Substitutes in Rigid Polyurethane: Spray
Substitutes are reviewed on the basis of environmental and health risks, including factors such as ozone depletion potential, global warming potential, toxicity, flammability, and exposure potential. Lists of acceptableThis designation means that a substitute may be used, without restriction, to replace the relevant ODS within the end-use specified. For example, HCFC-22 is an acceptable substitute for R-502 in industrial process refrigeration. Note that all SNAP determinations apply to the use of a specific product as a substitute for a specific ODS in a specific end-use. and UnacceptableThis designation means that it is illegal to use a product as a substitute for an ODS in a specific end-use. For example, HCFC-141b is an unacceptable substitute for CFC-11 in building chillers. Note that all SNAP determinations apply to the use of a specific product as a substitute for a specific ODS in a specific end-use. substitutes are updated several times each year. The list of substitutes is shown below.
Many acceptable substitutes under SNAP may be restricted under the Technology Transitions Program. For more information on Technology Transitions Program restrictions, visit: https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/technology-transitions-program
Note: SNAP-related information published in the Federal Register takes precedence over all information on this page.
| Filters | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substitute | Trade Name(s) | ODPA number that refers to the amount of ozone depletion caused by a substance. The ODP is the ratio of the impact on ozone of a chemical compared to the impact of a similar mass of CFC-11. Thus, the ODP of CFC-11 is defined to be 1.0. Other CFCs and HCFCs have ODPs that range from 0.01 to 1.0. The halons have ODPs ranging up to 10. Carbon tetrachloride has an ODP of 1.2, and methyl chloroform's ODP is 0.11. HFCs have zero ODP because they do not contain chlorine. A table of all ozone-depleting substances (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/ods/index.html) shows their ODPs, GWPs, and CAS numbers. | GWPThe index used to translate the level of emissions of various gases into a common measure in order to compare the relative radiative forcing of different gases without directly calculating the changes in atmospheric concentrations. GWPs are calculated as the ratio of the radiative forcing that would result from the emissions of one kilogram of a greenhouse gas to that from the emission of one kilogram of carbon dioxide over a period of time (usually 100 years). Gases involved in complex atmospheric chemical processes have not been assigned GWPs. See lifetime. | Flammable | SNAP Listing Date | Listing Status | Further Information |
| Blends of HFC-365mfc and HFC-245fa, containing at least 5% HFC-245fa | 0 | 865 - 960 | no | September 30, 2009 (pdf) (173 KB); June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB); December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB) |
High-pressure two-component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [3] Low-pressure two component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [4] One-component foam sealants: Unacceptable, as of January 1, 2020. [5] |
||
| Carbon Dioxide | 0 | 1 | no | March 18, 1994; June 8, 1999 (pdf) (143 KB) |
Acceptable | ||
| Commercial blends of HFC-365mfc and HFC-227ea containing 7% to 13% HFC-227ea and the remainder HFC-365mfc | Solkane® 365/227 | 0 | N/A | no | May 17, 2013 (pdf) (280 KB); December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB) |
High-pressure two-component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [3] Low-pressure two component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [4] One-component foam sealants: Unacceptable, as of January 1, 2020. [5] |
|
| Methyl Formate | Ecomate™ | 0 | 5 or less | yes | October 1, 2004 (pdf) (186 KB) | Acceptable | |
| Methylal | Novicell™ | 0 | <1 | yes | December 11, 2020 (pdf) (263 KB) | Acceptable | |
| Electroset Technology | 0 | N/A | N/A | August 26, 1994; June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB) |
Acceptable | ||
| Exxsol Blowing Agents | Exxsol Blowing Agents | 0 | 5 or less | yes | December 6, 1999 (pdf) (226 KB); June 16, 2010 (pdf) (229 KB) |
Acceptable | |
| Formacel® TI | Formacel® TI | 0 | 1,330 - 1,500 | no | September 30, 2009 (pdf) (173 KB); December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB) |
High-pressure two-component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [3] Low-pressure two component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [4] One-component foam sealants: Unacceptable, as of January 1, 2020. [5] |
|
| Formic Acid | 0 | 5 or less | yes [2] | September 5, 1996 | Acceptable | ||
| HCFC-123 | 0.02 | 77 | no | March 18, 1994 | Acceptable | ||
| HCFC-124 | 0.022 | 609 | no | July 22, 2002 (pdf) (218 KB) | Unacceptable | Alternatives exist with lower or zero ODP. | |
| HCFC-141b | 0.12 | 725 | no | September 30, 2004 (pdf) (199 KB); July 20, 2015 (pdf) (687 KB) |
Unacceptable | Alternatives exist with lower or zero ODP. | |
| HCFC-141b/HCFC-123 Blends | >0 | N/A | no | July 20, 2015 (pdf) (687 KB) | Unacceptable as of September 18, 2015. | ||
| HCFC-22, HCFC-142b or blends thereof | >0 | N/A | no | July 22, 2002 (pdf) (218 KB); July 20, 2015 (pdf) (687 KB) |
Unacceptable | Alternatives exist with lower or zero ODP. | |
| HFC-134a | 0 | 1,430 | no | March 18, 1994; June 8, 1999 (pdf) (143 KB); December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB) |
High-pressure two-component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [3] Low-pressure two component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [4] One-component foam sealants: Unacceptable, as of January 1, 2020. [5] |
||
| HFC-152a | 0 | 124 | yes | March 18, 1994; June 8, 1999 (pdf) (143 KB) |
Acceptable | ||
| HFC-245fa | 0 | 1,030 | no | December 6, 1999 (pdf) (226 KB); December 1, 2016 (pdf) (969 KB) |
High-pressure two-component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2020; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [3] Low-pressure two component spray foam: Unacceptable for all uses, except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Acceptable, subject to narrowed use limits, for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications, as of January 1, 2021; Unacceptable for military or space- and aeronautics-related applications as of January 1, 2025. [4] One-component foam sealants: Unacceptable, as of January 1, 2020. [5] |
||
| HFO-1234ze | 0 | 6 | no | September 30, 2009 (pdf) (173 KB) | Acceptable | ||
| HFO-1336mzz(E) | Opteon™ 1150 | 0 | 16 | no | December 11, 2020 (pdf) (263 KB) | Acceptable | |
| HFO–1336mzz(Z) ((Z)-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluorobut-2-ene) | Formacel® 1100, FEA-1100 | 0 | 9 | no | July 16, 2015 (pdf) (354 KB) | Acceptable: High-pressure, two part uses only. | |
| Trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-ene | Solstice® 1233zd(E) | 0.00024 - 0.00034 | 4.7 - 7 | no | August 10, 2012 | Acceptable | |
| TranscendTM Technologies | Transcend™ Technologies | 0 | 5 or less | yes[1] | March 29, 2006 (pdf) (181 KB) | Acceptable as an additive to SNAP-approved blowing agents in blends making up to 5% by weight of the total foam formulation. For spray foam, TranscendTM Technologies may only be used with other blowing agents that are SNAP-approved specifically for spray foam. | |
| Water | 0 | N/A | no | June 8, 1999 (pdf) (143 KB) | Acceptable |
1 When blended with fire retardant and/or other SNAP-approved alternatives, the flammability of TranscendTM Technologies can be reduced to make a formulation that is either combustible or non-flammable (contact the manufacturer of TranscendTM Technologies for more information).
2 Formic acid is mildly flammable with flashpoint of 68.9°C (156°F), lower flammability limit of 18.0% by volume, and NFPA flammability rating of 2.
3 Closed cell foam products and products containing closed cell foams (in all applications except military or space- and aeronautics-related applications) manufactured on or before January 1, 2020, may be used after that date. Closed cell foam products and products containing closed cell foams in military or space- and aeronautics-related applications manufactured or before January 1, 2025, may be used after that date.
4 Low pressure two-component spray foam kits manufactured on or before January 1, 2025, may be used after that date. [Note: EPA intends to issue a rule revision to correct this date to be consistent with the intent expressed in the preamble.]
5 One-component foam sealant cans manufactured on or before January 1, 2020, may be used after that date.