Knowledge / Resources

Refrigerant rules and records

Start with the refrigerant, equipment type, charge size, and activity. These summaries link to the primary sources that define the requirements.

01Regulatory milestones

Dates to include in your planning

Reviewed September 8, 2026. Equipment eligibility, exceptions, and later rule changes matter; follow the linked source for the complete requirements.

JAN 2020

R-22 production and import phaseout

U.S. production and import of R-22 for servicing ended. Reclaimed refrigerant and existing inventory remain supply options for existing equipment.

EPA HCFC phaseout ↗

JAN 2024

HFC allowances at 60% of baseline

The federal phasedown reduced production and consumption allowances. This is an allowance limit, not a promise about availability of any individual gas.

EPA HFC requirements ↗

JAN 2025

California bulk-HFC sales restrictions

SB 1206 restricts newly produced bulk HFCs above its GWP thresholds. Reclaimed HFCs are exempt from those sales prohibitions. Consult CARB for exceptions and later thresholds.

CARB SB 1206 and AB 663 ↗

JAN 2026

HFC leak repair and reclamation requirements

Leak-repair rules apply to covered appliances with charges of at least 15 pounds, with exclusions and equipment-specific thresholds. Reclaimed HFCs also have a 15% maximum virgin-content standard and labeling and recordkeeping requirements.

EPA applicability and reclamation FAQs ↗

JAN 2027

Automatic leak detection on covered existing systems

Covered commercial and industrial process refrigeration systems with charges of at least 1,500 pounds, installed during 2017–2025, must have automatic leak detection. Check equipment eligibility and compliance alternatives.

EPA automatic leak detection FAQs ↗

JAN 2029

Reclaimed-HFC servicing and lower allowances

Reclaimed HFC servicing requirements apply to supermarket systems, refrigerated transport, and automatic commercial ice makers. Production and consumption allowance limits fall to 30% of baseline.

EPA HFC requirements ↗

JAN 2030

End of virgin R-123 servicing production

The HCFC phaseout ends remaining virgin servicing production. Existing inventory and reclaimed material remain options; the production cutoff does not itself prohibit servicing existing equipment.

EPA HCFC phaseout ↗

02Primary sources

Refrigerant terminology

Recovered: Refrigerant removed from equipment and collected without reprocessing. It can be transferred for reclamation; this is different from resale for use in another owner's equipment.
Recycled: Recovered refrigerant cleaned by processes such as oil separation and filtration. For stationary equipment, reuse is generally limited to equipment with the same owner unless the refrigerant is reclaimed.
Reclaimed: Used refrigerant reprocessed by an EPA-certified reclaimer and verified against AHRI Standard 700. Reclaimed product can be sold for reuse, including through distributors, subject to applicable sales restrictions.
Recovery Manifest: A custody record identifying refrigerant, measured quantity, source, and transfer details. Keep it with your equipment and transfer records; retention requirements depend on the applicable rules.
COA: Certificate of Analysis: a laboratory report recording batch test results against specified purity parameters, such as those in AHRI Standard 700.
AHRI-700: The purity standard used to evaluate refrigerants. Purity testing and chain-of-custody documentation serve different purposes.
AHRI-740: A performance standard for refrigerant recovery and recycling equipment.

04Your records

Request a COA or Recovery Manifest

Include your company, load or batch reference if available, and approximate service date so the team can locate your records.

Request Documents

Ready when you are

Discuss your refrigerant job

Contact the facility with the refrigerant, quantity, location, and the records you need.