New York urged to update A2L refrigerant safety laws
1st October 2026
USA: HVACR groups are urging the New York City Department of Buildings to update its A2L refrigerant safety requirements in line with current standards.
US contractor group HARDI and the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) submitted joint comments urging the New York City Department of Buildings to amend several provisions of its Local Law 77 rule governing A2L refrigerants.
The Local Law 77, implemented earlier this year, bases its local safety and ventilation controls for A2L refrigerants in new systems on ASHRAE’s outdated 2022 standards 15, 15.2, and 34.
HARDI and the AHRI argue that New York City’s rule adds local restrictions that, as well as departing from current national standards, could make otherwise viable HVACR systems more difficult and expensive to install.
They have asked the department to align its rule with the latest 2024 editions, including applicable addenda published through June 2026.
The newer standards incorporate updated safety data, technical corrections, and requirements that are more closely aligned with national model codes. Using them would give manufacturers, distributors, engineers, and contractors a clearer and more consistent compliance framework.
The comments specifically target current provisions in the New York City law of a “pipe-in-pipe” requirement, which they say could add significant material, labour, design, and construction costs. Also, it includes restrictions on refrigerant piping in public corridors that go beyond current national standards and its modified definition of “air circulation” could unnecessarily limit common system designs.
