Substitutes in Flexible Polyurethane
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 available on this page.
Many acceptable substitutes under SNAP may be restricted under the Technology Transitions Program. Find more information on Technology Transitions Program restrictions.
Note: SNAP-related information published in the Federal Register takes precedence over all information on this page.
| Substitute | Trade Name(s) | 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. | Flammable | SNAP Listing Date | Listing Status | Further Information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB Technology | 0 | 5 or less | yes | March 18, 1994 | Acceptable | ||
| Acetone | 0 | 0.5 | yes | June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229KB) | Acceptable | ||
| Carbon Dioxide | 0 | 1 | no | March 18, 1994; June 8, 1999 (pdf) (143KB) | Acceptable | ||
| Methyl Formate | EcomateTM | 0 | 5 or less | yes | September 28, 2006 (pdf) (183KB) | Acceptable | |
| Electroset Technology | 0 | N/A | N/A | August 26, 1994; June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229KB) | Acceptable | ||
| Exxsol Blowing Agents | Exxsol Blowing Agents | 0 | 5 or less | yes | December 6, 1999 (pdf) (226KB); June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229KB) | Acceptable | |
| HFC-134a | 0 | 1,430 | no | March 18, 1994; June 8, 1999 (pdf) (143KB); July 20, 2015 (pdf) (687KB); December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969KB) | Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2017. Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. | ||
| HFC-152a | 0 | 124 | yes | March 18, 1994; June 8, 1999 (pdf) (143KB) | Acceptable | ||
| HFC-245fa | 0 | 1,030 | no | December 6, 1999 (pdf) (226KB); July 20, 2015 (pdf) (687KB); December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969KB) | Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2017. Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. | ||
| HFC-365mfc | 0 | 794 | yes | September 30, 2009 (pdf) (173KB); June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229KB); July 20, 2015 (pdf) (687KB); December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969KB) | Unacceptable, except where allowed under narrowed use limits for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2017. > Unacceptable for military applications as of January 1, 2022 and for space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. | ||
| HFO-1336mzz(E) | Opteon™ 1150 | 0 | 16 | no | December 11, 2020 (pdf) (263KB) | Acceptable | |
| HFO–1336mzz(Z) ((Z)-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene) | Formacel® 1100, FEA-1100 | 0 | 9 | no | October 21, 2014 (pdf) (346KB) | Acceptable | |
| Methylal (dimethoxymethane) | 0 | <3 | yes | October 21, 2014 (pdf) (346KB) | Acceptable | ||
| Methylene Chloride | 0 | 8.7 | no | December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969KB) | Unacceptable as of January 3, 2017. | ||
| Saturated Light Hydrocarbons (C3-C6) | 0 | 3 - 10 | yes | August 26, 1994; April 11, 2000 (pdf) (220KB); June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229KB) | Acceptable | ||
| Trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene | Solstice® 1233zd(E) | 0.00024 - 0.00034 | 4.7 - 7 | no | October 21, 2014 (pdf) (346KB) | Acceptable | |
| Water | 0 | N/A | no | June 8, 1999 (pdf) (143KB) | Acceptable | ||
| HCFC-124 | 0.022 | 609 | no | July 22, 2002 (pdf) (218KB) | Unacceptable | Alternatives exist with lower or zero ODP. | |
| HCFC-141b | 0.12 | 725 | no | September 30, 2004 (pdf) (199KB); July 20, 2015 (pdf) (687KB) | Unacceptable | Alternatives exist with lower or zero ODP. | |
| HCFC-22, HCFC-142b or blends thereof | >0 | N/A | no | July 22, 2002 (pdf) (218KB); July 20, 2015 (pdf) (687KB) | Unacceptable | Alternatives exist with lower or zero ODP. |
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