The EPA has issued a ruling requiring many current blowing agents used in insulated garage doors be swapped out for safer, alternative blowing agents. This ruling was finalized under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program this past July.
These alternative blowing agents, according to the EPA, have a lower global warming potential (GWP). Many of the current blowing agents contain harmful compounds, such as hydrofluorocarbon (HFC). Blowing agents such as these must begin to phase out, and garage door manufacturers must make the switch to new and improved blowing agents in the coming years.
Insulated garage doors are becoming increasingly popular as the push and desire for energy efficiency swells. The foam insulation industry is on board with the new SNAP program and is working on drafting plans to make the transition to meet the new standards. Foam testing is currently being done. The goal is to preserve the energy efficiency standards of the old blowing agents in the new ones.
Some of the first blowing agents used were chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were banned in the ‘90s due to negative effects on the ozone layer. CFCs are no longer in use in any of the developed countries throughout the world.
Next came hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which had 90-95 percent lower ozone depletion potential (ODP) values. Not long after their initiation, however, they were also found to be potentially harmful and ranked highly in GWP. Due to global concerns about ozone depletion, HCFCs also phased out in many nations worldwide.
Now, we have hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with very little ODP but high GWP. With the country and our government focusing on limiting our carbon footprint and the concerns about climate change continuously rising, the EPA is now working to phase out HFCs as well.
So, what’s next?
What, exactly, are the alternatives to the blowing agents used in the past, and what agents are currently in use for insulated garage doors? According to the EPA, safe and acceptable alternative blowing agents include Ecomate, pentanes, hydrofluoroolefins, and possibly different combinations of the three.
Ecomate: Ecomate is methyl formate-based and has been approved by the SNAP program since 2003. Methyl formate is safe for the environment; it has no GWP or ODP and contains no VOCs. This blowing agent has been tested and seems to have better insulation properties than HFC. Additionally, Ecomate can replace HFCs with little or no change in current processes, equipment, or cost.
Pentanes: Pentanes are a type of hydrocarbon. They are available at low cost and have low GWP and no ODP. However, pentanes are flammable VOCs and do not insulate as well as HFCs.
Hydrofluoroolefins: HFOs are efficient, environmentally safe, and so far seem to be a good alternative to HFCs. They need to go through further testing, however, before they can be proven to work successfully.
The garage door world is in for new and exciting changes in the upcoming years. EPA-approved alternative blowing agents will soon become commonplace in the U.S. as we work to protect the environment and help residential and commercial property owners save money and energy!
Source: Snyder, George. "New EPA Regulations Bring Changes to Insulated Garage Doors." Door + Access System Fall 2015: 62. Web.
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