EPA Meeting

Commercial Refrigeration 

Equipment

10 June 2014
Agenda

 Introductions

 EPA update on proposed SNAP rules

 Industry concerns – Commercial refrigeration products

– Product definitions

– Implementation date(s)

– Alternate refrigerants

– Building codes and standards

– Energy efficiency regulations

 Other business

 Adjournment
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Definitions

 Condensing Unit Type

– Remote Condensing

• Condensing equipment 

(compressor rack, condenser, 

etc.) is located remotely and 

refrigerant is piped to and 

from the display or storage 

case. 

– Self-Contained

• Condensing unit (compressor 

and condenser) is integral to 

the case. SC cases are charged 

with refrigerant by the 

manufacturer.
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Definitions

 Open or Closed Display/Storage Cases

– Open

• Equipment open to the environment, 

typically using an “air curtain” to 

reduce infiltration of warm air into the 

case

– Closed

• Equipment using glass or solid doors*

*
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Definitions

 Walk-In Coolers and Freezers

– Room types

• Commercial: ~3000 ft2 or less built of insulated panel walls

• Ceiling heights of 8-12 ft, but can be as high as 25 ft

• Used for 

– Storage of frozen food and perishables

– Prep-rooms for meat and produce

– Point of sale (with transparent doors on at least one side)

– Application locations are varied

• Supermarkets, convenience stores, liquor stores, schools, 

restaurants, small commercial warehouses, food processing plants 

(these blur the line between commercial and industrial refrigeration 

applications)

• Mostly located indoors, but can be located outdoors
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Definitions

 Walk-In Coolers and Freezers

– Factors that affect refrigerant application and charge amount

• Room Temperatures

– Range from -20°F to 55°F

• Type of product being stored (maintaining proper relative 

humidity levels inside room)

– Affects evaporator coil configuration

• Low (air) velocity and high velocity unit cooler coils

– Low velocity for prep rooms / applications with high 

occupancy

– High velocity for storage rooms

• In supermarkets, 99 percent of the time, unit cooler coils are 

piped to a remote condensing system
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Definitions

 Application Temperatures

– Medium-Temperature

• Sometimes referred to as “refrigerators,” “refrigerated 

merchandisers” or “coolers”.

• Typically operate above ~32°F space temp to hold perishable items 

at safe temperatures per the FDA Food Code. Evaporator 

temperatures typically range from 15°F to 35°F for medium-temp 

applications.

– Low-Temperature

• Sometimes referred to as “freezers”

• Operate below 32°F space temp, typically closer to 0°F, but as cold as -40°F. Meant to keep products contained within frozen. Evaporator 

temperatures typically range from -35°F to 0°F for low-temp 

applications.

• Some refrigerants used at medium-temperature do not work for 

low-temperature applications (e.g., R-134a)
Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Definitions

 Application Temperatures

– “Ice-Cream” Temperature

• Operates below -5°F. space temperature

• This is a DOE designation. Ice-cream freezers and low-temp 

freezers typically use the same refrigerants and may not need to 

be distinguished from each other by EPA.

– Other Application Temperatures

• Some products are kept cool at temperatures between 40 – 60°F, 

but are not “potentially hazardous foods” and do not need to be 

maintained below 41°F per the FDA Food Code

– Examples include bulk produce such as oranges, wine, and chocolate

• These higher temperature applications would typically use the 

same refrigerants as a medium-temperature case.
Clear CRE Definitions are Important

 From EPA SNAP Stakeholder meeting (Feb 4th) 

presentation:

– “Stand-Alone Reach-in Coolers” actually = A Self-contained, closed, 

medium-temperature (or high-temp) case

– “Multiplex Supermarket Systems” actually = A remote condensing, 

medium and/or low-temperature system specific to supermarket 

applications.

9
Implementation Date(s)

 Implementation timeline of new refrigerants must take into 

account:

– Commercial availability of the refrigerants

– Commercial availability of components (e.g., compressors, valves) that 

are compatible with new refrigerants

– R&D time for equipment manufacturers to design and test around new 

refrigerants and components

– Time for regulatory testing and approvals for safety and energy 

efficiency standards

– Updates to standards and national and local codes to address the use 

of A2L and A3 refrigerants

– For foam blowing agents—time required for new equipment and 

testing for efficiency (R-value), and other foam properties (e.g., 

adhesion, dimensional stability, compressive strength, etc.)
Options for Alternate Refrigerants

Chart developed by Emerson based on industry data

R-410A

Like

Capacity

R404A &

R407/22

Like

R134a

Like

GWP Level

400-675

 < 1500

 ~600

~300

HFO 1234yf

HFO 1234ze

R410A

R22

R407A

R407C

R407F, DR34

0 500 1000 1500 2000

Pressure

Or

R32/HFC/HFO

Blends

R32/HFO

Blends

HFC/HFO

Blends

R134a

CO2

R404A

DR2, N12, ARC 1

R290

NH3

A1 – Non Flammable

A2L – Mildly Flammable

A3 – Flammable

B2L – Toxic, Mildly Flam.

Qualitative Chart –

Not To Scale

R123-Like

(V.Low Pr.)

(3922)

R32

R32/HFO

Blends

R448A = N40

R449A = DR33

N20

R450A = N13

XP10

R444B = L20

L40, DR7

<150

Europe 2022: 

• Comm Refrig (GWP 150) 

• Multipack refr (GWP 150) – except primary 

cascades (GWP 1500)

• Domestic Refrig. already at GWP 150

Europe 2020: 

• Comm Refrig (GWP 2500) 

• Stat Refrig (GWP 2500)

• All Service (GWP 2500)

• Moveable AC (GWP 150)

US 20??: 

• Smkt Large DX (GWP <404A)

US 20??: 

• Reach In Coolers (GWP 

<R134a, 1430)

• Auto AC (GWP <R134a, 

1430)

Europe 2025: 

• Split AC <3Kg (GWP 

750)

HDR110,...
Refrigerant Standards and Codes

Revisions to Support A2L and A3 Refrigerants
Energy Efficiency Regulations

 DOE Energy Conservation Standards for CRE

– Compliance dates in 

• Jan. 2010 (Closed self-contained cases)

• Jan. 2012 (Remote cases and open self-contained cases)

• March 2017 (All remote and self-contained cases)

• Jan. 2009 (WICF—prescriptive design standards)

• June 2017 (WICF—performance-based standards)

– New refrigerants must maintain or improve upon current energy 

efficiency performance in both remote condensing and selfcontained systems
Questions and Answers