As the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act of 2020 continues to evolve, businesses in the refrigerant industry need to stay ahead of regulatory changes to ensure compliance.
An inventory checklist can help companies meet the AIM Act's requirements efficiently, avoiding compliance pitfalls and ensuring they’re optimizing operations and are well-positioned for future regulatory updates. A refrigerant tracking solution ensures you can collect and store all of that data properly.
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are widely used in refrigerants, air conditioning, building foam insulation, fire extinguishing systems, and aerosols – but are seen as a major contributor to global warming. Deemed hundreds to thousands of times more damaging to the climate than carbon dioxide, HFCs are being targeted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The AIM Act puts a robust framework in place to phase out these harmful greenhouse gases (GHGs), eventually reducing their output to 15% by 2036. Measures are also being implemented to compel the industry to capture and reclaim these gases and develop new technologies and next-generation HFC alternatives.
The EPA is prioritizing enforcement and compliance actions for HFCs to mitigate climate change. Effective product management and record-keeping will therefore be essential for manufacturers, distributors, and asset managers moving forward, says Elizabeth Wallace, VP of Product at TrackAbout.
The AIM Act affects everybody who works with refrigerants – from the major manufacturer right down to the small family-owned firms working on HVAC repairs.
The compliance requirements for the AIM Act are tracking and reporting leak detection, stricter EPA oversight, and enhanced monitoring and record keeping. Inventory checklists are an excellent way of making sure your business is ready for the AIM Act changes and that you are collecting the required data.
If you haven’t already, you really need to start thinking about all the data you need to collect to satisfy the AIM Act requirements, says Wallace.
This includes details about the refrigerants you’re handling, the cylinders that transport them, and how when and where they’re stored, moved, cleaned, and disposed of.
It’s important to put systems in place that allow the following information to be captured and safely stored, ready to share with key stakeholders, when necessary:
Asset/classification information. What type of asset are you monitoring, and what is it holding? All pertinent details about its contents should be detailed. For example, whether or not it's a coolant, if it is acid-washed, and so on.
Serial number. The identification number is stamped on the side of the cylinder or container. Occasionally, the serial number might not be unique, so we always suggest tagging the asset with a barcode as well. This helps to match the barcode number with the manufacturer, for example.
Origin information. Who produced the refrigerant. Where did it originate from?
Asset size. How much product can the cylinder hold? This could be listed in tons, liters, or pounds.
Type of refrigerant. It’s important to include detailed information about the specific type of product you’re handling (for example, R-134a or R-22) and its Global Warming Potential (GWP).
Any additional information. Every manufacturer will have their own branded product names and information. Users can also add further details to build a comprehensive summary of the refrigerant, its safety data, and shipping information.
Using a dedicated software tool to collect and store all this data not only makes the process far simpler but helps to minimize mistakes and oversight, says Wallace.
Our top tips to prepare include:
Housekeeping. If you don’t currently have a tracking system in place and rely on manual counts and paperwork, this may take some time, but it pays to have a thorough understanding of your fleet. How many assets do you own, and what types are they? Where are they located—at your warehouse, in transit, or with customers? What are they being used for, and what condition are they in (including maintenance, replacement, and cleaning schedules)? It's also crucial to assess how many of your assets are subject to AIM Act requirements to fully understand the scope of compliance efforts.
Talk to your customers. Keep them informed about the changes, what they mean to them, their responsibilities, and the information they will need to collect.
Get the team onboard. Explain the changes to your employees, make sure everyone understands what is required of them, and provide adequate training.
Be prepared for higher costs. The shift to lower GWP alternatives will come at a cost. Even the record-keeping requirements may require new tools or workflows to be adapted.
Use a trusted software solution. TrackAbout helps businesses monitor and manage valuable assets, streamline operations, optimize workflows, and ensure compliance with the latest AIM Act requirements. Learn more by requesting a free demo with our team of experts.
You can find out more about the phasedown and the implementation of the AIM Act by visiting the EPA website and its FAQ page.