# The A2L Refrigerant Transition Is Here: What Changed in 2025–2026 | Commercial Refrigeration Oklahoma City

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Home Blog The A2L Refrigerant Transition Is Here: What Changed in 2025–2026 Industry news The A2L Refrigerant Transition Is Here: What Changed in 2025–2026 EPA's AIM Act GWP limits took effect January 1, 2025. What that means for new commercial refrigeration equipment and how it changes repair-or-replace decisions. 2026-09-07 · By Commercial Refrigeration Oklahoma City The commercial refrigeration industry has been talking about the A2L transition for years. As of 2025 it’s real: under the EPA AIM Act and its Technology Transitions rule, new commercial refrigeration equipment has to use refrigerants below set global-warming-potential (GWP) limits, and manufacturers have moved production to A2L refrigerants to comply. What actually took effect January 1, 2025 — GWP limits began applying to newly manufactured or imported equipment in several commercial refrigeration categories: broadly a 150 GWP cap for many new stand-alone units and a 300 GWP cap for many new remote and rack systems (with some category-specific dates and details). The practical result: new reach-ins, merchandisers, ice machines, and walk-in condensing units now ship with R-454C, R-455A, R-457A , or similar A2L blends (GWP ~145–150) instead of R-404A (GWP ~3,900). What it does not do It does not require you to replace working equipment. You can keep operating and servicing your existing R-404A, R-448A, R-134a — even R-22 — systems as long as refrigerant is available. There is no “rip and replace” mandate. Where it changes your decisions Repair-or-replace math. When you’re deciding whether to put a compressor into a 12-year-old R-404A unit or replace it, “the replacement puts me on the long-term refrigerant” is now a real factor. See repair or replace . Service capability. A2L systems have leak-detection, ventilation, ignition-source, and charge-limit requirements, and they need A2L-rated recovery machines, gauges, and leak detectors. Make sure your contractor is trained and equipped for A2L before you buy A2L equipment. Space and install. A2L charge limits are tied to room size and equipment type. A new unit may need a specific location, added ventilation, or a smaller-charge configuration. Factor that into a buildout or a swap. What to do now If your equipment is healthy, do nothing — keep maintaining it. If you’re replacing a unit, ask what A2L refrigerant it uses and whether your space meets the requirements. If you’re choosing a service company, confirm they handle both legacy and A2L equipment. Commercial Refrigeration Oklahoma City works across legacy refrigerants and A2L, and builds the transition into every repair-or-replace conversation. More detail in the A2L guide . Regulatory summary for general information; EPA rules and equipment listings control. Need a technician? 24/7 emergency dispatch across the Oklahoma City metro. Flat diagnostic quoted before anyone rolls. Call (405) 725-9148 Commercial Refrigeration Oklahoma City — commercial refrigeration repair, OKC metro A live person answers 24/7. Flat-rate diagnostic quoted before a technician rolls. Call (405) 725-9148 Get a callback