Advocacy

EPA Releases Proposed SNAP Rule 26 to Include A2Ls in Commercial Refrigeration

May 23, 2023 | 2 minute read

The Environmental Protection Agency has released their proposed SNAP Rule 26 to list several A2L refrigerants as acceptable in commercial refrigeration end uses.

The proposed rule makes the following listings:

End-Use	Refrigerants	Conditions
Commercial Ice Machines (New)	HFC-32, HFO-1234yf, R-454A, R-454B, R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A
Industrial Process Refrigeration (New)	HFC-32, HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454A, R-454B, R-454C, R-455A, R457A, R-516A	HFC-32 and R-454B may only be used in chillers for Industrial Process Refrigeration. R-454A may only be used in chillers, in equipment with a refrigerant charge capacity less than 200 pounds, or in the high-temperature side of a cascade system, for Industrial Process Refrigeration.
Cold Storage Warehouses (New)	HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454A, R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A	R-454A may only be used in equipment with a refrigerant charge capacity less than 200 pounds, or in the high-temperature side of a cascade system for Cold Storage Warehouses and for Retail Food Refrigeration—Supermarket Systems and Remote Condensing Units.
Ice Skating Rinks (New)	HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A
Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Refrigerated Food Processing and Dispensing Equipment and Stand-alone Units	HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A
Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Refrigerated Food Processing and Dispensing Equipment	R-290 (propane)
Retail Food Refrigeration (New)—Supermarket Systems and Remote Condensing Units	HFO-1234yf, HFO-1234ze(E), R-454A, R-454C, R-455A, R-457A, R-516A	R-454A may only be used in equipment with a refrigerant charge capacity less than 200 pounds, or in the high-temperature side of a cascade system for Cold Storage Warehouses and for Retail Food Refrigeration—Supermarket Systems and Remote Condensing Units

In addition to these new listings, the proposed rule also allows larger charge sizes for stand-alone units and commercial ice machines using R-290 (propane) if the equipment is new and specifically designed to meet the UL 60335-2-89, 2^nd edition safety standard.

The SNAP 26 update is significant because it permits the use of new, environmentally-friendly refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP). The EPA had set limits on low-GWP refrigerants for commercial refrigeration in a previous technology transition rule proposal, but did not approve any specific refrigerants to meet the requirement until now. The EPA proposed a January 1, 2025 transition date for commercial refrigeration using low-GWP refrigerants. However, because the updated SNAP listing was not yet proposed, HARDI requested an extra year to allow manufacturers more time to design and produce equipment using these refrigerants.

Click here to read a fact sheet on the proposed rule.

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Technology Transition Rule

Alex Ayers

Vice President of Government Affairs

Alex is HARDI’s lead lobbyist and regulatory expert, with over a decade of experience in Washington, DC. A former Iowa caucus delegate, he built early roots in grassroots politics. He has lobbied, published, and testified on taxes, energy, environment, agriculture, and economics. His work has been cited by the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the Tax Foundation.