Hello HVAC,

On September 20, 2024, EPA Administrator, Michael S. Regan, signed the final rule Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Management of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons and Substitutes under of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, was signed.

This final rule establishes an Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R) Program for the management of certain HFCs and their substitutes that includes requirements for:

• Leak rates for, and repair of, systems containing a full charge of 15 pounds or more of an HFC, or a substitute for an HFC, with a GWP greater than 53, excluding residential and light commercial AC and heat pump systems. The new leak rates, which will take effect on 1/1/2026 are: Industrial Process Refrigeration (IPR): 30%, Commercial Refrigeration: 20%, Comfort Cooling, Refrigerated Transport, and other appliances not specifically listed: 10%
• Use of automatic leak detection (ALD) systems for appliances containing an HFC, or a substitute for an HFC, with a GWP greater than 53, with a charge of 1,500 pounds or more.
• Reclaimed HFC refrigerants. Starting 1/1/2026, reclaimed HFC refrigerants can contain no more than 15%, by weight, virgin HFC refrigerant. Starting 1/1/2029, technicians servicing HFC-charged supermarket systems, refrigerated transport systems, and automatic commercial ice makers must use reclaimed refrigerant.
• Recovery of HFCs from disposable cylinders prior to disposal. Starting 1/1/2028, technicians must send certain disposable cylinders to a section 608-certified reclaimer, a fire suppressant recycler, a final processor, or a refrigerant supplier for its remaining contents to be removed. Alternative compliance method: A section 608-certified technician must evacuate a disposable cylinder to a vacuum level of 15 in Hg and provide a certification statement to the final processor.
• Recordkeeping, reporting, and labeling.

A pre-publication version of the rule is available at epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction. Additional information about the rule and EPA’s efforts to protect our climate by reducing the use of HFCs can be found at epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction.

Of course, as the EPA provides additional updates, ESCO will be among the first to bring this important information to you. Be sure to visit us at escogroup.org and follow us on social media to ensure you get the most up-to-date information.