Substitutes in Very Low Temperature Refrigeration
Substitutes are reviewed on the basis of environmental and health risks, including factors such as ozone depletion potential, global warming potential, toxicity, flammability, and exposure potential.
Lists of acceptableThis designation means that a substitute may be used, without restriction, to replace the relevant ODS within the end-use specified. For example, HCFC-22 is an acceptable substitute for R-502 in industrial process refrigeration. Note that all SNAP determinations apply to the use of a specific product as a substitute for a specific ODS in a specific end-use. and unacceptableThis designation means that it is illegal to use a product as a substitute for an ODS in a specific end-use. For example, HCFC-141b is an unacceptable substitute for CFC-11 in building chillers. Note that all SNAP determinations apply to the use of a specific product as a substitute for a specific ODS in a specific end-use. substitutes are updated several times each year. The list of substitutes is shown below.
Note: SNAP-related information published in the Federal Register takes precedence over all information on this page.
| Substitute | Trade Name(s) | Retrofit/New | ODPA number that refers to the amount of ozone depletion caused by a substance. The ODP is the ratio of the impact on ozone of a chemical compared to the impact of a similar mass of CFC-11. Thus, the ODP of CFC-11 is defined to be 1.0. Other CFCs and HCFCs have ODPs that range from 0.01 to 1.0. The halons have ODPs ranging up to 10. Carbon tetrachloride has an ODP of 1.2, and methyl chloroform's ODP is 0.11. HFCs have zero ODP because they do not contain chlorine. A table of all ozone-depleting substances (https://www3.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/index.html) shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers. | GWPThe index used to translate the level of emissions of various gases into a common measure in order to compare the relative radiative forcing of different gases without directly calculating the changes in atmospheric concentrations. GWPs are calculated as the ratio of the radiative forcing that would result from the emissions of one kilogram of a greenhouse gas to that from the emission of one kilogram of carbon dioxide over a period of time (usually 100 years). Gases involved in complex atmospheric chemical processes have not been assigned GWPs. See lifetime.GWPThe index used to translate the level of emissions of various gases into a common measure in order to compare the relative radiative forcing of different gases without directly calculating the changes in atmospheric concentrations. GWPs are calculated as the ratio of the radiative forcing that would result from the emissions of one kilogram of a greenhouse gas to that from the emission of one kilogram of carbon dioxide over a period of time (usually 100 years). Gases involved in complex atmospheric chemical processes have not been assigned GWPs. See lifetime. | ASHRAEASHRAE is an international organization that establishes standards for the uniform testing and rating of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment. It also conducts related research, disseminates publications, and provides continuing education to its members.ASHRAEASHRAE is an international organization that establishes standards for the uniform testing and rating of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment. It also conducts related research, disseminates publications, and provides continuing education to its members. Designation (Safety Classification) | SNAP Listing Date | Listing Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HFC-23 | R/N | 0 | 14,800 | A1 | August 26, 1994 | Acceptable | |
| HFC-245fa | Genetron® 245fa | R/N | 0 | 1,030 | A1 | March 29, 2006 (pdf) (181 KB) | Acceptable |
| HFE-347mcc3 (heptafluoropropyl methyl ether | Novec™ 7000 Engineered Fluid (HFE-7000 | R/N | 0 | 575 | A1 | June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB) | Acceptable |
| HFE-449s1 (methoxynonafluorobutane, iso and normal) | Novec™ 7100 Engineered Fluid (HFE-7100) | N | 0 | 297 | A1 | December 18, 2000 (pdf) (257 KB); June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB) | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. |
| HFE-569sf2 (ethoxynonafluorobutane, iso and normal) | Novec™ 7200 Engineered Fluid (HFE-7200) | N | 0 | 59 | N/A | December 18, 2000 (pdf) (257 KB); June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB) | Acceptable: Only acceptable for use as a secondary heat transfer fluid in not-in-kind systems. |
| ISCEON 89 | ISCEON 89 | R/N | 0 | 3,792 | A1 | August 21, 2003 (pdf) (161 KB) | Acceptable |
| NARM-502 | R/N | >0 | N/A | A1 | September 5, 1996 | Acceptable | |
| PFC-1102HC, PFC-662HC, PFC-552HC, and FLC-15 | N | >0 | N/A | A1 | March 22, 2002 (pdf) (156 KB) | Acceptable | |
| PFC-330ST, PFC-550HC, PFC-660HC, PFC-1100HC, PFC-1100LT, PGC-100, PGC-150, PFC-331ST, PFC-551HC, PFC-661HC, PFC-1101HC, and PGC-151 | R/N | >0 | N/A | N/A | May 23, 2001 (pdf) (145 KB) | Acceptable | |
| R-125/R-290/R-134a/R-600a (55.0/1.0/42.5/1.5) | ICOR AT-22 | R/N | 0 | 2,530 | A1 | March 29, 2006 (pdf) (181 KB) | Acceptable |
| R-170 (Ethane) | N | 0 | 5.5 | A3 | April 10, 2015 (pdf) (769 KB) | Acceptable with Use Conditions: See rule for detailed conditions. | |
| R-290 (Propane) | N | 0 | 3 | A3 | December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB) | Acceptable with Use Conditions: See rule for detailed conditions. | |
| R-403B | ISCEON 69-L | R/N | 0.041 | 3,096 | A1 | August 26, 1994 | Acceptable |
| R-404A | SUVA HP-62 | R/N | 0 | 3,920 | A1 | December 20, 2002 (pdf) (168 KB) | Acceptable |
| R-407C | Suva 407C, Klea 407C | R/N | 0 | 1,770 | A1 | February 8, 1996 (pdf) (152 KB); December 20, 2002 (pdf) (168KB) | Acceptable |
| R-410A | AZ-20, Suva 9100, Puron | N | 0 | 2,090 | A1 | February 8, 1996 (pdf) (152 KB); December 20, 2002 (pdf) (168 KB) | Acceptable |
| R-410B | N | 0 | 2,230 | A1 | February 8, 1996 (pdf) (152 KB) | Acceptable | |
| R-422B | ICOR XAC1, NU-22B | R/N | 0 | 2,530 | A1 | March 29, 2006 (pdf) (181 KB) | Acceptable |
| R-422C | ICOR XLT1 | R/N | 0 | 3,390 | A1 | March 29, 2006 (pdf) (181 KB) | Acceptable |
| R-507, R-507A | AZ-50 | R/N | 0 | 3,990 | A1 | December 20, 2002 (pdf) (168 KB); October 4, 2011 (pdf) (201 KB) | Acceptable |
| R-508A | Klea 5R3, PFC Blend Alpha | R/N | 0 | 13,214 | A1 | July 28, 1995 (pdf) (141 KB) | Acceptable |
| R-508B | Suva 95 | R/N | 0 | 13,396 | A1 | July 28, 1995 (pdf) (141 KB) | Acceptable |
| R-744 (Carbon Dioxide, CO2) | R/N | 0 | 1 | A1 | January 13, 1995 (pdf) (186 KB); June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB) | Acceptable | |
| R-1150 (Ethylene) | N | 0 | 3.7 | A3 | April 28, 2023 (pdf) (584 KB) | Acceptable with Use Conditions and Narrowed Use Limits: See rule for detailed conditions. |
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