AIM Act Update: What the New EPA Proposal Means for Automatic Leak Detection (ALD)

Recent regulatory developments under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act have prompted questions across the refrigeration and facilities community about what is changing, what is not, and how organizations should respond. While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reviewing aspects of its approach, the foundational compliance requirements remain in place and continue to shape near-term planning decisions. This makes now the right time to begin ALD planning and implementation.

To clarify the current state of the regulation and its practical implications, there are two key points to understand:

• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a proposed rule under the AIM Act related to the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons. The proposal was published in the Federal Register on October 3, 2025, and is available on epa.gov.
• Current AIM Act requirements state that new HFC refrigeration systems larger than 1,500 pounds must have Automatic Leak Detection (ALD) installed within 30 days starting January 1, 2026. Existing systems installed between 2017 and 2025 with charges above 1,500 pounds must have ALD in place by January 1, 2027.

What does this mean for facility and energy leaders?

Things are in flux, but some things are not going to change. Refrigerants are expensive. Leaks are costly. And expectations for sustainable operations are not going away. Moreover, state-level regulations (e.g. CARB in California) will continue to aggressively promote ALD and refrigerant management.

For major grocers and multi-site operators with centralized refrigeration systems, waiting on the sidelines is not a strategy. Delaying ALD deployment or leak reduction programs only increases exposure to risk, operational costs and disruptions, and reputational damage. If regulations eventually shift, they are unlikely to eliminate the need for responsible leak management — only to refine how it is measured or reported.

Even if the refrigerant regulations at the Federal level disappeared tomorrow, refrigerant costs and state-level requirements justify continuous automated monitoring and leak detection. Being known as the “big leaker” in the supermarket industry is not a distinction anyone wants.

Why continuous monitoring and proactive action matter

• Financial impact: Refrigerant loss and mandated leak checking in the absence of ALD drive higher operating costs.
• Sustainability goals: Corporate carbon and ESG commitments remain important.
• Regulatory readiness: Compliance frameworks take time to implement and remain aggressive at the state level — waiting until the EPA rules are final means falling behind.
• Operational resilience: Automatic leak detection (ALD) reduces downtime and has proven to significantly limit refrigerant losses.

While ALD systems cannot prevent the rare punctured or cracked pipe leak, these are the exceptions, not the rule.   For most multi-site operators, early refrigerant leak detection is the difference between a low-cost planned service call and a costly, emergency work order or even a catastrophic asset failure.

Phoenix can help

Phoenix Energy Technologies continues to help multi-site operators stay ahead of regulatory and operational challenges. Our ALD capabilities, built on Hussmann’s market-proven StoreConnect™ technology, deliver measurable cost savings, reduce refrigerant loss, and help teams meet compliance and sustainability goals with less effort. We provide early detection, lower operating costs, and requisite data for compliant regulatory filings.

We are monitoring the evolution of EPA’s rules and will provide updates when material changes occur. In the meantime, we encourage all multi-site operators with centralized refrigeration operations to continue planning and implementing their ALD and refrigerant management programs. The market is moving, and readiness takes time. 

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