CARB Short Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) – EPA SNAP Preservation
California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved new rules requiring the phase-out of certain products containing hydrofluorocarbons (HFC’s). CARB’s rules are modeled after U.S. EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) regulations that were vacated in 2017.
Table 1, section 95374 in CARB’s final regulation order lists the end use applications, prohibited substances and phase-out dates, as shown below
|
Specific End-Use |
Prohibited Substances |
Effective Date |
|
Supermarket Systems & Remote Condensing Units |
R-404A, R-507A |
Prohibited as of 1/1/19 |
|
Stand-alone medium-temperature units with a compressor |
R-404A, R-407A, R-407C,R-407F, R-507A |
Prohibited as of 1/1/20 |
|
Stand-alone low-temperature units (New) |
R-404A, R-407A, R-407C, R-407F, R-507A |
Prohibited as of 1/1/20 |
|
Stand-alone units (Retrofit) |
R-404A,R-507A |
Prohibited as of 1/1/19 |
*See final regulation order for a full list of prohibited substances
Definitions
New
(1) Any refrigeration equipment that is first installed using new or used components; or
(2) Any refrigeration equipment that is modified such that it is
I.Expanded after the date at which the CARB subarticle becomes effective, to handle an expanded cooling load by the addition of components in which the capacity of the system is increased, including refrigerant lines, evaporators, compressors, condensers, and other components; or
II. Replaced or cumulatively replaced after the date at which the CARB subarticle becomes effective, such that the capital cost of replacing or cumulatively replacing components exceeds 50 percent of the capital cost of replacing the entire refrigeration system.
Retrofit
Retrofit means the replacement of the refrigerant used in refrigeration equipment with a different refrigerant, and any related changes to the refrigeration equipment required to maintain its operation and reliability following refrigerant replacement.
What does this mean for Heatcraft customers
1.For Supermarket systems & remote condensing units, Heatcraft has already developed compliant products. Customers can continue buying products which use approved substances (R-448A, R-449A, R-407A, R-407F, R-407C).
2.For stand-alone units, customers can continue buying all Heatcraft products which use R-404A until 1/1/20. Heatcraft is actively developing new energy efficient products which will comply with the CARB regulation, for January 2020.