18 Dec EPA Finalizes R-22 Phaseout Plan
Contractors who have found virgin hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-22 readily available at their local supply houses had best prepare for a drastic drop-off in such supplies very soon.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final phasedown schedule regarding production and importation of HCFC-22 on Oct. 16. The order calls for an immediate drop from 51 million pounds allowed in 2014 to 22 million pounds beginning Jan. 1, 2015. Subsequently, 18 million pounds of new and imported R-22 will be allowed in 2016, 13 million pounds in 2017, 9 million pounds in 2018, and 4 million pounds in 2019. No new or imported R-22 will be allowed in the U.S. on or after Jan. 1, 2020.
The impact on virgin R-22 supplies will be almost immediate.
“The agency settled on a much more aggressive schedule — a 57 percent reduction from the 2014 allocation,” said Gordon McKinney, vice president, ICOR Intl. Inc. “We encourage all of our associates to prepare for a dramatic increase in R-22 pricing and a major spike in alternative refrigerant sales and reclaim activity.”
What does all this mean? Now is the time to replace that R-22 system with a new more efficient system. Call Biggs for more details at 919-329-8288 or email for an appointment with a project manager at info@biggshvac.com. Just reference “R-22 phaseout” in the subject line.