Industry pushes to block state-specific refrigerant rules

The EPA has proposed eliminating the December 31, 2025, deadline for installing certain residential and light commercial R-410A systems, which would allow such systems to be installed indefinitely. 

This would prevent one problem — the industry being stuck with stranded inventory — but another remains: States moving ahead with their own, differing refrigerant timelines.  

What’s happening: ACCA has warned that a patchwork of state-specific rules will be problematic for contractors, and is calling on the federal government to preempt states from setting such deadlines. 

Catch up quick: Sean Robertson, ACCA’s Vice President of Membership, Advocacy, and Events, on a call with Homepros outlined some items of concern: 

• New York has adopted elements of federal regulations into its own, which means that even if the EPA drops the end-of-year install deadline, it will stand in the state. 
• New York rules furthermore prohibit the installation of certain residential and light commercial systems using R-32 and R-454B as of January 1, 2034 — effectively outlawing all equipment on the market today. 
• Meanwhile, California has banned the sale of virgin R-410A as of January 1, 2030, and, along with Washington State, has empowered regulators to explore further transition to climate-friendly refrigerants. 

What they’re saying: “Clean Heat Coalitions,” active in about a dozen states, could advocate for further regulation at the state level, Robertson said. “There are some things that they support that we support, but we are concerned with the pace at which they’re trying to advance some of these policies.” 

Go deeper: “Our [contractor] members tend to be more established companies that are going to follow the rules, and they’re going to be competing against people that don’t follow the rules,” Robertson noted. 

• “So, for example, New York contractors that as of December 31 will have somewhat different rules could see their competitors going across the river to buy equipment,” he added.  

Zoom out: The longer-term concern is that state rules effectively mandate a transition to ‘A3’ refrigerants, according to ACCA. 

• “A3 refrigerants pose materially different installation, ventilation, and ignition-risk challenges than A2Ls, and the rapid transition schedules under consideration in some states would force contractors to navigate incompatible codes, unavailable equipment, and unclear liability exposure,” the association wrote.  

What we’re watching: The EPA on Wednesday, December 17, will host a webinar on its proposed rule change. In formal comments, ACCA has asked that the agency “use whatever authority it possesses… to discourage a patchwork of state refrigerant regulations.” 

Of note: Meanwhile, both AHRI and HARDI have a lawsuit pending in New York State seeking to overturn some of its refrigerant regulations.