US contractors challenge EPA’s HFC ruling
25th June 2026
USA: HVAC contractor organisations have challenged the US EPA’s technology transitions reconsideration rule, claiming that it’s legally flawed, economically reckless, and directly at odds with the AIM Act.
The Heating, Air conditioning, & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors – National Association (PHCC), and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) claim that the amended provisions increase demand for HFC refrigerants in the supermarket, retail food, and cold storage sectors as the supply is being reduced by law, violating the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act and threatening to destabilize the refrigerant market.
The action, announced by US Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lee Zeldin last month, rolls back the maximum 150 GWP limit for refrigerant in retail refrigeration equipment, which was due to be introduced on January 1 2027, to 2032.
The joint petitioners say they strongly oppose the decision to extend deadlines for major commercial refrigeration applications, thereby allowing the continued manufacture of new systems using high GWP refrigerants. With the AIM Act still requiring a statutory phase down of HFC supply across US, available quantities will continue to decline, while the final rule increases demand for refrigerants.
By allowing extended use of legacy HFCs in retail food refrigeration and cold storage, the final rule reduces the availability of refrigerants for other sectors, such as residential air conditioning, the group argue.
Talbot Gee, CEO of HARDI, claims that the EPA has ignored industry data and over a decade of industry work to prepare for this transition, in violation of the AIM Act’s requirements.
“Allowing legacy refrigerants to be used longer in new commercial refrigeration systems creates confusion for the contractors who install and service this equipment and hurts consumers,” claimed PHCC CEO Cindy Sheridan.
“The EPA’s own analysis projects a 12 to 24% increase in US refrigerant prices by 2029 as a result of these delays, since the AIM Act will continue reducing the supply of these older refrigerants to support the domestic production of next-generation refrigerants,” she added.
“While ACCA appreciates EPA eliminating the install deadline for R410A split-system equipment, the rule’s delayed refrigeration transition will significantly increase the demand for the limited supply of HFC refrigerants and will drive up costs for contractors and their customers,” said Martin Hoover, Interim President and CEO of ACCA.
“This change will also increase pressure for a rushed transition to highly flammable A3 refrigerants and encourage a patchwork of state regulations,” he added.
The joint petitioners support EPA’s decision to provide relief from the installation prohibition for existing split-system residential and light commercial air conditioners and heat pumps, a policy the organisations have long advocated for to prevent stranded inventory and avoid disruption for distributors, contractors, builders, and consumers.
The joint petitioners believe the final rule’s rationale rests on the false premise that the original technology transitions rule had already increased grocery consumers’ costs. They argue that commercial refrigeration restrictions at issue had not yet taken effect when EPA proposed the reconsideration rule and could not have been responsible for higher grocery prices.
The trade associations emphasised that the original technology transitions rule applied to new equipment and did not require grocery stores, cold storage operators, or other businesses to replace existing systems. Existing equipment could continue to be used and serviced.
Related stories:
US EPA condemned for “reckless” act – 21 May 2026
USA: HVACR equipment manufacturers and environmental groups have both condemned today’s announcement by the US EPA to roll-back refrigerant transition deadlines on supermarket refrigeration equipment. Read more…
States oppose proposals to weaken AIM Act – 26 November 2025
USA: A multi-state coalition of 19 attorney generals are amongst those supporting a comment letter opposing the US EPA’s proposals to weaken rules to phase down the use of HFCs. Read more…
