Federal Policy

AIM Act Explained for HVAC Owners & Operators

This fact sheet breaks down how the AIM Act impacts HVAC owners and operators and offers guidance for maintaining compliance. Beginning in 2026, most commercial refrigeration, industrial refrigeration, and comfort cooling systems containing HFCs (or substitutes with GWP >53) and a full charge of 15 pounds or greater are subject to federal leak repair and recordkeeping requirements under the AIM Act.

Multi-State Owner-Operator Best Practices

Regardless of State, every Owner should be able to answer 5 questions for Every Asset:

1. What refrigerant is in the system?

2. How much refrigerant does it contain?

3. How much refrigerant was added last year?

4. How many leaks occurred and when were they repaired?

5. Where did recovered refrigerant ultimately go (reuse, reclamation, or destruction)?

For most Owners, Compliance can be reduced to 4 Foundational Practices:

Inventory Everything

Maintain an asset-level refrigerant inventory.

Track Every Pound

Document refrigerant purchases, additions, recoveries, and disposals.

Fix Leaks Quickly

Establish documented leak detection and repair procedures.

Keep Records Organized

Store service records, leak reports, inspections, and reclamation documentation in a single system.