f/EPA

Protecting our Climate
by Reducing Use of
Hydrofluorocarbons

December 2022

https://www.epa.gov/ciimate-hfcs-reduction

FACT SHEET

Proposed Rule - Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Restrictions
on the Use of Certain Hydrofluorocarbons under Subsection (i) of
the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act

The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act
was enacted on December 27, 2020. The AIM Act
authorizes EPA to address hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
in three main ways: phasing down their production and
consumption, maximizing reclamation and minimizing
releases from equipment, and facilitating the transition to
next-generation technologies through sector-based
restrictions. This proposed rule focuses on the third area
- the transition to alternatives through sector-based
restrictions.

About HFCs

HFCs are potent greenhouse gases
(GHGs) intentionally developed as
replacements for ozone-depleting
substances (ODS) in the refrigeration and
air conditioning, aerosols, fire suppression,
and foam blowing sectors. They have
global warming potentials (GWPs; a
measure of the relative climate impact of a
GHG) that can be hundreds to thousands
of times greater than that of carbon
dioxide (CO2).

The AIM Act directs EPA to phase down the production
and consumption of HFCs by 85% by 2036. The U.S. phasedown is consistent with the
schedule in the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which is a global agreement to
phasedown HFCs that the United States joined on October 31, 2022. A global HFC phasedown
is expected to avoid up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by 2100. American consumers
are expected to benefit from the transition to environmentally safer alternatives and more
energy-efficient cooling technologies.

What Does This Rule Propose?

Consistent with the AIM Act, EPA is proposing to restrict the use of certain higher-GWP HFCs in
aerosols, foams, and refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pump products and equipment.
The proposed restrictions are listed by sector and subsector in Table 1 and Table 2 at the end
of this document. The proposed rule would prohibit manufacture and import of products
containing restricted HFCs by January 1, 2025, in most cases, and would prohibit the sale,
distribution, and export of products containing restricted HFCs a year later, which in most cases
would be January 1, 2026.

The AIM Act includes provisions for the public to petition EPA to initiate a rulemaking that
restricts the use of HFCs. EPA has granted 12 petitions and partially granted one petition


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requesting restrictions on the use of HFCs in various sectors and subsectors. The AIM Act
directs EPA to finalize a rule within two years after the date on which the Agency grants a
petition. This proposed rulemaking addresses all petitions that EPA has granted thus far. In
addition, this proposal includes a description of how EPA intends to implement certain aspects
of the program, such as the processing of petitions to restrict the use of HFCs under subsection
(i) of the AIM Act.

To support compliance with the proposed prohibitions on the use of HFCs in specific sectors
and subsectors, EPA is proposing labeling, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements for
companies that import, manufacture, sell, or offer for sale products using HFCs.

What Sectors and Subsectors Are Covered by the Proposed Action? Are
Certain Applications Exempt?

EPA is restricting HFC use in products and equipment in the aerosol; foam; and refrigeration, air
conditioning and heat pump sectors. These proposed restrictions are summarized in Tables 1
and 2 below. The proposed restrictions would not apply to any product that receives an
application-specific HFC allowance under subsection (e)(4)(B) of the AIM Act. As such, this
proposed action does not restrict use of HFCs used in the following:

•	As a propellant in metered dose inhalers;

•	In the manufacture of defense sprays;

•	In the manufacture of structural composite preformed polyurethane foam for marine use
and trailer use;

•	Etching of semiconductor material or wafers and the cleaning of chemical vapor
deposition chambers within the semiconductor manufacturing sector;

•	Mission-critical military end uses; and

•	Onboard aerospace fire suppression.

Where Are HFCs Used?

In the United States, HFCs are primarily used in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment in
homes, commercial buildings, industrial operations, refrigerated transport, and motor vehicle air
conditioning. Smaller amounts are used in foam products, aerosols, fire protection systems, and
solvents. The figure below shows estimated amounts of U.S. HFC consumption for 2019 by
sector.

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U.S. HFC Consumption (2019) by
MMTC02eq

¦	Mobile AC

¦	Commercial AC
Commercial Refrigeration

¦	Domestic Refrigeration
Residential AC

¦ T ransport Refrigeration

\

¦	Aerosols

¦	Solvents
Foams

¦ Fire Extinguishing

Source: U.S. EPA, April 2016. EPA Report EPA-430-R-16-002.

Who May Be Affected by This Proposed Rule?

You may be potentially affected by this rule if you manufacture, import, export, package, sell or
otherwise distribute products that use or are intended to use HFCs, such as refrigeration and
air-conditioning systems, heat pumps, foams, and aerosols.

How Can I Comment on This Proposed Rulemaking?

EPA will accept comments on this proposal for 45 days after publication in the Federal Register
and will hold a virtual public hearing after publication in the Federal Register. For more
information on the rule and how to comment, as well as information on the virtual public hearing,
please visit our website: https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction

What Other Actions is EPA Taking under the AIM Act?

In addition to this proposed rulemaking, EPA has issued a final regulation that established a
framework for phasing down HFC production and consumption by 85% by 2036 through an
allowance allocation program, "Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Establishing the Allowance
Allocation and Trading Program Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act" (86 FR
55116, October 5, 2021). In November 2022, EPA issued a proposed rule that would establish
the methodology for allocating allowances to produce or consume HFCs for allowances
allocated beginning in 2024, "Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Allowance Allocation
Methodology for 2024 and Later Years," (87 FR 66372, November 3, 2022). Additionally, EPA
has begun to develop a rulemaking under subsection (h) of the AIM Act, "Management of
Regulated Substances," to maximize reclamation and reduce emissions of HFCs and their

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substitutes. For more information on regulatory actions under the AIM Act, please visit
https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction.

What Are the Benefits of This Proposed Rule?

EPA estimates that the proposed rule, if finalized as written, would result in significant GHG
emissions reductions benefits while providing savings to American consumers and industry
through energy efficiency gains and lower cost alternatives. The proposal would result in
cumulative GHG emissions reductions ranging from 134 to 903 MMTCCbe through 2050. EPA
estimates that the cumulative net benefits of this proposed action are between $13.1 billion to
$56.3 billion from 2025 through 2050.

•	The GHG emissions reductions from this proposed action would provide between $5 and
$51 billion in climate benefits.

•	The proposed rule would also save U.S. industry and consumers between $5 to $8
billion from 2025 through 2050 as a result of improved energy efficiency in refrigeration,
air conditioning, and heat pump products and lower cost alternatives.

The benefits noted here are in addition to those already accounted for in the HFC phasedown
and described in the Proposed Rule, "Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Allowance Allocation
Methodology for 2024 and Later Years (87 FR 66372)".

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Table 1: Proposed GWP Limit Restrictions on HFCs by Sector and Subsector

Sectors and Subsectors

Proposed GWP Limit

Compliance
Date

Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Heat Pumps

Industrial process refrigeration systems with
refrigerant charge capacities of 200 pounds or
greater

150

January 1, 2025

Industrial process refrigeration systems with
refrigerant charge capacities less than 200
pounds

300

January 1, 2025

Industrial process refrigeration, high temperature
side of cascade systems

300

January 1, 2025

Retail food refrigeration - stand-alone units

150

January 1, 2025

Retail food refrigeration - refrigerated food
processing and dispensing equipment

150

January 1, 2025

Retail food refrigeration - supermarket systems
with refrigerant charge capacities of 200 pounds
or greater

150

January 1, 2025

Retail food refrigeration - supermarket systems
with refrigerant charge capacities less than 200
pounds charge

300

January 1, 2025

Retail food refrigeration - supermarket systems,
high temperature side of cascade system

300

January 1, 2025

Retail food refrigeration - remote condensing
units with refrigerant charge capacities of 200
pounds or greater

150

January 1, 2025

Retail food refrigeration - remote condensing
units with refrigerant charge capacities less than
200 pounds

300

January 1, 2025

Retail food refrigeration - remote condensing
units, high temperature side of cascade system

300

January 1, 2025

Vending machines

150

January 1, 2025

Cold storage warehouse systems with refrigerant
charge capacities of 200 pounds or greater

150

January 1, 2025

Cold storage warehouse systems with refrigerant
charge capacities less than 200 pounds

300

January 1, 2025

Cold storage warehouse, high temperature side of
cascade system

300

January 1, 2025

Ice rinks

150

January 1, 2025

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Sectors and Subsectors

Proposed GWP Limit

Compliance
Date

Automatic commercial ice machines - self-
contained with refrigerant charge capacities of
500 grams or lower

150

January 1, 2025

Transport refrigeration - intermodal containers

700

January 1, 2025

Residential refrigeration systems

150

January 1, 2025

Chillers - industrial process refrigeration

700

January 1, 2025

Chillers - comfort cooling

700

January 1, 2025

Residential and light commercial air conditioning
and heat pump systems

700

January 1, 2025

Residential and light commercial air conditioning -
variable refrigerant flow systems

700

January 1, 2026

Residential dehumidifiers

700

January 1, 2025

Motor vehicle air conditioning - light-duty
passenger vehicles

150

Model year 2025

Motor vehicle air conditioning - medium-duty
passenger vehicles

150

Model year 2026

Motor vehicle air conditioning - heavy-duty pick-
up trucks

150

Model year 2026

Motor vehicle air conditioning - complete heavy-
duty vans

150

Model year 2026

Motor vehicle air conditioning - nonroad vehicles

150

Model year 2026

Foam blowing

Polystyrene - extruded boardstock and billet

150

January 1, 2025

Rigid polyurethane and polyisocyanurate
laminated boardstock

0

January 1, 2025

Rigid polyurethane - slabstock and other

150

January 1, 2025

Rigid polyurethane - appliance foam

150

January 1, 2025

Rigid polyurethane - commercial refrigeration and
sandwich panels

150

January 1, 2025

Rigid polyurethane - marine flotation foam*

150

January 1, 2025

Rigid polyurethane - low-pressure, two-
component spray foam

150

January 1, 2025

Rigid polyurethane - high-pressure two-
component spray foam

150

January 1, 2025

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Sectors and Subsectors

Proposed GWP Limit

Compliance
Date

Rigid polyurethane - one-component foam
sealants

150

January 1, 2025

Flexible polyurethane

0

January 1, 2025

Integral skin polyurethane

0

January 1. 2025

Polystyrene - extruded sheet

0

January 1, 2025

Polyolefin

0

January 1, 2025

Phenolic insulation board and bunstock

150

January 1, 2025

Aerosols

Aerosol products*

150

January 1, 2025

*EPA is proposing an exemption for certain applications as long as they are receiving application-specific
allowances under subsection (e)(4)(B) of the AIM Act, including: as a propellant in metered dose inhalers;
in the manufacture of defense sprays; and in the manufacture of structural composite preformed
polyurethane foam for marine use and trailer use.

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Table 2: Proposed Prohibited Substance Restrictions on HFCs by Sector and Subsector

Sectors and Subsectors

Prohibited HFCs

Compliance
Date

Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, and Heat Pumps

Automatic commercial ice
machines - self-contained
with refrigerant charge
capacities more than 500
grams

R-404A, R-507, R-507A, R-428A, R-422C, R-
434A, R-421B, R-408A, R-422A, R-407B, R-

402A, R-422D, R-421A, R-125/R-290/R-
134a/R-600a (55/1/42.5/1.5), R-422B, R-424A,
R-402B, GHG-X5, R-417A, R-438A, R-410B,
R-407A, R-410A, R-442A, R-417C, R-407F R-
437A, R-407C, RS-24 (2004 formulation), HFC-
134a

January 1, 2025

Automatic commercial ice
machines - remote

R-404A, R-507, R-507A, R-428A, R-422C, R-
434A, R-421B, R-408A, R-422A, R-407B, R-

402A, R-422D, R-421A, R-125/R-290/R-
134a/R-600a (55/1/42.5/1.5), R-422B, R-424A,
R-402B, GHG-X5, R-417A, R-438A, R-410B

January 1, 2025

Transport refrigeration -
road systems

R-404A, R-507, R-507A, R-428A, R-422C, R-
434A, R-421B, R-408A, R-422A, R-407B, R-

402A, R-422D, R-421A, R-125/R-290/R-
134a/R-600a (55/1/42.5/1.5), R-422B, R-424A,
R-402B, GHG-X5, R-417A, R-438A, R-410B

January 1, 2025

Transport refrigeration -
marine systems

R-404A, R-507, R-507A, R-428A, R-422C, R-
434A, R-421B, R-408A, R-422A, R-407B, R-

402A, R-422D, R-421A, R-125/R-290/R-
134a/R-600a (55/1/42.5/1.5), R-422B, R-424A,
R-402B, GHG-X5, R-417A, R-438A, R-410B

January 1, 2025

Additional Resources

Protecting Our Climate by Reducing Use of HFCs: https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction

Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program: https://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/fluorinated-greenhouse-
qas-emissions-and-supplies-reported-qhqrp

Contact EPA: spdcomment@epa.gov

Office of Air and Radiation (6205A)
December 2022

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