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Substitutes in Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners

NOTE: All substitutes in this sector are acceptable subject to use conditions. See Choosing and Using Alternative Refrigerants for Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning for more information.

Substitutes are reviewed on the basis of ozone depletion potential, global warming potential, toxicity, flammability, and exposure potential. Lists of acceptable and unacceptable substitutes are updated several times each year. A chronological list of SNAP updates is also available.

Unacceptable substitutes

Note: SNAP-related information published in the Federal Register takes precedence over all information on this page.

Substitutes Acceptable Subject to Use Conditions for CFC-12 (class I ODS) in MVACs

Substitute (Name Used in the Federal Register) Trade Name Retrofit/ New
HCFC-22   R, N (Buses Only)*
HFC-134a   R, N
HFC-152a   N
R-406A GHG, GHG-X3, GHG-12, McCool, Autofrost X3 R, N
GHG-X4, R-414A (HCFC Blend Xi) GHG-X4, Autofrost, Chill-it, Autofrost X4 R, N
Small auxiliary power units that include an engine, electrical alternator, water pump, air conditioning compressor and a heat exchanger used in tractor trailers in conjunction with passenger compartment climate control systems that already use an acceptable substitute refrigerant.   R, N
Hot Shot, R-414B (HCFC Blend Omicron) Hot Shot, Kar Kool R, N
FRIGC FR-12, (HCFC Blend Beta), R-416A FRIGC FR-12 R, N
Free Zone, (HCFC Blend Delta) Free Zone / RB-276 R, N
Freeze 12 Freeze 12 R, N
GHG-X5 GHG-X5 R, N
GHG-HP (HCFC Blend Lambda) GHG-HP R, N
Ikon 12, Ikon A (Blend Zeta) Ikon 12 R, N
SP34E SP34E R, N
Stirling Cycle   N
CO 2   N
RS-24 RS-24 R, N
Evaporative Cooling   N
R-426A RS-24 R, N
Key: R = Retrofit Uses, N = New Uses

* Refrigerated cargo areas and buses using HCFC-22 are not included in the definitions of “motor vehicle air-conditioners” or “motor vehicle-like air-conditioners” under EPA regulations for servicing of motor vehicle air conditioners.

Substitutes Acceptable for HCFC-22 (class II ODS) in MVACs for Buses and Passenger Trains

Substitute (Name Used in the Federal Register) Trade Name Retrofit/ New
Blend of R-125/R-134a/R-600a (28.1%/70.0%/1.9%)   R, N (Buses Only)*
HFC-134a   R, N
R-407C Suva 407C,
Klea 407C
R, N
R-410A AZ-20; Puron N
R-422D ISCEON MO29 R, N
KDD5 KDD5 R, N
R-125/134a/600 (46.6/50.0/3.4) R-417A R, N
R-422B XAC1, NU-22B R, N
R-427A Forane 427A R
R-424A RS-44 (new formulation) R, N
R-434A RS-45 R, N

Key: R = Retrofit Uses, N = New Uses

* Refrigerated cargo areas and buses using HCFC-22 are not included in the definitions of “motor vehicle air-conditioners” or “motor vehicle-like air-conditioners” under EPA regulations for servicing of motor vehicle air conditioners.


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