Sources & standards
The technical guidance on this page reflects these published codes and standards, which your local authority (AHJ) adopts, amends, and enforces. It is educational, not engineering or legal advice — confirm the current requirements for your jurisdiction.
Status: in flux (as of August 2026). The EPA opened a reconsideration of the HFC Technology Transitions rule in October 2025 and issued a non-enforcement period in December 2025, so some thresholds and dates below may shift. Treat this as a map, and confirm the current rule for your equipment class before you buy.
Under the AIM Act, the EPA is phasing down high-GWP (global-warming-potential) HFC refrigerants by equipment class and date. Here's where it stands.
Source U.S. EPA — Technology Transitions Rule (AIM Act §(i)), 88 FR 73098 (Oct 24, 2023) ·
view source →Dates reflect the 2023 final rule; EPA finalized revisions in 2026 that delay several compliance dates — confirm the current rule for your equipment class before you buy.
Last verified Aug 2026
Compliance dates by equipment class
| Equipment class | GWP limit | Effective | Status |
|---|
| Stand-alone / self-contained refrigerators & freezers (most reach-ins, undercounters, prep tables) | ≤150 | Jan 1, 2025 | In effect — this is why new self-contained units ship with R-290. |
| Remote condensing units & supermarket/rack systems | 150–300 (by charge/type) | Jan 1, 2026–2027 | Under reconsideration — a 2025 EPA proposal would raise the threshold (e.g. to ~1,400) for some of these; treat dates as provisional. |
| Existing equipment (any class) | — | — | Not forced to change — you can keep and service it (subject to refrigerant availability). |
Refrigerant cheat sheet
| Refrigerant | Type | GWP (approx) | Where it stands |
|---|
| R-290 (propane) | A3 natural | 3 | Standard in new self-contained units; small sealed charge (historically ~150 g; UL 60335-2-89 allows more). |
| R-600a (isobutane) | A3 natural | 3 | Small self-contained refrigeration. |
| R-454C / R-455A | A2L (mildly flammable) | ~146–148 | Emerging for larger and remote/rack systems. |
| R-513A | A2L | ~631 | An R-134a replacement (medium-temp). |
| R-134a | HFC (A1) | 1,430 | Being phased down; still serviced. |
| R-404A | HFC (A1) | 3,922 | Very high GWP; phased down — service-only, avoid in new equipment. |
| R-410A | HFC (A1) | 2,088 | High GWP; being phased down in AC/refrigeration. |
| R-22 (“Freon”) | HCFC | 1,810 | U.S. production & import banned Jan 1, 2020 — reclaimed refrigerant only; aging units on borrowed time. |
What this means when you buy
New self-contained refrigeration already meets the ≤150 GWP rule — that's why it's almost all R-290 now, which is efficient and cheap to run. For remote/rack systems the threshold is in flux, so confirm the current rule and lean toward low-GWP A2L options. Avoid buying aging R-22 equipment. Full background: the refrigerant guide.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · Sources: EPA AIM Act / HFC Technology Transitions rule & 2025 reconsideration; refrigerant GWP values (IPCC AR4). Confirm current status with the EPA and your equipment manufacturer.
Frequently asked
What refrigerant is required in new commercial refrigerators in 2026?
New self-contained (stand-alone) commercial refrigerators and freezers must use a refrigerant with a GWP of 150 or less, effective January 1, 2025 — which is why nearly all new units use R-290 (propane). Larger remote/rack systems have separate thresholds that were under EPA reconsideration in 2025, so confirm the current rule for that class.
Is R-404A banned?
R-404A (GWP ~3,922) isn't banned for servicing existing equipment, but its very high GWP means it's being phased out of new equipment under the AIM Act. Avoid specifying it in new refrigeration; new self-contained units use low-GWP refrigerants like R-290 instead.
What is the AIM Act?
The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act directs the EPA to phase down high-GWP HFC refrigerants, including setting GWP limits for new refrigeration equipment by class and date. It's the reason commercial refrigeration is shifting to R-290 and A2L refrigerants.
Are the commercial refrigerant rules changing?
Yes — they're actively in flux. The self-contained ≤150 GWP limit has been in effect since Jan 1, 2025, but in October 2025 the EPA proposed reconsidering parts of the rule for remote/supermarket systems, and issued a non-enforcement period in December 2025. Check the current status for your equipment class before buying.
When was Freon (R-22) banned?
U.S. production and import of R-22 (Freon) was banned as of January 1, 2020. You can still service existing R-22 units with reclaimed refrigerant, but it's limited and expensive, so those units are being replaced.