Two Honeywell Solstice refrigerants receive new EPA approval

Honeywell’s Solstice series of refrigerants received a range of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approvals under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP), according to a Tuesday announcement from Honeywell.

Solstice N40 (R-448A) gained approval for a variety of applications, including stand-alone refrigeration systems and commercial refrigeration, while Solstice N13’s (R-450A) can now be used in vending machines. SNAP is an EPA program tasked with identifying alternative chemicals and technologies that are more environmentally friendly than traditional means.

"Honeywell has been steadily broadening its range of reduced and low global-warming replacements for high global-warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), helping customers around the world decrease their global warming footprint and comply with new regulation," Honeywell Fluorine Products Refrigerants Business Director George Koutsaftes said. "Solstice N40, Solstice N13 and the entire range of Solstice stationary and mobile refrigerants help customers achieve their environmental goals without sacrificing performance."

N40 contributes to global warming 86 percent less than the more traditional HFC R-404A, which is mostly used by supermarkets but will be banned by an EPA regulation from January 2017. N13 has a global warming potential 60 percent lower than its parallel HFC, R-134A.