Category | Resource | Key info (short) |
|---|---|---|
Federal Regulations & Programs | EPA – Stationary Refrigeration & Section 608 | Overview of Section 608 (National Recycling & Emission Reduction Program) prohibiting intentional venting of ozone‑depleting substances (ODS) and HFC substitutes. |
EPA – Leak Repair Requirements https://www.epa.gov/section608/stationary-refrigeration-leak-repair-requirements | Details leak‑repair trigger rates and corrective‑action deadlines for commercial refrigeration (30 % leak‑rate trigger for industrial process refrigeration; 20 % for commercial refrigeration). | |
EPA – Service Practice Requirements https://www.epa.gov/section608/stationary-refrigeration-service-practice-requirements | Explains evacuation and recovery requirements for technicians, including vacuum levels and small‑appliance recovery standards. | |
EPA – Recordkeeping & Reporting https://www.epa.gov/section608/recordkeeping-and-reporting-requirements-stationary-refrigeration | Describes recordkeeping requirements for technicians and owners; owners must report any appliance (≥50 lbs) that leaks 125 % or more of its full charge in a year. | |
EPA – Prohibition on Venting https://www.epa.gov/section608/stationary-refrigeration-prohibition-venting-refrigerants | Clarifies that venting ODS refrigerants or their substitutes is prohibited; only de minimis releases during good‑faith recovery or during normal equipment operation are allowed. | |
EPA – SNAP Program | Overview of the Significant New Alternatives Policy; the program evaluates substitutes for ODS and HFCs to ensure safer alternatives. | |
EPA – Substitutes in Refrigeration https://www.epa.gov/snap/substitutes-refrigeration-and-air-conditioning | Explains that SNAP listings help refrigeration sectors move away from high‑GWP HFCs and notes that acceptable substitutes may be restricted under the Technology Transitions Program. | |
EPA – Technology Transitions Program https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/technology-transitions-program | General page explaining that, beginning 1 Jan 2025, high‑GWP HFCs are restricted in certain products and systems; restrictions apply to manufacture, sale, installation, import and export. | |
EPA – HFC Restrictions by Sector https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/technology-transitions-hfc-restrictions-sector | Tables listing GWP limits and compliance dates for aerosols, foams, self‑contained refrigeration and heat pumps; emphasises that many products must meet ≤150 or ≤700 GWP limits from 2025 onward. | |
EPA – Technology‑Transition Regulatory Actions https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/regulatory-actions-technology-transitions | Provides summaries of October 2023, December 2023 and December 2024 rules; notes that some VRF installations can use higher‑GWP refrigerants until 2027–2028 and that residential AC inventory manufactured before 1 Jan 2025 can be installed until 1 Jan 2026. | |
EPA – Managing HFC Use & Reuse (ER&R program) https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/regulatory-actions-managing-hfc-use-and-reuse | Describes the Emissions Reduction & Reclamation (ER&R) rule under AIM Act; requirements include leak‑repair, automatic leak‑detection systems, standards for reclaimed refrigerants, mandatory use of reclaimed HFCs for servicing, recovery of refrigerant from disposable cylinders and extensive recordkeeping/reporting. | |
EPA – ER&R news release | News release summarising the final ER&R rule; emphasises that the rule will reduce wasteful leaks, encourage reuse of HFCs and help achieve an 85 % HFC phasedown by 2036. | |
Industry & Best Practices | Refrigerant Management/Leak Checking 101 (FMI) https://www.fmi.org/docs/energy/breakout_refrigeran_managemen_leak_checking_101.pdf | Food Marketing Institute (FMI) training PDF on leak detection, corrective action and contractor coordination (direct link to PDF). |
FMI – Chronically Leaking Appliance Reporting Form | Template for reporting appliances leaking ≥125 % of their full charge; aligns with Section 608 reporting requirements (PDF). | |
FMI – Refrigeration Management/Best‑Practice Guides | Additional FMI resources (e.g., BMP No. 109 Refrigerant Management) provide step‑by‑step guidelines for leak prevention and refrigerant tracking. | |
GreenChill Best‑Practices Guidelines (EPA) https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/leakpreventionrepairguidelines.pdf | EPA’s GreenChill Partnership offers leak‑prevention and repair guidelines for supermarkets; PDF includes best practices for maintenance and design. | |
RMS Refrigerant Management Solutions – Regulatory Resources | Compilation of federal and state regulations, fact sheets and presentations on the AIM Act, Section 608, Title VI of the Clean Air Act, SNAP program and state HFC regulations. Includes FMI templates and other compliance tools. | |
Grocer’s Guide to Refrigeration Regulations (Cuhaci Peterson) https://www.c-p.com/news/grocers-guide-to-refrigeration-regulations/ | Industry article summarising the AIM Act; explains that HFCs will be phased down, GWP limits for new equipment will apply and supply restrictions and service‑repair standards will increase maintenance costs, urging grocers to plan for natural refrigerant systems. | |
AIM Act Extension: What it Means for Grocery Retailers (Cushing Terrell) https://cushingterrell.com/the-aim-act-extension-what-it-means-for-grocery-retailers/ | Explains that AIM Act implementation for many systems was delayed to 1 Jan 2027, but retailers should still plan; emphasises that there are no simple drop‑in replacements and that natural refrigerants and advanced designs will likely be required. | |
Facilio/ERA & other industry guides https://facilio.com/blog/what-is-the-aim-act-stricter-epa-refrigerant-regulations-in-2025/ | Articles explaining that the AIM Act mandates an 85 % HFC phasedown by 2036 and will impose leak‑repair and reclamation requirements; emphasise leak detection, recordkeeping and penalties for non‑compliance. | |
State‑Level & Additional Resources | NASRC HFC Policy Tracker | Interactive map and state summaries showing how each U.S. state adopts federal SNAP rules and additional GWP limits; provides quick reference for state‑specific HFC regulations. |
Frequent Questions on HFC Phasedown (EPA) https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/frequent-questions-phasedown-hydrofluorocarbons | Comprehensive Q&A about HFC phasedown, allowance allocations, technology transitions and ER&R; includes background on HFCs and Kigali Amendment. | |
Networking & Events | FMI Energy & Store Development Conference (E+SD) | FMI’s annual conference includes sessions on refrigeration regulations and AIM Act compliance; a good venue for staying current. |
StorePoint Fresh / Connecting Point Marketing Group events | CPMG’s “StorePoint Fresh” event connects grocery executives with suppliers; while not a regulatory resource, it provides opportunities to learn about new refrigeration technologies and regulatory trends. |
