US proposes R744 as alternative refrigerant

The agency proposes two substances, HFC-152a and CO2 as acceptable refrigerants for motor vehicle air conditioning systems, under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) programme. The target would be to reduce the environmental impact of Mobile Air Conditioning systems. The EPA proposal outlines the conditions necessary for the safe use of the refrigerants, and opens a consultation until 23 October, 2006 to collect feedback from stakeholders. Background The Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) programme seeks to review and approve alternatives to Class I and Class II ozone depleting substances (ODS) that reduce the overall risk to public health and the environment. Currently, CO2 technology (R744) is an acceptable alternative under the SNAP program. The current proposal aims to amend the previous SNAP acceptability of CO2 (R744) to relieve manufacturers from the obligation of installing the necessary safety devices.