On January 1, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Subsection (h) regulations mandated automatic leak detection systems (ALDS) for commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment with charges > 1,500 lbs. Compliance deadlines are January 1, 2026 for new equipment and January 1, 2027 for existing equipment. 

Additionally, a new threshold for refrigerant management is effective January 1, 2026. Systems containing ≥15 lbs. of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant or substitutes with global warming potential (GWP) > 53 must comply with: 

• Leak rate calculations and monitoring.
• 30-day repair timelines when leaks exceed thresholds. 
• Chronic leak reporting to the EPA.
• 3-year recordkeeping requirements. 
• Reclaimed refrigerant tracking and documentation. 

Producers, importers, and exporters of Class I (chlorofluorocarbons – CFCs) and Class II (hydrochlorofluorocarbons – HCFC) ozone-depleting substances must submit reporting forms to EPA through the Central Data Exchange (CDX). The first submittal is due March 31, 2026 for calendar year 2025.