The AIM Act: How This Affects Food Retailers
The rule signed on October 5, 2023, transitions
retail refrigeration equipment to low GWP refrigerants by:
- Prohibiting the manufacture and import of products that use higher-GWP HFCs;
- Prohibiting the sale, distribution, and export of those products 3 years after the manufacture and import restriction date (EPA's latest ruling); and
- Prohibiting the installation of new refrigeration systems that use higher GWP HFCs.
Definitions:
A
product is functional upon leaving the factory and just needs to be plugged in, mounted, or hooked to a water line; (includes self contained display cases). A
system is assembled and charged in the field using multiple components (includes
supermarket refrigeration systems with a centralized compressor room). Components include equipment such as compressors, condensers, and display cabinets.
Install means to complete a field-assembled system's circuit with a full charge, such that the system can function and is ready for use for its intended purpose.
Legacy Equipment
The rule does not restrict the continued use of any existing products or systems. It allows existing systems to continue to operate to the end of their useful life. A product or system may be serviced and repaired throughout its useful life; this includes replacing
components, as needed. Components needed to repair existing equipment may continue to be manufactured, imported, sold, distributed or exported.
Servicing Existing Equipment
The rule does prevent end-users from servicing their existing products or
refrigeration systems. EPA allows for these systems to continue to be operated until the end of their useful life. Components needed to repair products and systems may continue to be manufactured, sold, distributed, and exported.
Qualifying as a New Installation
Specifically, the following actions, upon charging the system to full charge, are considered a new installation:
- Assembling a system for the first time from used or new components;
- Increasing the cooling capacity, in BTU per hour, of an existing system; or
- Replacing 75% or more of evaporators (by number) and 100% of the compressor racks, condensers, and connected evaporator loads of an existing system.
Labeling
To support compliance with this rule, all
new products and components using HFCs will be labeled. Companies that manufacture or import products or components using HFCs will also report certain information to
EPA.
