ACCA Statement on Court’s Denial to Review August 2017 HFC Ruling

January 30, 2018

The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) released the following statement regarding the D.C. Court of Appeals January 26, 2018 decision to reject a petition for an en banc review of an earlier ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) could not ban certain refrigerants under Section 612 of the Clean Air Act.

“ACCA believes that the transitions to new refrigerants, including flammable products, must not be done hastily,” said Glenn Hourahan, ACCA senior vice president for technical policy. “The EPA states that half of all HVAC systems in the U.S. are not installed correctly, and we know this field problem can contribute to refrigerant leaks. Professional HVACR contractors recognize addressing installation problems is paramount to safely transitioning to new products, including flammable refrigerants.”

Hourahan continued, “ACCA encourages the HVACR industry, policy makers, and environmentalists to collectively promote sound installation and maintenance practices that are critical to minimizing refrigerant leaks and for protecting technicians and consumers.”

In August 2017, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the EPA could not use Section 612 of the Clean Air Act to ban the use of refrigerants, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), with high global warming potential. The August 2017 ruling struck down an Obama Administration executive order that restricted manufacturers from producing certain HFC products. According to the Court, Section 612 was designed to address ozone depleting substances.

For more information please contact Todd Washam, ACCA Director of Industry and External Relations, at todd.washam@acca.org or 703-824-8864.

 

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ACCA is a non-profit association serving more than 60,000 professionals and 4,000 businesses in the indoor environment and energy services community. Our member firms are the nation's most professional contracting businesses, serving residential and commercial customers in every state. With roots stretching back a century, ACCA was incorporated in its present form nearly 50 years ago. Today, ACCA sets the standards for quality comfort systems, provides leading-edge education for contractors and their employees, and fights for the interests of professional contractors throughout the nation. Learn more about ACCA here.