R1270 RefrigerantPropylene / propene · Natural hydrocarbon · Industrial MT/LT refrigeration
R1270 is refrigerant-grade propylene (propene), an unsaturated hydrocarbon used in selected industrial and commercial refrigeration systems. It combines zero ozone-depletion potential and extremely low direct GWP with high volumetric refrigeration capacity, but its A3 higher-flammability classification makes equipment design, ATEX / hazardous-area considerations, charge control, ventilation and hydrocarbon-specific service practice essential.
What is R1270 refrigerant?
R1270 is the refrigerant designation for propylene (propene), chemical formula C₃H₆. It is a pure hydrocarbon refrigerant with no temperature glide. It is thermodynamically related to R290 propane but is not the same molecule, and its pressure/capacity behavior differs. In the United States, EPA SNAP accepts R1270 in industrial process refrigeration, while several other end uses—including residential/light-commercial AC, positive-displacement chillers and cold-storage warehouses—list it as unacceptable.
R1270 refrigerant properties
Use these values for research and screening. For equipment design, charging and compliance, use the exact supplier PT data, SDS, OEM documentation and regulation that governs the project.
| Property | Reference | Engineering / source note |
|---|---|---|
| Designation | R1270 | ASHRAE / ISO refrigerant designation |
| Chemical name | Propylene / propene | Unsaturated hydrocarbon |
| Formula | C₃H₆ | NIST Chemistry WebBook |
| CAS number | 115-07-1 | NIST Chemistry WebBook |
| Molecular weight | 42.0797 g/mol | NIST Chemistry WebBook |
| Normal boiling point | ≈225.5 K (≈ −47.7°C) | NIST phase-change data |
| Critical temperature | ≈365.2 K (≈91.9°C) | NIST average critical data |
| Critical pressure | ≈46.0 bar | NIST critical data |
| ODP | 0 | No ozone depletion |
| 100-year GWP | 1.8 | EPA Technology Transitions / IPCC 2007 |
| Safety classification | A3 | Higher flammability |
| Temperature glide | None | Pure compound |
EPA Technology Transitions uses the values shown on this page. Older product literature may use IPCC AR4/AR5 or another assessment, so a different number is not automatically an error.
Where is R1270 used?
Applications must be evaluated by system type, charge, compressor, heat exchanger, safety class and current regulation. The examples below describe recognized use contexts, not automatic approval for every installation.
Industrial process refrigeration
EPA SNAP lists R1270 as acceptable for new and retrofit industrial-process refrigeration.
Medium- and low-temperature storage
BITZER offers R1270-compatible hydrocarbon screw-compressor platforms for MT/LT storage.
Blast chillers & freezers
Industrial hydrocarbon systems can use R1270 where the machinery and hazardous-area design are appropriate.
Process chillers
Food, chemical, pharmaceutical and industrial process cooling are established equipment targets.
Heat recovery / industrial heat-pump concepts
Hydrocarbon compressor platforms can integrate refrigeration and heat-recovery duties.
Not universal HVAC
EPA lists R1270 as unacceptable in several U.S. AC/chiller/cold-storage end uses, so industrial acceptance must not be generalized.
Continue through the Refrigerant Replacements and Low-GWP Refrigerants hubs for broader selection context.
R1270 propylene vs R290 propane: similar names, different molecules
R1270 is propylene (propene), C₃H₆, while R290 is propane, C₃H₈. Propylene contains a carbon-carbon double bond; propane is a saturated hydrocarbon.
R1270 has a lower normal boiling point, about −47.7°C versus roughly −42°C for R290, and different pressure, density and volumetric-capacity behavior. Those differences can make R1270 attractive in low-temperature industrial duty.
Both are A3 hydrocarbons, but equipment qualification must reference the exact refrigerant. A compressor or valve approved for R290 is not automatically approved for R1270.
Why R1270 can be attractive in medium- and low-temperature industrial refrigeration
R1270 combines very low GWP with strong volumetric refrigeration capacity. Industrial compressor manufacturers such as BITZER publish R290/R1270 hydrocarbon product families for MT/LT storage, blast chillers/freezers and process chillers.
Industrial plants can often control A3 risk more systematically than occupied comfort-cooling equipment through dedicated machinery spaces, ventilation, gas detection, hazardous-area classification and trained operating procedures.
This helps explain why R1270 has a continuing niche in industrial refrigeration even though its U.S. SNAP status is unfavorable in several more occupied or mass-market end uses.
A3 flammability: LFL, detector setpoints and hazardous-area design
Danfoss' refrigerant application guidance lists R1270 as A3 and gives a lower flammability limit around 0.046 kg/m³, with alarm guidance derived from the applicable refrigerant safety standards.
Detector setpoints should come from the governing standard, product certification and risk assessment rather than a generic percentage copied from another hydrocarbon.
Equipment-room ventilation, electrical ignition sources, compressor motor design, relief discharge, leak detection and ATEX / hazardous-area zoning can all become part of the industrial R1270 safety strategy.
Why EPA accepts R1270 in one end use and prohibits it in others
EPA SNAP evaluates substitutes by end use rather than declaring a refrigerant globally 'approved' or 'banned.' The same physical refrigerant can therefore receive different decisions depending on charge, occupancy, leak scenario and available alternatives.
EPA currently lists R1270 as acceptable in industrial process refrigeration. In contrast, EPA tables list it as unacceptable in positive-displacement chillers, centrifugal chillers, residential/light-commercial AC and heat pumps, and cold-storage warehouses under the cited SNAP decisions.
This is an important compliance lesson: a low GWP of 1.8 does not override application-specific flammability risk decisions.
R1270 vs R290
The table highlights engineering differences rather than implying direct interchangeability.
| Characteristic | R1270 | R290 |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical | Propylene / propene, C₃H₆ | Propane, C₃H₈ |
| EPA GWP reference | 1.8 | ≈3 |
| Safety class | A3 | A3 |
| Normal boiling point | ≈ −47.7°C | ≈ −42.1°C |
| Molecular weight | 42.08 g/mol | 44.10 g/mol |
| Typical niche | Industrial MT/LT refrigeration | Broader commercial, appliance & heat-pump use |
| U.S. SNAP applicability | Highly end-use specific | Also end-use specific, but broader accepted uses |
R1270 safety: extremely low GWP does not reduce A3 ignition risk
R1270 is A3. The primary acute safety concern is formation of a flammable mixture after a leak. Safe use depends on limiting credible refrigerant concentration, controlling ignition sources, providing ventilation, using suitable pressure-relief routing and selecting equipment certified for hydrocarbon refrigerants.
Higher flammability
Propylene can form ignitable mixtures at relatively low volume concentrations.
Industrial zoning
Electrical and mechanical equipment may need hazardous-area / ATEX consideration depending on the installation.
Cold release
Liquid refrigerant can cause frostbite and produce a dense cold vapor cloud before warming.
Actual risk depends on charge, release rate, pressure, room volume, ventilation, ignition sources, equipment construction, alarm logic and service condition.
See the Refrigerant Safety Guide for classification context.
R1270 refrigerant leak detection
Validate detector response to the finished blend
Use combustible-gas detection explicitly validated for propylene / R1270. Catalytic bead, infrared hydrocarbon and semiconductor technologies can all be relevant depending on concentration range and environment. Detector placement should follow credible leak points, airflow and release behavior rather than relying only on vapor density. A service sniffer and a fixed A3 mitigation monitor serve different functions.
Portable service leak detectors, fixed area monitors, A2L mitigation sensors and refrigerant identifiers perform different functions. Define the alarm action and concentration range before selecting the technology.
Regulatory position of R1270 in 2026
United States
EPA Technology Transitions lists R1270 at GWP 1.8. EPA SNAP lists R1270 as acceptable in industrial process refrigeration, including new and retrofit uses. However, current EPA tables also list R1270 as unacceptable in multiple other refrigeration/AC end uses, including residential/light-commercial AC and heat pumps, positive-displacement chillers, centrifugal chillers and cold-storage warehouses. Compliance must therefore be checked by exact end use.
European Union
R1270 is a natural hydrocarbon and is not subject to the HFC quota phasedown. European use is driven mainly by flammable-refrigerant safety standards, EN 378 / ISO 5149 principles, pressure equipment requirements, machinery rules and ATEX / hazardous-area obligations where applicable.
Is R1270 being phased out?
R1270 is not being phased out for climate reasons. Its future depends on whether the application can safely and economically support A3 refrigerant. Industrial refrigeration remains the strongest niche because dedicated machinery design can manage the flammability risk.
U.S. refrigeration limits differ by cold storage, supermarket, remote condensing, stand-alone product, industrial process and chiller category. A refrigerant may fit one pathway and fail another.
Use the Refrigerant Regulations Hub for regional research.
What should be compared with R1270?
Compare the real equipment pathway: retrofit vs new system, A1 vs A2L capability, GWP threshold, glide, compressor envelope, energy efficiency and service ecosystem.
Practical misconceptions about R1270
“R1270 is just another name for propane.”
R1270 is propylene/propene; propane is R290.
“GWP 1.8 means EPA accepts it everywhere.”
EPA decisions are end-use specific; several U.S. AC/chiller/cold-storage categories list R1270 as unacceptable.
“All hydrocarbon detectors respond identically to propylene.”
Sensor calibration and cross-sensitivity vary; validate the instrument for R1270.
“A3 means R1270 cannot be used industrially.”
Industrial process refrigeration is an accepted U.S. SNAP end use, and dedicated hydrocarbon industrial equipment exists.
R1270 refrigerant FAQ
Concise answers to common composition, retrofit, glide, safety and regulation questions.
What is R1270 refrigerant?
What is the GWP of R1270?
Is R1270 flammable?
Is R1270 the same as R290?
What is the boiling point of R1270?
Where is R1270 used?
Is R1270 accepted by EPA SNAP?
Does R1270 have temperature glide?
How is an R1270 leak detected?
Is R1270 being phased out?
R1270 sources and further reading
This profile uses current EPA regulatory references plus refrigerant supplier, NIST, scientific and GasNose resources. Re-check the latest edition before design or compliance decisions.
Working with R1270 or planning a refrigerant transition?
Compare GWP, safety class, temperature glide, equipment compatibility and regulatory lifetime before selecting a refrigerant.
Technical Notice: This page is for refrigerant research and general technical reference. Refrigerant suitability, permitted charge, equipment approval, leak mitigation, servicing procedures and regulatory compliance depend on the exact equipment, installation and jurisdiction. Always verify current manufacturer documentation, SDS, applicable standards and local regulations before selecting, replacing, charging or servicing a refrigerant.