The EPA recently imposed a completely unjustified ban on non-refillable refrigerant cylinders that increases costs on HVACR businesses and consumers, empowers China, and endangers technicians in the HVAC-R industry. We need Congress's help to reverse this damaging decision!
The ban applies to the cylinders that air conditioning techs use every day to transport hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants including R32 and R410A. If the ban holds, we'll be forced to rely on extremely heavy refillable cylinders with questionable quality control imported from China. Not to mention the ransition will impose significant, unnecessary costs on the broader HVAC-R industry including manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and technicians.
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Specifically, the ban will result in the following:
- American manufacturing jobs will be lost
- Increased weight means more injuries and long-term strain on technicians
- Those unable to lift, pull, or carry the new, imported 50-pound containers will have difficulty
finding jobs or continuing to work in the industry
- Added $2 billion in costs for U.S. companies to setup refillable cylinder fleets
- Another form of price inflation, and some American families may not be able to service their
AC units
- Small businesses will have to pay more for cylinders
- Contractors will need to reconfigure trucks to fit the new cylinders, adding another unnecessary
cost as well as increased vehicle weight, strain, and maintenance over time.
- Bad actors from China will flood the market with poorly constructed cylinders
- The already stressed cooling supply chain will be even further constrained—putting vulnerable
populations at risk
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EPA claims that this ban will protect the environment and stop illegal HFC imports; however, there is
little evidence to support this claim. Similar bans have been enacted elsewhere in the world and
smugglers have quickly adapted by smuggling HFCs in various types of containers. An effective
solution to this problem would be to improve border security practices, increase importer tracking
requirements, and raise enforcement and consequences for the improper handling of HFC refrigerants.
This includes both illegal trafficking by foreign companies and illegal venting and disposal by
unscrupulous individuals. These entities seek to undercut law abiding U.S. manufacturers and
HVAC-R contractors respectively.
Congress needs to get involved.
Take action now!
Our industry needs to work together to ensure the well-being of contractors,
technicians, suppliers, staff and clients. MIACCA supports ACCA's ongoing
legislative efforts and encourages you to sign this letter (click link above)
to be sent to your policy makers today.
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