R236fa PT Chart
Updated October 12, 2026
R-236fa
Pure HFC, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (CF₃CH₂CF₃). Branded as Chemours FE-36. ASHRAE A1 non-flammable. GWP 9,810 — extremely high for an HFC, driven by 242-year atmospheric lifetime. Primary use: clean-agent fire suppression in portable extinguishers and total-flooding systems. Limited refrigeration use.
R-236fa saturation pressure is 4.0 PSIG at 40°F, 19.9 PSIG at 70°F, and 44.5 PSIG at 100°F. These are the gauge readings on a static, fully-saturated system; a running system's high side sits well above them. The full table below runs from −40°F to 150°F in 1°F steps.
Not yet checked against an independent source.
R-236fa PT chart — printable saturation table
Looking for the R-236fa PT chart PDF for shop reference? The complete pressure-temperature saturation table is below: every 1° increment from −40°F to 150°F (or to the refrigerant's critical temperature). Use the Print / Save as PDF button in the table header to download a clean, table-only PDF (the rest of the page is hidden from the print output).
R-236fa PT Chart — Pressure-Temperature Saturation Table
Computed with CoolProp 7.2.0 in 1°F steps · hvacptcharts.com
| Temp (°F) | Pressure (PSIG) |
|---|---|
| −40°F | 25.6 in. Hg vac. |
| −39°F | 25.4 in. Hg vac. |
| −38°F | 25.3 in. Hg vac. |
| −37°F | 25.1 in. Hg vac. |
| −36°F | 25.0 in. Hg vac. |
| −35°F | 24.8 in. Hg vac. |
| −34°F | 24.6 in. Hg vac. |
| −33°F | 24.5 in. Hg vac. |
| −32°F | 24.3 in. Hg vac. |
| −31°F | 24.1 in. Hg vac. |
| −30°F | 23.9 in. Hg vac. |
| −29°F | 23.7 in. Hg vac. |
| −28°F | 23.5 in. Hg vac. |
| −27°F | 23.3 in. Hg vac. |
| −26°F | 23.1 in. Hg vac. |
| −25°F | 22.9 in. Hg vac. |
| −24°F | 22.7 in. Hg vac. |
| −23°F | 22.5 in. Hg vac. |
| −22°F | 22.2 in. Hg vac. |
| −21°F | 22.0 in. Hg vac. |
| −20°F | 21.8 in. Hg vac. |
| −19°F | 21.5 in. Hg vac. |
| −18°F | 21.3 in. Hg vac. |
| −17°F | 21.0 in. Hg vac. |
| −16°F | 20.7 in. Hg vac. |
| −15°F | 20.5 in. Hg vac. |
| −14°F | 20.2 in. Hg vac. |
| −13°F | 19.9 in. Hg vac. |
| −12°F | 19.6 in. Hg vac. |
| −11°F | 19.3 in. Hg vac. |
| −10°F | 19.0 in. Hg vac. |
| −9°F | 18.7 in. Hg vac. |
| −8°F | 18.4 in. Hg vac. |
| −7°F | 18.0 in. Hg vac. |
| −6°F | 17.7 in. Hg vac. |
| −5°F | 17.4 in. Hg vac. |
| −4°F | 17.0 in. Hg vac. |
| −3°F | 16.6 in. Hg vac. |
| −2°F | 16.3 in. Hg vac. |
| −1°F | 15.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 0°F | 15.5 in. Hg vac. |
| 1°F | 15.1 in. Hg vac. |
| 2°F | 14.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 3°F | 14.3 in. Hg vac. |
| 4°F | 13.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 5°F | 13.5 in. Hg vac. |
| 6°F | 13.0 in. Hg vac. |
| 7°F | 12.6 in. Hg vac. |
| 8°F | 12.1 in. Hg vac. |
| 9°F | 11.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 10°F | 11.2 in. Hg vac. |
| 11°F | 10.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 12°F | 10.2 in. Hg vac. |
| 13°F | 9.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 14°F | 9.2 in. Hg vac. |
| 15°F | 8.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 16°F | 8.2 in. Hg vac. |
| 17°F | 7.6 in. Hg vac. |
| 18°F | 7.1 in. Hg vac. |
| 19°F | 6.5 in. Hg vac. |
| 20°F | 5.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 21°F | 5.3 in. Hg vac. |
| 22°F | 4.7 in. Hg vac. |
| 23°F | 4.1 in. Hg vac. |
| 24°F | 3.5 in. Hg vac. |
| 25°F | 2.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 26°F | 2.2 in. Hg vac. |
| 27°F | 1.6 in. Hg vac. |
| 28°F | 0.9 in. Hg vac. |
| 29°F NBP (atmospheric) | 0.2 in. Hg vac. |
| 30°F | 0.2 |
| 31°F | 0.6 |
| 32°F H₂O freeze | 0.9 |
| 33°F | 1.3 |
| 34°F | 1.7 |
| 35°F | 2.0 |
| 36°F | 2.4 |
| 37°F | 2.8 |
| 38°F | 3.2 |
| 39°F | 3.6 |
| 40°F | 4.0 |
| 41°F | 4.4 |
| 42°F | 4.8 |
| 43°F | 5.3 |
| 44°F | 5.7 |
| 45°F | 6.1 |
| 46°F | 6.6 |
| 47°F | 7.0 |
| 48°F | 7.5 |
| 49°F | 8.0 |
| 50°F | 8.5 |
| 51°F | 9.0 |
| 52°F | 9.5 |
| 53°F | 10.0 |
| 54°F | 10.5 |
| 55°F | 11.0 |
| 56°F | 11.5 |
| 57°F | 12.1 |
| 58°F | 12.6 |
| 59°F | 13.2 |
| 60°F | 13.7 |
| 61°F | 14.3 |
| 62°F | 14.9 |
| 63°F | 15.5 |
| 64°F | 16.1 |
| 65°F | 16.7 |
| 66°F | 17.3 |
| 67°F | 17.9 |
| 68°F | 18.6 |
| 69°F | 19.2 |
| 70°F | 19.9 |
| 71°F | 20.5 |
| 72°F | 21.2 |
| 73°F | 21.9 |
| 74°F | 22.6 |
| 75°F | 23.3 |
| 76°F | 24.0 |
| 77°F | 24.7 |
| 78°F | 25.5 |
| 79°F | 26.2 |
| 80°F | 27.0 |
| 81°F | 27.8 |
| 82°F | 28.5 |
| 83°F | 29.3 |
| 84°F | 30.1 |
| 85°F | 30.9 |
| 86°F | 31.8 |
| 87°F | 32.6 |
| 88°F | 33.5 |
| 89°F | 34.3 |
| 90°F | 35.2 |
| 91°F | 36.1 |
| 92°F | 37.0 |
| 93°F | 37.9 |
| 94°F | 38.8 |
| 95°F | 39.7 |
| 96°F | 40.7 |
| 97°F | 41.6 |
| 98°F | 42.6 |
| 99°F | 43.6 |
| 100°F | 44.5 |
| 101°F | 45.6 |
| 102°F | 46.6 |
| 103°F | 47.6 |
| 104°F | 48.6 |
| 105°F | 49.7 |
| 106°F | 50.8 |
| 107°F | 51.9 |
| 108°F | 53.0 |
| 109°F | 54.1 |
| 110°F | 55.2 |
| 111°F | 56.3 |
| 112°F | 57.5 |
| 113°F | 58.7 |
| 114°F | 59.8 |
| 115°F | 61.0 |
| 116°F | 62.2 |
| 117°F | 63.5 |
| 118°F | 64.7 |
| 119°F | 66.0 |
| 120°F | 67.2 |
| 121°F | 68.5 |
| 122°F | 69.8 |
| 123°F | 71.1 |
| 124°F | 72.5 |
| 125°F | 73.8 |
| 126°F | 75.2 |
| 127°F | 76.6 |
| 128°F | 78.0 |
| 129°F | 79.4 |
| 130°F | 80.8 |
| 131°F | 82.2 |
| 132°F | 83.7 |
| 133°F | 85.2 |
| 134°F | 86.7 |
| 135°F | 88.2 |
| 136°F | 89.7 |
| 137°F | 91.2 |
| 138°F | 92.8 |
| 139°F | 94.4 |
| 140°F | 96.0 |
| 141°F | 97.6 |
| 142°F | 99.2 |
| 143°F | 100.9 |
| 144°F | 102.5 |
| 145°F | 104.2 |
| 146°F | 105.9 |
| 147°F | 107.6 |
| 148°F | 109.4 |
| 149°F | 111.1 |
| 150°F | 112.9 |
| Temp (°C) | Pressure (kPa) |
|---|---|
| −40°C | −87 |
| −39°C | −86 |
| −38°C | −85 |
| −37°C | −84 |
| −36°C | −83 |
| −35°C | −82 |
| −34°C | −80 |
| −33°C | −79 |
| −32°C | −78 |
| −31°C | −77 |
| −30°C | −75 |
| −29°C | −74 |
| −28°C | −72 |
| −27°C | −71 |
| −26°C | −69 |
| −25°C | −67 |
| −24°C | −66 |
| −23°C | −64 |
| −22°C | −62 |
| −21°C | −60 |
| −20°C | −58 |
| −19°C | −55 |
| −18°C | −53 |
| −17°C | −51 |
| −16°C | −48 |
| −15°C | −46 |
| −14°C | −43 |
| −13°C | −40 |
| −12°C | −37 |
| −11°C | −34 |
| −10°C | −31 |
| −9°C | −28 |
| −8°C | −25 |
| −7°C | −21 |
| −6°C | −18 |
| −5°C | −14 |
| −4°C | −10 |
| −3°C | −6 |
| −2°C NBP (atmospheric) | −2 |
| −1°C | 2 |
| 0°C H₂O freeze | 6 |
| 1°C | 11 |
| 2°C | 16 |
| 3°C | 20 |
| 4°C | 25 |
| 5°C | 30 |
| 6°C | 36 |
| 7°C | 41 |
| 8°C | 47 |
| 9°C | 52 |
| 10°C | 58 |
| 11°C | 65 |
| 12°C | 71 |
| 13°C | 77 |
| 14°C | 84 |
| 15°C | 91 |
| 16°C | 98 |
| 17°C | 105 |
| 18°C | 113 |
| 19°C | 120 |
| 20°C | 128 |
| 21°C | 136 |
| 22°C | 144 |
| 23°C | 153 |
| 24°C | 162 |
| 25°C | 171 |
| 26°C | 180 |
| 27°C | 189 |
| 28°C | 199 |
| 29°C | 209 |
| 30°C | 219 |
| 31°C | 229 |
| 32°C | 240 |
| 33°C | 251 |
| 34°C | 262 |
| 35°C | 274 |
| 36°C | 286 |
| 37°C | 298 |
| 38°C | 310 |
| 39°C | 322 |
| 40°C | 335 |
| 41°C | 349 |
| 42°C | 362 |
| 43°C | 376 |
| 44°C | 390 |
| 45°C | 404 |
| 46°C | 419 |
| 47°C | 434 |
| 48°C | 450 |
| 49°C | 465 |
| 50°C | 481 |
| 51°C | 498 |
| 52°C | 515 |
| 53°C | 532 |
| 54°C | 549 |
| 55°C | 567 |
| 56°C | 585 |
| 57°C | 604 |
| 58°C | 623 |
| 59°C | 642 |
| 60°C | 662 |
| 61°C | 682 |
| 62°C | 702 |
| 63°C | 723 |
| 64°C | 745 |
| 65°C | 766 |
| 66°C | 788 |
Full saturation values at 1° increments. Toggle between °F / PSIG and °C / kPa. Use Print / Save as PDF for laminated shop reference, or download the CSV / JSON below for use in other tools. R-236fa PT chart data: CoolProp 7.2.0 (published Helmholtz equations of state / mixture models — see the source citations above).
Lower toxicity (Occupational Exposure Limit ≥ 400 ppm). No flame propagation in air at standard atmospheric pressure and 60°C. R-134a, R-22, R-410A, R-404A, R-744 (CO2) are A1.
- Flammability
- None (no flame propagation)
- Toxicity
- Lower (OEL ≥ 400 ppm)
Classification per ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2022. See full reference.
Saturation pressure-temperature curve
Saturation values from CoolProp 7.2.0[3]. Operating pressure on a running system differs — see the operating-pressure references for in-use values.
At a glance
Chemistry
Lubricant compatibility
Primarily a fire suppression agent (FE-36). Limited refrigeration use due to high GWP.
Trade names
- FE-36 — Chemours (fire suppression)
Common applications
- Fire suppression (FE-36, total flooding systems)
- Specialty refrigeration
Properties
- Boiling point (1 atm)29.3°F (−1.5°C)
- Critical point256.9°F (124.9°C) at 449 PSIG
- Molar mass152.04 g/mol
- ODP0
- GWP (100-yr)9,810 AIM Act exchange value (IPCC AR4) IPCC: AR4 9,810 · AR5 8,060 · AR6 8,690
- Atmospheric lifetime242 years
- New-equipment status (US)Restricted in 41 new-equipment categories — US new-equipment rules (40 CFR 84.54).
What is R-236fa?
R-236fa is the "fa" isomer of hexafluoropropane (CF₃-CH₂-CF₃). It shares its chemical formula with R-236ea but has a fundamentally different atmospheric profile: the -CH₂- group between two -CF₃ groups makes the central C-H bonds inert to OH-radical attack, giving R-236fa a 242-year atmospheric lifetime versus R-236ea's 11 years. The result is GWP 9,810 — one of the highest among commercial HFCs, approaching PFC territory.
Despite the extreme GWP, R-236fa has a useful commercial role as a clean-agent fire suppressant (Chemours FE-36, replacing the banned Halon 1211 in portable extinguishers).
Where R-236fa is used
- Clean-agent fire suppression — Chemours FE-36 (Halon 1211 replacement, portable extinguishers, some total-flooding systems)
- Specialty refrigeration in some industrial applications
- Solvent applications in some precision-cleaning contexts
- Not used in conventional HVAC
Regulatory & phase-down status
R-236fa's GWP of 9,810 places it well within AIM Act phase-down scope. However, fire-suppression applications are regulated differently from refrigeration applications — the urgency of fire protection often justifies continued use of high-GWP agents where alternatives are not yet available or proven.
For new fire-suppression installations, lower-GWP alternatives are being developed and deployed: FK-5-1-12 (Novec 1230, a fluorinated ketone with very short atmospheric lifetime), water mist systems, inert gas systems (Inergen, Argonite). R-236fa retains use in applications where its specific properties (clean discharge, very low corrosivity, electrical non-conductivity) are difficult to replace.
Service notes
POE oil is the standard lubricant for refrigeration applications. Mineral oil is not used. Fire-suppression applications don't use lubricant — the agent is stored in pressurized cylinders without separation.
EPA Section 608 covers R-236fa for refrigeration applications. Fire-suppression handling is governed by NFPA standards (NFPA 2001 for clean-agent systems) and local fire-protection regulations. The very high GWP makes recovery especially important — venting is both regulatory non-compliance and significant climate impact per pound.
Operating cycle
Phase-down timeline
R-236fa is a regulated substance under the AIM Act. Its GWP under 40 CFR 84.64 is 9,810, at or above the limit in 41 of the categories 40 CFR 84.54 restricts (listed under “All 84.54 categories restricting R-236fa”).
HFC production & consumption allowances step down to 30% of baseline in 2029–2033, 20% of baseline in 2034–2035, and 15% of baseline in 2036 and later (42 U.S.C. 7675(e)(2)(C)).
US new-equipment rules (40 CFR 84.54)
R-236fa is a regulated substance under the AIM Act. Under 40 CFR 84.64(a) its GWP is 9,810, the AIM Act exchange value. That value is compared against each 40 CFR 84.54 subsector limit below.
All 84.54 categories restricting R-236fa (41)
| Refrigeration, air conditioning & heat pumps (34) | |||
| January 1, 2025 | Self-contained residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump products | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(1) |
| January 1, 2025 | Chillers for comfort cooling | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(10)(i) |
| January 1, 2025 | Chillers for ice rinks | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(10)(ii) |
| January 1, 2025 | Residential dehumidifiers | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(2) |
| January 1, 2025 | Household refrigerators and freezers | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(3) |
| January 1, 2025 | Retail food refrigeration — stand-alone units | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(4) |
| January 1, 2025 | Vending machines | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(5) |
| January 1, 2025 | Residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump systems (except VRF) | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(1) |
| January 1, 2025 | Chillers for comfort cooling | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(3) |
| January 1, 2025 | Ice rinks | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(4) |
| January 1, 2026 | Chillers for industrial process refrigeration, fluid exiting the chiller warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(10)(iii) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration products (non-chiller), charge 200 lb or greater, refrigerant entering the evaporator warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(12)(i) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration products (non-chiller), charge less than 200 lb, refrigerant entering the evaporator warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 300 | (a)(12)(ii) |
| January 1, 2026 | Ice makers — batch type up to 1,000 lb of ice per 24 h and continuous type up to 1,200 lb per 24 h | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(8)(i) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration systems (non-chiller), charge 200 lb or greater, evaporator inlet warmer than −22°F (−30°C), not the high-temperature side of a cascade | GWP ≥ 150 | (c)(10)(i) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration systems (non-chiller), charge less than 200 lb, evaporator inlet warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 300 | (c)(10)(ii) |
| January 1, 2026 | Industrial process refrigeration — high-temperature side of cascade systems, evaporator inlet warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 300 | (c)(10)(iii) |
| January 1, 2026 | Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) residential & light-commercial AC and heat pump systems | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(2) |
| January 1, 2026 | Chillers for industrial process refrigeration, fluid exiting the chiller warmer than −22°F (−30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(5)(i) |
| July 27, 2026 | Refrigerated transport — intermodal containers with a box temperature of −31°F (−35°C) or higher | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(6) |
| July 27, 2026 | Retail food refrigeration — remote condensing units | GWP ≥ 1,400 | (c)(11)(i) |
| July 27, 2026 | Refrigerated transport — intermodal containers with a box temperature of −31°F (−35°C) or higher | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(7) |
| July 27, 2026 | Cold storage warehouse systems | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(9)(i) |
| January 1, 2027 | Self-contained products in data center, information technology equipment facility, and computer room cooling | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(11) |
| January 1, 2027 | Refrigerated food processing and dispensing products outside the scope of UL 621, charge 500 g or less | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(9)(i) |
| January 1, 2027 | Supermarket systems | GWP ≥ 1,400 | (c)(12)(i) |
| January 1, 2027 | Data center, information technology equipment facility, and computer room cooling systems | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(13) |
| January 1, 2028 | Chillers for industrial process refrigeration, fluid exiting the chiller from −58°F to −22°F (−50°C to −30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(10)(iv) |
| January 1, 2028 | Industrial process refrigeration products (non-chiller), refrigerant entering the evaporator from −58°F to −22°F (−50°C to −30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (a)(12)(iii) |
| January 1, 2028 | Industrial process refrigeration systems (non-chiller), evaporator inlet from −58°F to −22°F (−50°C to −30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(10)(iv) |
| January 1, 2028 | Chillers for industrial process refrigeration, fluid exiting the chiller from −58°F to −22°F (−50°C to −30°C) | GWP ≥ 700 | (c)(6)(i) |
| January 1, 2032 | Retail food refrigeration — remote condensing units | GWP ≥ 150 (200 lb or greater, not the cascade high side); GWP ≥ 300 (less than 200 lb); GWP ≥ 300 (cascade high side) | (c)(11)(ii) |
| January 1, 2032 | Supermarket systems | GWP ≥ 150 (200 lb or greater, not the cascade high side); GWP ≥ 300 (less than 200 lb); GWP ≥ 300 (cascade high side) | (c)(12)(ii) |
| January 1, 2032 | Cold storage warehouse systems | GWP ≥ 150 (200 lb or greater, not the cascade high side); GWP ≥ 300 (less than 200 lb); GWP ≥ 300 (cascade high side) | (c)(9)(ii) |
| Motor vehicle air conditioning (3) | |||
| October 24, 2024 | Motor vehicle air-conditioning in Model Year 2025 and later light-duty passenger cars and trucks (gross vehicle weight rating under 8,500 lb) | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(13)(i) |
| Model Year 2028 | Motor vehicle air-conditioning in medium-duty passenger vehicles, heavy-duty pickup trucks and complete heavy-duty vans whose air-conditioning will not be modified by upfitters | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(13)(ii) |
| January 1, 2028 | Motor vehicle air-conditioning in certain nonroad vehicles (agricultural tractors over 40 horsepower; self-propelled agricultural machinery; compact equipment; construction, forestry and mining equipment; and commercial utility vehicles) | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(13)(iii) |
| Foam blowing agents (2) | |||
| January 1, 2025 | Foam products: rigid polyurethane appliance foam, commercial refrigeration foam, laminated boardstock, marine flotation foam, sandwich panels, slabstock; flexible polyurethane; integral skin polyurethane; polystyrene (extruded boardstock, billet, extruded sheet); phenolic insulation board and bunstock; polyisocyanurate laminated boardstock; polyolefin; rigid polyurethane spray foam | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(14) |
| January 1, 2026 | Foam products in the (a)(14) formulations for use in space and military applications | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(15) |
| Aerosol propellants / solvents (2) | |||
| January 1, 2025 | Aerosol products | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(16)(i) |
| January 1, 2028 | Aerosol products (all, except defense sprays as defined in 84.3) | GWP ≥ 150 | (a)(16)(ii) |
Servicing. 40 CFR 84.54 restricts new manufacture/import, later sale/distribution, and installation. "Installation" is defined in 84.54(e); repairing or servicing existing R-236fa equipment is not an installation unless it meets 84.54(e), so existing systems can keep being serviced. From January 1, 2029, servicing or repairing R-236fa equipment in supermarket systems, refrigerated transport or automatic commercial ice makers must be done with reclaimed refrigerant[2].
Source: 40 CFR 84.54, current through 91 FR 31329 (May 26, 2026). Installation defined at 40 CFR 84.54(e).
Global warming potential, in context
Frequently asked
›Why is R-236fa's GWP so much higher than R-236ea's despite the same chemical formula?
Atmospheric lifetime difference. R-236fa is 242 years; R-236ea is 11 years. The structural difference — R-236fa has a -CH₂- group between two -CF₃ groups — makes its C-H bonds essentially inert to atmospheric OH-radical attack, which is the primary removal mechanism for HFCs. R-236ea has C-H bonds adjacent to less-fluorinated carbon environments, allowing normal OH-radical attack and removal within a decade. The 22× longer lifetime of R-236fa drives its 7× higher GWP (9,810 vs 1,370).
›What is FE-36?
FE-36 is the trade name for R-236fa used as a clean-agent fire suppressant by Chemours. It was developed in the 1990s as a Halon 1211 replacement for portable fire extinguishers and some total-flooding fire suppression systems. Halon 1211 had been banned for production due to extreme ozone-depletion (ODP 3); R-236fa had zero ODP and met the suppression efficacy requirements. The high GWP was an accepted trade-off given the suppression-quality and the relatively small total annual emissions from fire-suppression applications.
›Is R-236fa used in HVAC equipment?
Rarely. Some specialty refrigeration applications use R-236fa, primarily where its A1 safety class, chemical stability, and specific boiling point (+29°F) are needed. The very high GWP makes it a poor choice for any new HVAC application where alternatives exist. R-134a (GWP 1,430) is roughly 7× lower GWP and serves similar pressure envelopes for chiller and refrigeration use.
›What's the GWP and atmospheric lifetime of R-236fa?
GWP 9,810; atmospheric lifetime 242 years. This combination places R-236fa among the highest-impact commercial HFCs. The IPCC AR6 figures are slightly different but in the same range. For comparison: R-410A is GWP 2,088; R-404A is 3,922; R-13 (CFC) is 14,400; R-218 (PFC) is 8,830.
›What's replacing FE-36 in fire suppression?
For new fire-suppression installations: FK-5-1-12 (Novec 1230, a fluorinated ketone with 5-day atmospheric lifetime and GWP <1) is the primary modern alternative; water mist systems for some applications; inert gas systems (Inergen, Argonite, Nitrogen) for total-flooding applications where the displacement-based suppression mechanism is acceptable. FM-200 (HFC-227ea, R-227ea, GWP 3,220) remains in use but faces similar AIM Act pressure to FE-36. The transition is gradual; FE-36 remains in use in portable extinguishers where its specific properties make alternatives more difficult.
Sources & citations
- [1]2017 Guideline for Assignment of Refrigerant Container Colors (AHRI Guideline N-2017). AHRI. 2017. https://www.ahrinet.org/system/files/2023-06/AHRI_Guideline_N_2017.pdf (accessed October 2, 2026)
- [2]40 CFR 84.112 — Reclamation. eCFR (Office of the Federal Register). up to date as of 9/25/2026. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-84/subpart-C/section-84.112 (accessed October 2, 2026). 89 FR 82859, Oct. 11, 2024
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