-22 to continue well  into
the future.

Planning for the Future Is Important
Even though there is no immediate need for change,
supply of HCFC-22 will decline over the next few years,
and prices may rise. For existing HCFC-22 systems,
this makes tightening leaks and performing preventive
maintenance even more important to keep refrigerant
emissions down and reduce the need to purchase
additional HCFC-22. When the time does come to
replace or retrofit an existing system, there are many
alternatives available that are safer for the environment.
EPA has listed several examples of alternatives in the
table on the next page.
What Alternatives Can Be Used
Instead of HCFC-22?
Many alternatives that are safer for the
environment than HCFC-22 are available for
use both in new rinks and in existing systems
that require retrofit. See the table on the next
page for a list of some acceptable non-ozone-
depleting alternatives under EPA's Significant
New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program.
Some of these alternatives are listed for use
in retrofitted HCFC-22 systems,  and others
are only listed for new ice rink refrigeration
systems. A full list of acceptable alternatives
under SNAP is available at www.epa.gov/
ozone/snap/refrigerants/lists/icerinks.html.

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    Acceptable Non-Ozone-Depleting Alternatives to HCFC-22 Under EPA's SNAP Program
Chemical
Ammonia
THR-03
R-134a
RS-24 (2002 formulation)
R-426A
R-407C
R-407F
R-442A
R-410A
R-407A
GWP
0
918
1,430
1,505
1,508
1,774
1,825
1,888
2,088
2,107
Ozone Depleting?
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Retrofit


X
X
X
X
X
X

X
New
X
X
X
X
X
X
X

X
X
GWP = Global Warming Potential. GWP is a measure of how much a given mass of greenhouse gas is estimated
to contribute to global warming relative to the same mass of carbon dioxide.
When considering an alternative for retrofitting a system, be sure to follow the manufacturer's suggested
handling and installation guidelines and to consider possible effects on the system's energy consumption.
Are There Other Refrigerant Regulations Affecting Ice Rinks?
Ice rinks are subject to refrigerant management regulations under section 608 of the Clean Air Act, specifically
the requirement to keep leak rates  below 15% for comfort cooling appliances and below 35% for refrigeration
equipment. In addition, it is illegal to knowingly vent refrigerant—both ozone-depleting refrigerants and the
alternatives1 —during servicing,  maintaining or disposing of a refrigeration or air conditioning system.
For Further Information
•  Phaseout of Ozone-Depleting Substances: www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout
•  Leak Repair Requirements for HCFC-22 Systems: www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/608/leak.html
•  Leak Prevention and Retrofit Guidelines: www2.epa.gov/greenchill/reports-guidelines-and-tools
Other EPA Resources for Ice Rink Managers
•  Indoor Air Quality and  Ice Rinks: www.epa.gov/iaq/icearenas.html
•  ENERGY STAR for Buildings and Plants: www.energystar.gov/buildings
FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/classtwo.html
or contact David Donaldson at (202) 343-9086 or donaldson.david@epa.gov.
1Several alternatives have been exempted from the venting prohibition. Examples include ammonia in commercial or industrial process refrigeration
or in absorption units, and carbon dioxide, nitrogen or water in any application. A complete list is available in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations at
http://go.usa.gov/kAhQ.
     Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper with a minimum
     50% post-consumer waste using vegetable-based inks.
Office of Air and Radiation (6205J)
         EPA-430-F-14-018
          September 2014

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