The next time you go to your friendly neighbor appliance store to by your new refrigerator or freezer, BE SURE to ask what type of refrigerant it uses. You may be very surprised in what you hear!! The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added three hydrocarbons as acceptable alternatives in household and small commercial refrigerators and freezers through EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program.
EPA took action after requests from Ben and Jerry’s and General Electric, as well as A.S. Trust & Holdings, and True Manufacturing, a family-owned small business. These businesses are helping to clear the way for U.S. companies to use ozone layer-protective hydrocarbon refrigerants. Under the Clean Air Act, the SNAP program evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies for ozone-depleting substances (ODS). The three hydrocarbon refrigerants approved as acceptable substitutes, with use conditions, are
- propane,
- isobutane, and
- a chemical known as R-441A.
These newly-approved refrigerants can be used to replace ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-12 and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 in household refrigerators, freezers, combination refrigerator-freezers, and commercial stand-alone units.
Now I know there is very little refrigerant used in these smaller type refrigerators, but I would make the arguement if the amount is so small, then why worry so much about the refrigerants used now. As a safety engineer who specializes in flammable liquids and gases, I just think propane and isobutane have no place in refrigerators being used in homes and businesses. What kind of training will service technicians receive? Would you bring your Propane cylinder into your house for any reason? The technician will have to if your unit needs charging. I hope to the dear Lord that EPA requires the gas to be odorized.
So we have “progressed” from using a non-toxic, non-hazardous refrigerant (R-12) to using two of the most flammable gases on earth. Have we become so niave and comfortable with propane that we feel it is OK to use in household appliances.
Keep in mind, Propane is one of EPA’s Risk Management Plan chemicals, but they feel it is safe for household appliances!?!?!?
Click Here for EPA’s Press Release.
