What you should know about the new United States EPA regulations?

In order for the United States to comply with the Montreal Protocol, the international treaty to adopt legally binding commitments for governments to regulate substances that deplete the ozone layer, the U.S. Congress passed the 1990 Clean Air Act that ordered the EPA to enact regulations to phase out R-22 and other ozone-depleting chemicals. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were banned in the mid 1990’s and now U.S. EPA has begun the phase out process of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). R-22, the refrigerant currently used in most air-conditioning systems, is a HCFC. This 2003 mandate will allow the U.S. to meet the 35% reduction in HCFC consumption required by 2004.

Within the next few years manufacturers will change R-22 as the standard used in air-conditioning systems. As such, it is important that technicians, contractors, and consumers understand the implications of these regulatory changes.

Before 2003, any company could essentially manufacture, import, or sell R-22 refrigerant. With the new regulation set forth by the U.S. EPA, only twenty-five companies were permitted limited “rights” to manufacture or import R-22 into the U.S. R-22 is now a regulated and controlled product. This regulation not only includes the 50 U.S. states, but all territories such as Guam and Puerto Rico.

This regulation covers refrigerant blends that also contain R-22 and R-142b such as R-401a (MP39), R-401B (MP66), R-402A (HP80), and others. The penalty for the illegal importation of R-22 can be up to $12,474.00 per pound. A timeline for the phase out of specific refrigerants were stipulated in EPA guidelines. Additional regulations and further reductions in HCFCs such as R-22 up to 90% will follow after 2014. Companies guaranteeing sufficient supply of R-22 do so at their own risk.

For technicians and contractors actively involved in the HVACR industry and who are certified by the U.S. EPA will have to seek re-certification for the new R-410A refrigerant standard adopted by manufacturers for air-conditioning systems. This would mean that technicians and contractors without certification will be unable to purchase R-410A and the equipment charged with R-410A.

Building owners and consumers will need to take into consideration future shortages of R-22 or other HCFC-based equipment in the future. In 2002, the Department of Energy has also enacted regulatory changes in the minimum efficiency of most new residential air conditioners from 10 SEER to 13 SEER. This mandate will take effect in 2006. This would mean that central air-conditioning systems will be much larger in size than those currently sold in the market. It also means that manufacturers would need to use 25% to 35% more R-22 refrigerant which would drive up initial purchase costs and maintenance costs in the future. Hence, manufacturers starting next year will transition their product lines to an R-22 alternative known as R-410A. By 2010, most central air-conditioning systems would be designed with R-410A.