AIM (American Innovation and Manufacturing) Act
The AIM (American Innovation and Manufacturing) Act was enacted into law by Congress, signed by the President at the end of 2020, and finalized in September 2021.
The AIM Act phases down the United States’ production and consumption of all hydrofluorocarbon gases (HFCs), which are widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and fire protection, through 2036. It brings the US in line with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which reduces global warming gases in the atmosphere.
The phase-down of HFCs is based on baseline levels, with the goal of reducing the production and consumption of HFCs to 15% of baseline levels by 2036, through an allowance allocation and trading program. View the phase-down schedule in the bar graph below.
The phase-down of available virgin gases will greatly outpace the demand for both new equipment and the ongoing servicing of existing equipment. This gap will be filled by reclaimed gases.
As an industry leader, A-Gas is dedicated to helping our customers procure the materials they need. Through our expertise and approach to the lifecycle management of gases, A-Gas has been capturing this gas for destruction or future re-use, preventing its harmful release into the atmosphere for over 30 years.
Have you talked with your supplier about the upcoming reduction?
*The bar graph is recreated based on information from the EPA.
Contact us to learn how the AIM Act may impact you.
The main components that make up some blended gases include molecules found in HFCs (Hydrogen, Fluorine, and Carbon). Some of the products you use, including HFO blends, may include those components. If you are not sure if the products you use contain those molecules, please reference the Safety Data Sheet.
Clean agent fire suppression gases:
HFC-227ea (FM-200®, Trademark of The Chemours Company)
HFC-236fa (FE-36™, Trademark of DuPont; CLEANGUARD®, Trademark of Tyco Fire Products LP)
HFC-125 (FE-25™, Trademark of The Chemours Company; Ecaro®, Trademark of Fike Corp.)
Refrigerant gases:
R23, R32, R125, R134a, R143a, R404A, R407A, R407C, R407F, R407H, R410A, R417A, R421A, R422D, R507
R448A and R449A are HFO blends that contain HFC components. Therefore, they are impacted by the AIM Act.
Not an exhaustive list
A-Gas is a reclaimer first. As a modern reclaimer, we have invested heavily across the globe in innovative, world-class separation technology, which allows us to provide you with reclaimed products that meet AHRI standards.
For over 30 years, our position as a global leader has enabled us to see how other locations adopted and implemented similar legislation. We are now providing our customers with insights from that experience.
Our commitment to responsible refrigerant lifecycle management means that we are experts in EPA documentation: all our Rapid Recovery® and Rapid Exchange® technicians are EPA-certified, our Refri-Claim® program meets EPA and DOT requirements, and our Fire Protection technicians follow the Halon Recycling Corporation's voluntary code of practice.
