Core Perspective - A new federal rule effective January 1 imposes compliance requirements on facilities using HVAC systems and appliances with as little as 15 pounds of hydrofluorocarbons refrigerant charge [1] Regulatory Changes - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a leak repair and management rule in 2024, which lowers the compliance threshold for greenhouse gas restrictions from 50 pounds to 15 pounds of hydrofluorocarbons refrigerant charge [2] - Facilities managers must calculate refrigerant leak rates every time they add HFC refrigerants or substitutes with a global warming potential greater than 53 [3] Compliance Requirements - If the leak rate exceeds a specified threshold, facilities managers are required to make verifiable repairs within 30 days or retrofit/replace the appliance within a year [4] - The new rule significantly expands the scope of compliance for facilities already operating a refrigerant management system, requiring more equipment tracking and data management [5] Challenges for Facilities Managers - Facilities without an existing refrigerant management system will face increased demands for data collection and record-keeping, as current technologies often operate in isolation [5] - Managers must maintain auditable records to avoid compliance risks, highlighting the need for integrated management systems [5]