R-236fa
Pure HFC, 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (CF₃CH₂CF₃). Branded as Chemours FE-36. ASHRAE A1 non-flammable. GWP 9810 — 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.
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 R236FA. Operating pressure on a running system differs — see the operating-pressure references for in-use values.
R-236fa PT chart PDF — 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). Important service temperatures (normal boiling point, freezing point of water, residential AC evap and condenser targets) are tinted and tagged in the table for at-a-glance shop reference.
R-236fa PT Chart — Pressure-Temperature Saturation Table
1° increments · Source: CoolProp 7.2.0 / manufacturer datasheet · hvacptcharts.com
| Temp (°F) | Pressure (PSIG) |
|---|---|
| -40°F | -12.6 |
| -39°F | -12.5 |
| -38°F | -12.4 |
| -37°F | -12.3 |
| -36°F | -12.3 |
| -35°F | -12.2 |
| -34°F | -12.1 |
| -33°F | -12.0 |
| -32°F | -11.9 |
| -31°F | -11.8 |
| -30°F | -11.8 |
| -29°F | -11.7 |
| -28°F | -11.6 |
| -27°F | -11.5 |
| -26°F | -11.4 |
| -25°F | -11.3 |
| -24°F | -11.1 |
| -23°F | -11.0 |
| -22°F | -10.9 |
| -21°F | -10.8 |
| -20°F | -10.7 |
| -19°F | -10.6 |
| -18°F | -10.4 |
| -17°F | -10.3 |
| -16°F | -10.2 |
| -15°F | -10.1 |
| -14°F | -9.9 |
| -13°F | -9.8 |
| -12°F | -9.6 |
| -11°F | -9.5 |
| -10°F | -9.3 |
| -9°F | -9.2 |
| -8°F | -9.0 |
| -7°F | -8.9 |
| -6°F | -8.7 |
| -5°F | -8.5 |
| -4°F | -8.3 |
| -3°F | -8.2 |
| -2°F | -8.0 |
| -1°F | -7.8 |
| 0°F | -7.6 |
| 1°F | -7.4 |
| 2°F | -7.2 |
| 3°F | -7.0 |
| 4°F | -6.8 |
| 5°F | -6.6 |
| 6°F | -6.4 |
| 7°F | -6.2 |
| 8°F | -6.0 |
| 9°F | -5.7 |
| 10°F | -5.5 |
| 11°F | -5.3 |
| 12°F | -5.0 |
| 13°F | -4.8 |
| 14°F | -4.5 |
| 15°F | -4.3 |
| 16°F | -4.0 |
| 17°F | -3.7 |
| 18°F | -3.5 |
| 19°F | -3.2 |
| 20°F | -2.9 |
| 21°F | -2.6 |
| 22°F | -2.3 |
| 23°F | -2.0 |
| 24°F | -1.7 |
| 25°F | -1.4 |
| 26°F | -1.1 |
| 27°F | -0.8 |
| 28°F | -0.4 |
| 29°F | -0.1 |
| 30°FNBP (atmospheric) | 0.2 |
| 31°F | 0.6 |
| 32°FH₂O 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 | 24.8 |
| 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 | 40.6 |
| 97°F | 41.6 |
| 98°F | 42.6 |
| 99°F | 43.5 |
| 100°F | 44.5 |
| 101°F | 45.5 |
| 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 | 58.6 |
| 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 | -81 |
| -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 | -2 |
| -1°CNBP (atmospheric) | 2 |
| 0°CH₂O 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 | 112 |
| 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 | 323 |
| 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 | 744 |
| 65°C | 766 |
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 (REFPROP-compatible Helmholtz EOS) or manufacturer datasheet, validated against AHRI Standard 700-2019.
At a glance
Chemistry
Lubricant compatibility
Primarily a fire suppression agent (FE-36). Limited refrigeration use due to high GWP.
Trade names
- FE-36Chemours (fire suppression)
Common applications
- Fire suppression (FE-36, total flooding systems)
- Specialty refrigeration
Properties
- Boiling point (1 atm)-1.5°C / 29.3°F
- Critical point256.9°F at 449 PSIG
- Molar mass152.04 g/mol
- Temperature glideNegligible (0.00°F)
- ODP0
- GWP (AR5, 100-yr)9810
- GWP (AR6, 100-yr)8060
- Atmospheric lifetime242 years
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). Fire-suppression applications typically have tightly-managed total emissions (charges are designed to remain in the protected space, not vent to atmosphere) — the per-discharge climate impact is significant but production volumes are moderate compared to high-volume refrigerants.
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 EPA 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
No phase-down milestones documented for R-236fa in this build. This may mean: (a) no regulatory phase-down currently published; (b) the refrigerant has local regulatory schedules not yet transcribed into the site dataset; or (c) it is a specialty refrigerant outside the main regulatory frameworks. For authoritative current status, consult the EPA AIM Act allocations (40 CFR Part 84), EU F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 + 2024/573, and the relevant national implementations of the Kigali Amendment.
Global warming potential, in context
No peer-comparison group is defined for R-236fa. Its 100-year GWP per IPCC AR5 is 9810 — above the EPA AIM Act 700 GWP cap and well above the EU F-Gas 150 cap.
Peer-comparison groups are defined for refrigerants that compete in the same application sector (residential AC, commercial MT/LT, chillers, mobile AC). Specialty or research-grade refrigerants without a clear peer set don't appear in any group; their GWP is shown above in absolute terms instead.
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 1430) 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 per IPCC AR5; 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 1,924; 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 retains market share in portable extinguishers where the specific properties make alternatives more difficult.