This is shaping up to be a pivotal year in terms of refrigerant regulations, and keeping up with the developments will be crucial for HVACR contractors.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) finalized regulations to phase out the use of HFCs and reduce methane emissions.

The House and Senate included the AIM Act’s language in the COVID relief legislation passed by Congress on Dec. 21.

On Dec. 10, California adopted regulations to phase down the use of HFC refrigerants in commercial and industrial stationary refrigeration units.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced that new regulations have been finalized to significantly reduce the use of HFCs in New York State.

R-32 is an attractive alternative to R-410A because it offers an excellent balance of cost, performance, and low environmental impact, said Scot Swan.

The federal HFC phasedown proposal is taking a multi-phase, written path through the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Since many low-GWP refrigerants are flammable, changes must be made to building codes and standards before they will be acceptable in HVACR equipment.

The refrigeration industry can and should continue to challenge itself to focus on what we know are important factors.

In 2019, commercial refrigeration contractors had more than enough work to keep them busy until the end of the year and beyond.