Does your facility have cooling units or refrigeration equipment containing Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC)? Unless these units were relatively large (with a charge greater than 50 pounds), they were likely not regulated by the EPA. Until NOW……….
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Leak Repair and Management Rule (HFC Management Rule) took effect on January 1, 2026. This rule NOW imposes mandatory leak detection and repair requirements on cooling equipment with a charge of ONLY 15 pounds or more. This new rule is expected to capture many facilities that were previously exempt, including units containing HFCs and HFC substitutes having a GWP (Global Warming Potential) above 53 – which includes nearly all commonly used refrigerants.
Additional information regarding this rule can be found on USEPA’s fact sheet:
Final Rule – Management of Certain HFCs and Substitutes under Subsection (h) of the AIM Act