Stakeholders urge Washington to open optional pathway for propane (R290) heat-pump equipment; manufacturers and safety groups debate trade-offs

A broad coalition of manufacturers, energy‑efficiency researchers and environmental groups told the Washington State Building Code Council on June 12 that the council should adopt limited, optional pathways to allow certain factory‑built outdoor heat pumps and refrigeration equipment to qualify via IEC certification or NIA/qualified‑product listings rather than strictly by UL or CSA product listings.

Proponents said the change would unlock access to efficient, ultra‑low‑global‑warming‑potential refrigerants such as propane (R290), which have been widely deployed in Europe and Asia; they described the proposals as narrow, optional compliance paths designed to allow pilot projects and field testing without changing U.S. national standards. "These amendments are narrow, optional, and grounded in standards already in our reference documents," said Scott Spielman of Ecotope, urging approval of proposals GP1‑112 and GP1‑113. Jonathan Heller, Ecotope's president, said Washington should not "wait idle" for national bodies to update UL standards and argued that state action could create local field data to spur national adoption.

Industry proponents gave technical examples of where R290 could reduce retrofit costs: Dylan Spencer, a manufacturer representative, said higher system temperatures from R290 would let owners replace gas‑fired hydronic systems without extensive retrofits. Robert Benjamin of Aris Hydronics described monoblock, outdoor, air‑to‑water systems that keep refrigerant factory‑charged outside occupied spaces as an established, low‑risk product class.

Not all witnesses supported the approach. Roxanne Scott of Copeland urged caution, arguing that allowing IEC or CE certification in place of UL/CSA listings risks misalignment with federal EPA SNAP conditions and established U.S. safety‑certification frameworks. "These alternative pathways do not necessarily demonstrate compliance with mandatory U.S. requirements under EPA SNAP or nationally recognized product safety certification standards such as UL listings," she said, warning of regulatory inconsistency and liability risks.

Daikin's regulatory affairs director, Robert Glass, recommended explicit, limited references to which products an IEC exception would apply and urged the council to ensure edition consistency for standards (ASHRAE, IEC, CSA/UL) across codes to avoid confusion. The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) — represented by Eric Smith — supported limited exceptions for low‑probability or machinery‑room installations but opposed changes that would unduly constrain outdoor low‑probability charge quantities.

Environmental and policy groups also weighed in. Christopher Douglas of the Environmental Investigation Agency argued that NIA qualified‑product listings or IEC certification meet "nationally recognized standards that protect building occupant safety and fire risks," and cited Washington statute allowing adoption of lower‑GWP substitutes in accordance with nationally recognized standards.

The council's staff and several testifiers emphasized that the proposals are optional and not mandates. Multiple witnesses urged the SBCC to coordinate implementation details — technician training, shipping and installation practices, and local enforcement — before broad adoption. Helen Walter Terranoni of Trane Technologies recommended a task force to ensure transition issues (training, shipping, facility design) are addressed.

Next steps: The SBCC will accept written comments through 11:59 p.m. on the day of the hearing; staff said written testimony will be posted and summarized for council workshops the following week and that the council will make a final decision on rules on Aug. 28, 2026.

The hearing record includes extensive written comments and suggested editorial corrections; no formal vote was taken at the June 12 hearing.