UL Exec Summary Revisiting Flammable Refrigerants 110103-5 v1

8/7/2019 UL Exec Summary Revisiting Flammable Refrigerants 110103-5 v1

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Executive Summary:

Revisiting FlammableRefrigerants in HVACEquipment and Appliances



page 2

Since the 1989 Montreal Protocol and its successor agreements, the world of refrigerants has been marked by

change. In the search for more environmentally-preferable refrigerants, technology has moved from chlorouo-

rocarbons to a host of alternative substances. Many of these substances are serving as interim measures, until the

phase-out of ozone-depleting and global-warming refrigerants meets the targets set by the U.S. Clean Air Act.

In response, HVAC equipment and

appliance manufacturers are exploring

the potential use of a wide range of

substances that have good environmental

and thermodynamic properties as

refrigerants. Unfortunately some of themore environmentally attractive options

are also ammable. Selecting alternative

refrigerants has increasingly become

a complicating factor in equipment

design, construction, installation and

use. The more widespread use of pure

hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants, ammable

hydrocarbon refrigerant blends, or halo-

hydrocarbon blends with ammable

hydrocarbons has further complicated

matters, due to the risk of re and/orexplosion associated with their use.

The most signicant regulation affecting

the use of ammable refrigerants

in appliances is the Clean Air Act,

administered by the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA), under its

Signicant New Alternatives Policy

(SNAP). EPA SNAP affects the selection

and use of alternative refrigerants in

HVAC equipment and appliances. In

2010 the EPA proposed that hydrocarbon

refrigerants be accepted in refrigerating

appliances provided that they metthe requirements of specic product

safety standards. In addition, they

proposed rules regarding identication

and servicing of ammable refrigerant

containing appliances. When adopted,

the rules will facilitate the use of

hydrocarbon refrigerants in the affected

residential and commercial appliances.

However, fullling government

regulations is only part of the compliance

landscape for HVAC equipment and

appliance manufacturers. Equipment

must also comply with safety standards

in order to be installed in a workplace or

(depending upon the local jurisdiction)

in other facilities. Retailers, insurers and

other parties may also require evidence

of compliance with safety standards.

Executive Summary:Revisiting Flammable Refrigerantsin HVAC Equipment and Appliances



page 3

Executive Summary: Revisiting Flammable Refrigerants

In the U.S., Underwriters Laboratories

(UL) is the principal standards developeraddressing electrical appliance and HVAC

equipment safety. UL standards are part

of an overall safety system of coordinated

standards and codes to facilitate safe

installation and use of equipment. They

complement the electrical installation

requirements of the National Fire

Protection Association (NFPA), notably the

National Electrical Code © (NFPA 70), and

mechanical refrigeration requirements

of the American Society of Heating,Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning

Engineers (ASHRAE), Standards 15 and 34.

The following are standards and

codes where the use of ammable

refrigerants is either already addressed

or will be addressed therein:

• ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34, Designation

and Saety Classifcation o Rerigerants

• ANSI/UL 2182, Standard or

Saety or Rerigerants

• ANSI/NFPA 58, Liquefed

Petroleum Gas Code

• ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 15, Saety

Standard or Rerigeration Systems

• ANSI/UL 207, Standard or Saety or

Rerigerant-Containing Components

and Accessories, Nonelectrical


Household Rerigerators and Freezers


Commercial Rerigerators and Freezers


Heating and Cooling Equipment





• UL 984, Standard or Saety or

Rerigerant Motor Compressors

• ANSI/UL 60335-2-34, Standard or

Household and Similar Electrical

Appliances, Part 2: Particular

Requirements or Motor-Compressors

(The technical white paper provides

detailed information about each of these

standards and their current status.)

Much experience has been gained in

recent years regarding the safe use of HCs

and other ammable refrigerants. During

this time, the reduction in use of ozone

depleting substances and drive toward

greater energy efciency continues. When

responding to these challenges, it is

important that all stakeholders in the U.S.

product safety system fully examine the

potential impact of the use of ammable

refrigerants, and take the necessary

steps to ensure their continued safe use

in HVAC equipment and appliances.

To download a copy of the technical

white paper or learn more about

related UL standards, testing and

certication services, visit www.uluniversity.com/thoughtleadership.

Copyright © 2011 Underwriters Laboratories Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be copiedor distributed without the prior written consent of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. 01/11 BDI 110103-5

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UL Exec Summary Revisiting Flammable Refrigerants 110103-5 v1