Refrigerant leak compliance for grocery stores.
Since January 1, 2026, EPA’s AIM Act rules require leak rate calculations, 30-day repairs and chronic-leak reporting for HFC systems as small as 15 lb. That covers nearly every rack and many condensing units in a grocery store. The cheapest way to comply is to find leaks before they become a top-up.
What changed in 2026.
EPA’s Emissions Reduction and Reclamation rule under the AIM Act (40 CFR Part 84, Subpart C) extended leak management to HFC refrigerants such as R-404A, R-407A, R-407F and R-448A. From January 1, 2026, grocery operators must calculate a leak rate every time refrigerant is added to a system with 15 lb or more, repair within 30 days if the rate exceeds 20%, verify the repair, and keep records for three years.
Systems that lose 125% or more of their full charge in a calendar year must be reported to EPA by March 1 of the following year. Automatic leak detection is required for commercial refrigeration systems with 1,500 lb or more, on a schedule that depends on when they were installed. Starting in 2029, supermarket systems must be serviced with reclaimed HFCs.
Why detection matters more than paperwork.
Compliance software records the refrigerant your technician adds. By then the refrigerant is gone and the clock has started. The leak rate you report is a direct result of how long the leak ran before anyone noticed.
KalderIQ flags racks that are losing charge from controller data, often before a top-up is needed. Earlier detection means less refrigerant lost, lower leak rates and fewer systems anywhere near the chronic-leak threshold.
What Kalder does, and what it doesn’t.
Kalder helps you find and fix leaks sooner, and gives you leak reports and history for each rack. It does not calculate your regulatory leak rate, keep your Section 608 or AIM Act service records, or file reports with EPA. Those stay with your technician and your record-keeping system.
Operating in Canada or Mexico.
EPA rules apply to stores in the United States, including Hawaii. Stores in Mexico follow Mexican federal requirements instead. In Canada, refrigerant rules for most private grocery stores are set by the provinces. In Ontario, O. Reg. 463/10 governs ozone-depleting substances and other halocarbons, including HFCs, and requires certified technicians and leak testing. The federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2022 apply mainly to federal works and federal lands. Early leak detection reduces refrigerant loss under every one of these regimes.
The proof.
All case studiesThe Kalder products behind it.
Common questions
Do EPA leak repair rules apply to grocery stores?
Yes. Since January 1, 2026, EPA’s AIM Act rules apply leak repair requirements to refrigeration systems containing 15 lb or more of HFC refrigerant. Supermarket racks and many condensing units fall under the commercial refrigeration category, with a 20% leak-rate trigger.
What is a chronically leaking appliance?
Under EPA rules, a system that leaks 125% or more of its full charge in a calendar year. Owners must report it to EPA by March 1 of the following year.
Is the AIM Act leak rule being changed?
The rule is in effect. FMI (the Food Industry Association) has petitioned EPA to raise thresholds and delay parts of it, and EPA has said it may revisit leak management in future rulemaking. As of September 2026 the leak repair requirements remain as published. Check EPA’s HFC regulatory actions page for current status.
Is KalderIQ an automatic leak detection system under 40 CFR 84.108?
Talk to us about your specific systems. KalderIQ provides indirect leak analytics from controller data; whether a given setup satisfies EPA’s automatic leak detection requirements for systems of 1,500 lb or more depends on the system and the rule’s alerting and audit requirements.
Further reading.
See your stores the way our alarm desk does.
A 30-minute walkthrough with someone who knows refrigeration. Bring your store list and controller types; we’ll tell you what connects and where we’d start.