This specification covers the Company’s essential property requirements for fluorocarbon refrigerant for initial filling or recharging of air-conditioning systems and test methods to be used to verify compliance. These refrigerants covered in this specification, as defined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers in ANSI/ASHRAE 34 are:

• Dichlorodifluoromethane, CFC-12 (R-12)

• 1,1,1,2 - Tetrafluoroethane, HFC-134a (R-134a)

• 2,3,3,3-Tetrafluoropropene, HFO-1234yf (R-1234yf)

Federal Legislation (CFR 40-82) has mandated that the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants (CFCs) in automotive air conditioning systems be halted. The use of the environmentally acceptable HFC-134a (R-134a) refrigerant was initiated in Navistar production facilities in January 1993. Further use of the CFC-12 (R-12) refrigerant is restricted to field service applications in product produced prior to January 1993. The use of all other ozone depleting chemicals in Navistar products is restricted.

HFC-134a is not an ozone depleting refrigerant, but like CFC-12, it is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Today, vehicle manufacturers are transitioning to new, climate friendly alternative refrigerants. EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program identifies alternatives that pose lower overall risk to human health and the environment.

Under SNAP, EPA has listed few low global warming potential refrigerants (GWP < 150) as acceptable for mobile air conditioning subject to use conditions: Hydrofluoroolefin HFO-1234yf, carbon dioxide R744 (CO2), and HFC-152a. None of these alternatives deplete the ozone layer and all have significantly lower impacts to the climate system than CFC-12 or HFC-134a.

EPA currently doesn’t have a regulatory deadline for a move to low GWP refrigerant for class 4-8 vehicles, however, there are many activities ongoing to start defining timeline and list of acceptable refrigerants. However, for passenger cars and pickup trucks (class 1-3 vehicles), deadlines exist and most of the passenger cars today already use R1234yf or are moving to this refrigerant.

Since R1234yf is most likely the prime candidate for class 4-8 vehicles due to being a near drop-in replacement to current R134a and based on the fact that automotive industry is using it for some time, some of the requirements are already outlined in this document. Navistar, as environmentally conscious company is already assuring that many components in HVAC systems are compatible to R1234yf, as well as compressor oils and other fluids typically used with it.

APPLICATION

This specification applies to fluorocarbon refrigerant for initial filling or recharging of vehicle air-conditioning systems