What: On May 26, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized changes to regulations that restrict the use of particular hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Technology Transitions section of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020.
Why: The rule makes the following changes to existing HFC regulations:
- Changes to two aspects of intermodal refrigerated transport provisions:
- Lowers the lower temperature exclusion threshold from -50°C to -35°C.
- Changes the measurement location for that temperature.
- Extends the compliance date for certain industrial process refrigeration chillers and equipment used in semiconductor manufacturing from January 1, 2026, and January 1, 2028, respectively, to January 1, 2030.
- Raises the global warming potential (GWP) threshold for supermarket systems and retail food remote condensing units from 150 or 300 to 1,400, with a subsequent reduction to a threshold of 150 or 300, depending on charge size or whether it is part of the high-temperature side of a cascade system, starting January 1, 2032.
- Will allow supermarket systems to increase system cooling capacity by up to 15 percent from zero without this being considered a new system installation.
- Raises the GWP threshold for cold storage warehouses from 150 or 300 to 700, with a later reduction to a threshold of either 150 or 300, depending on charge size or whether it is part of the high-temperature side of a cascade system, beginning January 1, 2032.
- Extends the compliance deadline for refrigerated laboratory centrifuges and shakers to January 1, 2028.
- Removes the installation deadline for systems in the residential and light commercial AC/HP subsector, provided all specified components were manufactured or imported before January 1, 2025.
Action: The final rule becomes effective on July 27, 2026.
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