SNAP
SIGNIFICANT NEW ALTERNATIVES POLICY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 26, 2016	www.epa.gov/snap
FACT SHEET
Final Rule 21 - Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Significant New
Alternatives Policy Program New and Changed Listings
Significant New Alternatives Policy Program
Under section 612 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), EPA reviews substitutes in
a comparative risk framework. EPA lists these substitutes as acceptable,
acceptable subject to use conditions, acceptable subject to narrowed
use limits, or unacceptable (prohibited) for specific uses. Section 612
provides that EPA must prohibit the use of a substitute where EPA has
determined that there are other available or potentially available
substitutes that pose less overall risk to human health and the
environment. To respond to this mandate, EPA's Significant New
Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program does not provide a static list of
alternatives but provides a list that evolves, taking into account the
development of new alternatives, as well as additional or new
information about the environmental and human health effects of
substitutes already on the SNAP lists, in the decades since the SNAP
program began, EPA has modified the SNAP lists many times, most
often by expanding the list of acceptable substitutes, but in some cases
by prohibiting the use of substitutes previously listed as acceptable.
Today's action does both.
As part of the evaluation of overall risk to human health and the
environment, EPA considers many criteria, including the flammability or
toxicity of a substitute, as well as environmental risks such as
ecosystem impacts, local air quality, or impacts on the global
atmosphere. Global warming potential (GWP)-a measure of potential
impact on climate-is one SNAP criterion EPA considers in evaluating
alternatives. During the past two decades, scientists have come to
better understand both climate change and the contributions of
greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to climate
change. Most HFCs have high GWPs so are potent GHGs, meaning that,
although they represent a small fraction of the current total volume of
GHG emissions, their warming impact is very strong. HFC emissions are
projected to increase substantially and at an increasing rate over the
next several decades if left unregulated. In the United States, emissions
of HFCs are increasing more quickly than those of any other GHGs, and
globally they are increasing 10-15% annually.
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The President's Climate Action Plan
The President's June 2013 Climate Action Plan (CAP) states that, "to reduce emissions of HFCs, the United States can
and will lead both through international diplomacy as well as domestic actions." Furthermore, the CAP states that EPA
will "use its authority through the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program to encourage private sector investment
in low-emissions technology by identifying and approving climate-friendly chemicals while prohibiting certain uses of
the most harmful chemical alternatives." Since the CAP was announced, EPA has taken a number of actions to both
expand the list of acceptable alternatives under SNAP as well as change the status of certain listed substitutes. On July
20, 2015 (80 FR 42870), EPA issued a final regulation taking a broader look at the SNAP lists, where we focused on
those listed substitutes that have a high GWP relative to other alternatives in specific end-uses, while otherwise
posing comparable levels of risk.
Today's Action
Under this final rule, a number of substances are listed as acceptable, subject to use conditions; several substances
are listed as unacceptable; and the listing status for certain substances is modified from acceptable to unacceptable
or acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits. Consistent with CAA section 612 as we have historically interpreted it
under the SNAP program, EPA is making these listings and modifications based on our evaluation of the substitutes
addressed in this action on an end-use basis using the SNAP criteria for evaluation and considering the current suite
of other alternatives for the specific end-uses at issue. For particular substances, EPA found significant potential
differences in risk with respect to one or more specific criteria, such as flammability, toxicity, GWP, or local air quality
concerns, while otherwise posing comparable levels of risk to those of other alternatives in specific end-uses. EPA is
also modifying the existing listing decisions for foam blowing agents to apply to closed cell foam products and
products containing closed cell foam. EPA is revising its interpretation on the "use" of closed-cell foam so that closed-
cell foam products, such as foam insulation boards, and products containing closed-cell foam such as appliances, may
not be imported or used in the United States if the foam product contains, or the closed-cell foam was made with, a
foam blowing agent that is listed as unacceptable under the SNAP program. EPA is listing propane as acceptable,
subject to use conditions, as a refrigerant in new self-contained commercial ice machines, in new water coolers, and
in new very low temperature refrigeration equipment. In addition, EPA is exempting propane in these end-uses from
the venting prohibition under CAA section 608; the CAA allows EPA to exempt specific refrigerants from the venting
prohibition where EPA finds that it does not pose a threat to the environment. EPA is also listing as acceptable,
subject to use conditions, HFO-1234yf newly manufactured medium-duty passenger vehicles (MDPVs), heavy-duty
(HD) pickup trucks, and complete HD vans. In the fire suppression and explosion protection sector, EPA is listing 2-
bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (2-BTP) as acceptable with use restricted to total flooding and streaming use in aircraft.
EPA is listing as unacceptable certain hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants and HC blends for retrofitting existing residential
central air conditioning equipment that was designed for non-flammable refrigerants and certain HC refrigerants that
may negatively impact air quality. EPA is modifying the listing status for certain alternatives in specific end-uses in the
refrigeration and air conditioning and foam blowing sectors, and for methylene chloride in flexible polyurethane in
the foam blowing sector. Finally, this final rule clarifies that Powdered Aerosol D (Stat-X®) is listed as acceptable, and
that the previously issued use condition, which limited use to unoccupied spaces, no longer applies.
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Summary of Final Rule
ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES, WITH USE CONDITIONS
End-Uses
Substitutes
Effective Date
Refrigeration
Self-contained commercial ice machines (new)
Propane (R-290)
30 days after publication of final rule
Water coolers (new)
Propane (R-290)
30 days after publication of final rule
Very low temperature refrigeration equipment (new)
Propane (R-290)
30 days after publication of final rule
Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC)
MDPVs, HD pickup trucks, and complete HD vans (newly
manufactured)
HFO-1234yf
30 days after publication of final rule
Fire Suppression and Explosion Protection
Total flooding agent for use in engine nacelles and auxiliary
power units on aircrafts
2-BTP
30 days after publication of final rule
Streaming agent for use in aircraft
2-BTP
30 days after publication of final rule
UNACCEPTABLE ALTERNATIVES
End-Uses
Substitutes
Effective Date
Air Conditioning (AC)
Residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps -
unitary split AC systems and heat pumps (retrofit)
All ASHRAE
Flammability Class 3
Refrigerants3
30 days after publication of final rule
Residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps (new)
Propylene (R-1270),
R-443A
30 days after publication of final rule
Centrifugal chillers and positive displacement chillers (new)
Propylene (R-1270),
R-443A
30 days after publication of final rule
Refrigeration
Cold storage warehouses (new)
Propylene (R-1270),
R-443A
30 days after publication of final rule
3 All refrigerants identified as or otherwise meeting the criteria forflammability Class 3 in American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 34-2013. All refrigerants meeting the criteria forflammability
Class 3 include, but are not limited to, R-170 (ethane), R-290 (propane), R-600a (isobutane), R-1270 (propylene), R-441A, R-443A and refrigerant
products sold underthe names R-22a, 22a, Blue Sky 22a refrigerant, Coolant Express 22a, DURACOOL-22a, EC-22, Ecofreeez EF-22a, Envirosafe 22a,
ES-22a, Frost 22a, HC-22a, Maxi-Fridge, MX-22a, Oz-Chill 22a, Priority Cool, and RED TEK 22a.
CHANGE OF LISTING STATUS
End-Uses
Substitutes
Date of Change of Status
Air Conditioning
Centrifugal chillers
(new)
FOR12A, FOR12B, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea, HFC-236fa, HFC-
245fa, R-125/134a/600a (28.1/70/1.9), R-125/290/134a/600a
(55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407C, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A,
R-421A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-423A, R-424A, R-434A, R-
438A, R-507A, RS-44 (2003 composition), and THR-03
Unacceptable, except as otherwise allowed
under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1,
2024
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End-Uses
Substitutes
Date of Change of Status
Centrifugal chillers
(new)
HFC-134a for military marine vessels
Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits,
as of January 1, 2024
Centrifugal chillers
(new)
HFC-134a and R-404A for human-rated spacecraft and related
support equipment
Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits,
as of January 1, 2024
Positive
displacement
chillers (new)
FOR12A, FOR12B, HFC-134a, HFC-227ea, KDD6, R-
125/134a/600a (28.1/70/1.9), R-125/290/134a/600a
(55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407C, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A,
R-421A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-424A, R-434A, R-437A, R-
438A, R-507A, RS-44 (2003 composition), SP34E, and THR-03
Unacceptable, except as otherwise allowed
under a narrowed use limit, as of January 1,
2024
Positive
displacement
chillers (new)
HFC-134a for military marine vessels
Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits,
as of January 1, 2024
Positive
displacement
chillers (new)
HFC-134a and R-404A for human-rated spacecraft and related
support equipment
Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits,
as of January 1, 2024
Refrigeration
Cold storage
warehouses (new)
HFC-227ea, R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-
404A, R-407A, R-407B, R-410A, R-410B, R-417A, R-421A, R-
42IB, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-423A, R-424A, R-
428A, R-434A, R-438A, R-507A, and RS-44 (2003 composition)
Unacceptable, as of January 1, 2023
Retail food
refrigeration -
refrigerated food
processing and
dispensing
equipment (new)
HFC-227ea, KDD6, R-125/290/134a/600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5),
R-404A, R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407F, R-410A, R-410B, R-
417A, R-421A, R-421B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-
424A, R-428A, R-434A, R-437A, R-438A, R-507A, RS-44 (2003
formulation
Unacceptable, as of January 1, 2021
Household
refrigerators and
freezers (new)
FOR12A, FOR12B, HFC-134a, KDD6, R-125/290/134a/600a
(55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5), R-404A, R-407C, R-407F, R-410A, R-410B,
R-417A, R-421A, R-421B, R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D, R-
424A, R-426A, R-428A, R-434A, R-437A, R-438A, R-507A, RS-
24 (2002 formulation), RS-44 (2003 formulation), SP34E, and
THR-03
Unacceptable, as of January 1, 2021
Foam Blowing
Rigid polyurethane
(PU) high-pressure
two-component
spray foam
HFC-134a, HFC-245fa, and blends thereof; blends of HFC-
365mfc with at least four percent HFC-245fa, and commercial
blends of HFC-365mfc with 7 to 13 percent HFC-227ea and
the remainder HFC-365mfc; and Formacel Tla
•	Unacceptable for all uses, except military
or space- and aeronautics-related
applications, as of January 1, 2020
•	Acceptable, subject to narrowed use
limits, for military or space- and
aeronautics-related applications, as of
January 1, 2020
•	Unacceptable for military or space- and
aeronautics-related applications as of
January 1, 2025
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End-Uses
Substitutes
Date of Change of Status
Rigid PU low-
pressure two-
component spray
foam
HFC-134a, HFC-245fa, and blends thereof; blends of HFC-
365mfc with at least four percent HFC-245fa, and commercial
blends of HFC-365mfc with 7 to 13 percent HFC-227ea and
the remainder HFC-365mfc; and Formacel Tlb
•	Unacceptable for all uses, except military
or space- and aeronautics-related
applications, as of January 1, 2021
•	Acceptable, subject to narrowed use
limits, for military or space- and
aeronautics-related applications, as of
January 1, 2021
•	Unacceptable for military or space- and
aeronautics-related applications as of
January 1, 2025
Rigid PU one-
component foam
sealants
HFC-134a, HFC-245fa, and blends thereof; blends of HFC-
365mfc with at least four percent HFC-245fa, and commercial
blends of HFC-365mfc with 7 to 13 percent HFC-227ea and
the remainder HFC-365mfc; and Formacel Tlc
Unacceptable, as of January 1, 2020
All foam blowing
end-uses except
for rigid PU spray
foam
All HFCs and HFC blends listed in EPA's July 2015 final rule as
unacceptable for space- and aeronautics-related applications
as of January 1, 2022
Unacceptable for space- and aeronautics-
related applications as of January 1, 2025
Flexible PU foam
Methylene chloride
Unacceptable, as of 30 days after
publication of final rule
3 Closed cell foam products and products containing closed cell foams (in all applications except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications)
manufactured on or before January 1, 2020, may be used afterthat date. Closed cell foam products and products containing closed cell foams in military
or space- and aeronautics-related applications manufactured or before January 1, 2025, may be used afterthat date.
b Closed cell foam products and products containing closed cell foams (in all applications except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications)
manufactured on or before January 1, 2021, may be used afterthat date. Closed cell foam products and products containing closed cell foams in military
or space- and aeronautics-related applications manufactured or before January 1, 2025, may be used afterthat date.
c One-component foam sealant cans manufactured on or before January 1, 2020, may be used afterthat date.
OTHER CHANGES
End-Uses
Change
All Foam Blowing End-
Uses (except rigid PU
low-pressure two-
component spray
foam, rigid PU one-
component spray
foam sealants, flexible
PU foam, and integral
skin PU foam)
Prohibit use of closed cell foam products and products that contain closed cell foam manufactured with an
unacceptable foam blowing agent on or before the later of:
1)	one year after publication of final rule, or
2)	the date when the foam blowing agent is unacceptable.
Fire Suppression and
Explosion Protection -
Total Flooding
Clarify that Powdered Aerosol D (Stat-X®) is listed as acceptable, and that the previously issued use
condition is no longer required 30 days after publication of final rule
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