HARDI Teleconference Adds Clarity to HCFC Issue

Heating, Airconditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI) held a free teleseminar for its member companies on December 14, 2009, to review in detail the recently-released final U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules for the next stage in the phaseout of HCFCs such as R-22 and R-142b. December 18, HARDI will make available to all member companies a recording of the December 14th program accompanied by a summary document.

HARDI is pleased to announce that an HCFC Phaseout Regulations Fact Sheet and FAQ list will be completed this week (December 18th) and made available to distributor member companies. Distributor members will be able to download this tool from a proprietary members-only link to help them quickly and easily educate contractor customers about the most important outcomes from these final EPA rules.

Important aspects of the rulings include:

• Servicing of existing R-22 a/c and refrigeration systems will not be interrupted.

• No impact on existing inventories of components manufactured before Jan. 1, 2010.

• Annual stepdown of virgin R-22 cap from 2010-2014 set below estimated demand.

• Two-year grandfather period for new installation projects.

For specific details about the rulings, visit http://www.epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/rulesoverview.html.