EPA Final Rule Now Allows R-410A Installations Past January Deadline

The Environmental Protection Agency's final refrigerant rule took effect on July 27. It extends the installation deadline for R-410A air conditioning and heat pump systems beyond the original January 1, 2026 cutoff date. The rule implements requirements under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020. This Act mandates the transition to A2L refrigerants with lower global warming potential.

New York contractors face a different reality. The state passed its own law that codified the January 1 deadline. This means R-410A system installations have been prohibited in New York since the start of this year.

If you have R-410A inventory sitting in your warehouse, you can now install it in most states under the EPA's extended timeline. That gives you more flexibility to move older stock without taking a loss. In New York, those units cannot be installed. They need to be sold out of state or returned to distributors.

Check your local jurisdiction to confirm whether any state or city regulations create stricter deadlines than the federal rule. Contact your distributor about return policies for R-410A inventory if you operate in New York.

Key Takeaways:

• EPA's final rule effective July 27 extends R-410A installation deadline past January 1
• New York state law still prohibits R-410A installations after January 1, 2026
• AIM Act requires transition to lower global warming potential A2L refrigerants
• Contractors outside New York have more time to install existing R-410A inventory

Source: National Association of Home Builders