R448A cleared for ice rink retrofits
Honeywell’s Solstice N40 (R448A) refrigerant has been listed as acceptable by the US EPA for use in retrofits in ice rinks in the USA.
The inclusion of R488A under the US Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) programme gives ice rink owners an option to shift away from R22, an ozone depleting HCFC that is subject to phase out.
The EPA had previously listed R448A under SNAP in 2015 for use as an alternative to R22 and R404A in commercial refrigeration applications, including new and retrofit supermarkets, various types of commercial refrigeration equipment, ice machines and refrigerated transportation.
More than 20,000 supermarkets worldwide are said to have already made the switch to N40.
R448A is a blend of the HFCs R32 (26%), R125 (26%) and R134a (21%), with HFO components R1234yf (20%) and 1234ze(E) (7%). Its GWP is around 1300 and is classified A1 by ASHRAE – non-toxic and non-flammable.
“In addition to minimizing retrofit downtime, Solstice N40 typically does not require component changes, and our expert technicians work with customers to ensure settings are optimised to produce the best possible system efficiency,” said Chris LaPietra, vice president and general manager, Honeywell Stationary Refrigerants.