Takeaways: The EPA’s final refrigerant management rule

The EPA last week published its long-awaited final refrigerant management rule, including three “victories” for contractors, ACCA notes. 

• Catch up

What’s happening: The rule excluded a previous mandate to use reclaimed HFCs for initial equipment charges starting January 1, 2028.  

• “ACCA argued that this would place undue burdens on contractors due to potential limitations in reclaimed refrigerant availability… The EPA listened, and the final rule does not require reclaimed HFCs for initial charges.” 

Next up: The EPA proposed that starting January 1, 2025, all disposable cylinders be returned to “certified reclaimers” for processing.

• Yes, but: “Under the final rule, certified technicians can now evacuate disposable cylinders themselves, and then dispose of the cylinders to a final processor (such as a landfill operator or scrap metal recycler) without needing to return them to certified reclaimers.”

Lastly: The EPA reversed course on a QR code tracking system for all refrigerant cylinders.

• “The final rule does not include [a QR code tracking system], meaning contractors will avoid cumbersome and invasive reporting requirements that would have added time and cost to daily operations.” 

Looking ahead: Technician training and certification details weren’t included, however, “We will continue fighting for these reforms in the months ahead,” ACCA says. 

• “We remain committed to common sense training and certification requirements for technicians servicing equipment using [A2L] refrigerants, as well as modernization of the section 608 certification program.”