Retail Food Refrigeration 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 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, commonly referred to as R-22, is used
as a refrigerant in many applications, including
commercial refrigeration. Starting on January 1, 2020,
U.S. production and import of HCFC-22 will end;
however, use of HCFC-22 may continue. HCFC-22
that is recovered and reclaimed, along with HCFC-22
produced prior to 2020, will help meet the needs of
owners of existing HCFC-22 systems.
Planning for the Future Is Important
Even though there is no immediate need for change,
HCFC-22 supply will decline over the next few years,
and prices may rise. By tightening leaks and performing
preventive maintenance, you can keep your refrigerant
emissions down and reduce the need to purchase
additional HCFC-22. Recovered HCFC-22 from
decommissioned or retrofitted stores will also help.
When the time does come to replace or retrofit an
existing system, there are many non-ozone-depleting
alternatives available.
What Alternatives Can Be Used
Instead of HCFC-22?
Many non-ozone-depleting alternatives to
HCFC-22 are available for use in retail food
refrigeration equipment. See the table on the
next page for a list of some acceptable
non-ozone-depleting alternatives under
EPAs Significant New Alternatives Policy
(SNAP) Program. Some of these alternatives
are listed for use in either retrofitted HCFC-
22 systems or new retail food refrigeration
systems, while others are suitable in both
applications. A full list of acceptable alternatives
under SNAP by end-use is available at
www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/refrigerants.
When evaluating 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.
Retail food refrigeration includes
refrigeration equipment found in
supermarkets, convenience
stores, restaurants and other
food service establishments.
-------
Acceptable Non-Ozone-Depleting Alternatives to HCFC-22 for Retail Food Refrigeration1
| [ Equipment Category13
Refrigerant
R-744
R-290C
R-450A
R-134a
R-407C
R-407F
R-407A
R-427A
GWPa
1
3.3
601
1,430
1,770
1,830
2,110
2,140
Ozone Depleting?
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Self-Contained
New
New
New, Retrofit
Newd
Newd, Retrofit
Newd, Retrofit
Newd, Retrofit
Retrofit
Condensing Units &
Rack Systems
New
New, Retrofit
New
New, Retrofit
New, Retrofit
New, Retrofit
Retrofit
aGWP = 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.
Indicates whether a substitute is acceptable in retrofitted and/or new equipment in each equipment category.
°Note that R-290 is approved for use in self-contained retail food equipment only (not remote systems).
dEPA has proposed to list this substitute as unacceptable for use in new stand-alone equipment beginning January 1, 2016. See 79 FR 46126.
Are There Other Refrigerant Regulations Affecting Retail Food Refrigeration?
EPA has proposed to list several substitutes as unacceptable for use in new equipment under SNAP as
early as January 1, 2016 (as noted in the table above). Retail food refrigeration is also subject to refrigerant
management regulations under section 608 of the Clean Air Act. Specifically, leaks must be repaired within
30 days when the equipment leaks at a rate that would release 35% or more of the charge over a year.2
Additionally, it is illegal to knowingly vent refrigerant—both ozone-depleting refrigerants and the alternatives3—
during servicing, maintaining or disposing of a refrigeration or air conditioning system.
For Further Information
• HCFC Phaseout: www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/classtwo.html
• Section 608 of the Clean Air Act: Stationary Refrigeration and Air
Conditioning: www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/608
• Leak Repair Requirements for Systems Containing HCFCs or CFCs:
www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/608/leak.html
Other EPA Resources for Commercial Refrigeration Managers
• GreenChill Best Practices Guideline Commercial Refrigeration Retrofits: www.epa.gov/greenchill/
downloads/RetrofitGuidelines.pdf
FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact EPA at 1-800-296-1996 orwww.epa.gov/ozone/comments.htm.
This table represents common applications of refrigerants in the market today. There are additional SNAP acceptability listings for these and other refrigerants,
though EPA has proposed to make certain alternatives not shown in this chart unacceptable for use in retail food refrigeration. A full and current list of acceptable
alternatives under SNAP is available online for the retail food refrigeration end-use at www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/refrigerants/lists/foodref.html.
2This only applies for systems that contain 50 Ibs or more of an ozone-depleting refrigerant like HCFCs or CFCs.
3Several 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 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 (6205T)
EPA-430-F-14-018D
October 2014
------- |