Emerson to Ask EPA to Modify Latest Refrigerant Ruling
Aug. 25, 2014
In July the EPA ruled it wants R-404A, R-507A, and R-134A banned by January 1, 2016.
Emerson says correctly that new policy would have significant impact on refrigeration equipment and systems used in numerous retail food refrigeration applications.
Rajan Rajendran: Emerson supports ban, but not its timetable.
Sources for Emerson Climate Technologies, announced on August 19 that Emerson is preparing an industry communication to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent Notice of Public Rule (NOPR) that will delist some refrigerants commonly used in supermarkets, condensing units and commercial refrigeration equipment. Emerson Climate Technologies will also work with industry organizations to draft comments to this NOPR in a timely manner.
The proposed EPA rule is part of the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) and works in conjunction with the president’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFC) with high global warming potential (GWP). While currently in the comment period, the ruling — which has taken many in the HVACR industry by surprise — would ban R-404A/R-507A and R-134a in specific new and retrofit applications by January 1, 2016.
“While we support a shift toward environmentally friendly, low-GWP refrigerants, we also recognize the pressure it puts on the retail food refrigeration industry because of the compressed timeline proposed,” said Rajan Rajendran, Ph.D., vice president, engineering services and sustainability, Emerson Climate Technologies. “To help our customers lessen the resource constraints and costs associated with a shift of this magnitude, we have been working to develop products and equipment that will not only comply with this delisting proposal, but also those in the foreseeable future.”
Emerson Climate Technologies has developed systems and equipment for alternatives to the potentially banned refrigerants, many of which are approved and ready for application. The systems and equipment will accommodate R-407A, R-407F and carbon dioxide, among others.
Emerson Climate Technologies will host a webinar on August 26 to provide an in-depth look at alternatives to the refrigerants that have the potential to be banned. HVACR contractors can register for this free webinar at emersonevents.webex.com.
For a list of products that would be impacted as a result of the NOPR, reference the EPA fact sheet.
