Emerson Climate Technologies Completes Testing, Performance Ratings on R-448A/R-449A
April 7, 2015
By Press release
Lower GWP refrigerants serve as alternatives to potentially banned R-404A and R-507A
ST. LOUIS, March 19, 2015 — Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc., a company of Emerson (NYSE: EMR), announced it has completed material compatibility testing, application guideline verifications, UL approval qualification and extensive life testing with both R-448A and R-449A. These refrigerants have a lower global warming potential (GWP) and serve as replacements for potentially banned refrigerants R-404A and R-507A, which are commonly used in supermarkets, condensing units and commercial refrigeration equipment.
The U.S. EPA has announced plans to transition new applications away from refrigerants with high GWP, such as R-404A and R-507A, as part of its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP). SNAP works in conjunction with the president’s Climate Action Plan to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons with high global warming potential. The rule as proposed would ban R-404A and R-507A in specific new and retrofit applications by January 1, 2016.
“It is critical that our customers have tested, proven and sustainable alternatives to refrigerants that have been targeted for delisting,” said Mitch Knapke, director, food retail marketing, Emerson Climate Technologies. “To help our customers lessen the resource constraints and costs associated with a shift of this magnitude, we have been working to develop products and equipment that will not only comply with this delisting proposal, but also those in the foreseeable future.”
Performance ratings for these new refrigerants can be accessed in OPI software or through Emerson Climate Technologies’ Production Selection Software. Application guidelines are similar to R-407A and can be found online in the OPI software as well. Capacity and efficiency are also comparable to R-407A, showing ratings within 3 percent around the operating envelope. Discus and Copeland Scroll™ products are approved at this time, and small reciprocating hermetic compressors will be approved later in 2015.
About Emerson
Emerson (NYSE: EMR), based in St. Louis, Missouri (USA), is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial and consumer markets around the world. The company is comprised of five business segments: Process Management, Industrial Automation, Network Power, Climate Technologies, and Commercial & Residential Solutions. Sales in fiscal 2014 were $24.5 billion. For more information, visit Emerson.com.
About Emerson Climate Technologies
Emerson Climate Technologies, a business segment of Emerson, is the world’s leading provider of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions for residential, industrial and commercial applications. The group combines best-in-class technology with proven engineering, design, distribution, educational and monitoring services to provide customized, integrated climate-control solutions for customers worldwide. The innovative solutions of Emerson Climate Technologies, which include industry-leading brands such as Copeland Scroll™ and White-Rodgers™, improve human comfort, safeguard food and protect the environment. For more information, visit EmersonClimate.com.
