As most of our industry knows, January 1, 2010, is an important milestone for HCFC refrigerants. Under the Clean Air Act and the Montreal Protocol, that’s the day when contractors can no longer install equipment pre-charged with HCFC refrigerants as a new installation. (You will be able to use stockpiled replacement parts after Jan. 1, 2010.) It’s also the day when a step down in the production of HCFCs occurs, meaning there will be less virgin R-22 created for servicing existing equipment.

For several years now, EPA has been working on a rule that would spell out the details of the equipment ban and phaseout. Usually, a rule like this would be released a year before its effective date.

In December 2008, after much delay, EPA released the proposed rule and held a hearing in January 2009. ACCA participated at that hearing and followed up with submitted comments on the proposed rules in February and March. The proposed rules that were released in December caused enough confusion that the EPA released a clarification document following the hearings. Since then, the industry has been playing the waiting game.

With the magic date less than three months away, the delay is causing concern to contractors and distributors with R-22 equipment. For more information, click here and read the documents in the "What’s New" box.

As soon as EPA releases the rule (which could be any day now), ACCA will report it to its members.