Voglio sapere a riguardo di…

khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES2

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 86 / Thursday, May 6, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 60335240, Edition 3 for air conditioning equipment. This UL
Standard indicates that refrigerant charges greater than a specific amount called m3 in the UL Standard and based on the refrigerants LFL are beyond its scope and that national standards might apply, such as for instance ANSI/ASHRAE 152019.
Those participating in the UL 60335
240 consensus standards process hereafter UL have tested equipment for flammability risk in residential applications and evaluated the relevant scientific studies. Further, UL has developed safety standards including requirements for construction and system design, for markings, and for performance tests concerning refrigerant leakage, ignition of switching components, surface temperature of parts, and component strength after being scratched. Certain aspects of system construction and design, including charge size, ventilation, and installation space, and greater detail on markings, are discussed further below in this section. The UL Standard was developed in an open and consensusbased approach, with the assistance of experts in the air conditioning industry as well as experts involved in assessing the safety of products. While similar standards exist from other bodies, such as the IEC, we are relying on a specific UL standard because it is the most applicable and recognized by the U.S.
market. This approach is the same as that in previous rules on flammable refrigerants e.g. 76 FR 78832, December 20, 2011; 80 FR 19454, April 10, 2015.
A description of the requirements of UL 60335240 as they affect the refrigerants and end-use addressed in this section of our final rule follows.
This description is offered for information only and does not provide a complete review of the requirements in this standard.
Under this SNAP listing, the refrigerant charge size for residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps is limited in accordance with the UL Standard. EPA
is requiring as a use condition adherence to the standard; hence, charge size limits for each of the refrigerants by equipment type in accordance with the UL Standard apply to this SNAP listing. Annex GG of the standard provides the charge limits, air circulation requirements and requirements for secondary circuits. The standard specifies requirements for installation space of an appliance i.e., room floor area and/or air circulation or other requirements which are determined according to the refrigerant charge used in the appliance, the
VerDate Sep<11>2014

18:29 May 05, 2021

Jkt 253001

installation location and the type of air circulation of the location or of the appliance. In some applications the introduction of outdoor air into a space, also known as ventilation, is required.
Within Annex GG, Table GG.1 describes how to apply the requirements to allow for safe use of flammable refrigerants.
The UL Standard contains provisions for safety mitigation. These mitigation requirements were developed to ensure the safe use of flammable refrigerants over a range of appliances. In general, as larger charge sizes are used, more stringent mitigation requirements are required. In certain applications refrigerant detection systems as described in Annex LL, Refrigerant detection systems for A2L refrigerants must be factory installed as part of the equipment. Likewise, in some cases refrigerant sensors as described in Annex MM, Refrigerant sensor location confirmation tests are required. The standard does not require audible alarms in most cases and instead relies on sensors/detectors to initiate a mitigation strategy such as activating fan operation and air circulation or ventilation if refrigerant concentrations are found to exceed certain thresholds.
Where mechanical ventilation i.e., fans is required in accordance with Annex GG or Annex 101.DVG, it must be initiated by a separate refrigerant detection system either as part of the appliance or installed separately. In a room with no mechanical ventilation, Annex GG provides requirements for openings to rooms based on several factors, including the charge size and the room area. The minimum opening is intended to be sufficient so that natural ventilation would reduce the risk of using a flammable refrigerant. The standard also includes specific requirements for split system appliances using A2L refrigerants covering construction, instruction manuals, and allowable charge sizes, mechanical ventilation, safety alarms, and, for variable refrigerant flow VRF systems, shut off valves.
In addition to Annex GG and Table GG.1 mentioned above, UL 60335240
has a requirement for the maximum charge for an appliance using an A2L
refrigerant. If the appliance is a portable appliance, a non-fixed factory-sealed single package, or a cord-connected appliance which may be periodically or seasonally relocated excluding servicing by the end user, there are no additional requirements for room area and air circulation if the charge is sufficiently smallunder three times the LFL; however risk mitigation for labeling, ignition source controls and
PO 00000

Frm 00017

Fmt 4701

Sfmt 4700

24459

other features are required. Additional requirements exist for charge sizes exceeding three times the LFL.
i. Incorporation by Reference Through this action, EPA is incorporating by reference the 2019 UL
Standard 60335240, 3rd Edition, which establishes requirements for the evaluation of electrical air conditioners, heat pumps, and dehumidifiers, and safe use of flammable refrigerants. The standard is discussed in greater detail elsewhere in this preamble. This approach is the same as that used to incorporate the 8th edition of UL
Standard 484 in our previous rule in which we listed R32 as acceptable, subject to use conditions, for use in selfcontained room air conditioners for residential and light commercial AC 80
FR 19454, April 10, 2015.
The 2019 UL Standard 60335240, 3rd Edition, is available at https
www.shopulstandards.com/
ProductDetail.aspx?UniqueKey=36463, and for purchase by mail at: Comm 2000, 151 Eastern Avenue, Bensenville, IL 60106; Email: orders@
shopulstandards.com; Telephone: 1
8888533503 in the U.S. or Canada other countries dial 14153522178;
internet address: https
www.shopulstandards.com. The cost of the 2019 UL Standard 60335240, 3rd Edition is $440 for an electronic copy and $550 for hardcopy. UL also offers a subscription service to the Standards Certification Customer Library that allows unlimited access to their standards and related documents. The cost of obtaining this standard is not a significant financial burden for equipment manufacturers and purchase is not necessary for those selling, installing, and servicing the equipment.
Therefore, EPA concludes that the UL
standard being incorporated by reference is reasonably available.
c. Labeling As a use condition, EPA is requiring labeling of residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pump equipment. EPA is requiring the warning labels on the equipment contain letters at least 14 inch high. The label must be permanently affixed to the equipment. Warning label language requirements are described in section II.B.1.c of this rule as well as in the regulatory text. The warning label language is similar to or exactly the same as that required in UL 603352
40.
d. Markings Our understanding of the UL
Standard is that red markings, similar to
E:FRFM06MYR2.SGM

06MYR2