Equipment know-how

Commercial Refrigerant Rules & Compliance Dates (Tracker)

By the FoodServiceNerd editorial team·Reviewed against primary sources·Updated August 2026·How we research & cite

A living tracker of U.S. commercial refrigeration refrigerant rules: AIM Act GWP limits by equipment class, compliance dates, R-290/A2L status, and the 2025 EPA reconsideration. As of August 2026.

Educational, not legal advice. Codes vary by jurisdiction — always confirm with your local health department and building authority (AHJ).

FoodServiceNerd EditorialResearched from the FDA Food Code, manufacturer specs & industry sourcesUpdated Aug 2026

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.

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.