CFC Regulatory History

In response to concerns about ozone depletion caused by CFCs, representatives of the world community convened in Montreal in 1987, London in 1990, and Copenhagen in 1992. Additionally, the United States Government passed the Clean Air Act in 1992 which accelerated the CFC phaseout.

The outcome of all these meetings was:

• Production of CFCs stopped in 1996. It's interesting to note that some manufacturers phased out production a year earlier.
  
• HCFCs production will be cut to 65 percent of 1989 production by the year 2004.

The rest of the HCFC phaseout looks like this:

• In the year 2010, production and consumption of HCFC-22 will be frozen at baseline levels and there will be a ban on the use of HCFC-22 in new cooling equipment.
  
• In 2016, production and consumption of HCFC-123 will be frozen at baseline levels
  
• In 2020, HCFC-22 will be totally banned. HCFC-123 will not be available for use in new equipment.
  
• In 2030, HCFC-123 will be totally banned.
  
• There are no restrictions on HFC-134a and other alternative refrigerants being developed chlorine-free.

However, it is also fair to point out that many rulings change over time. One only has to remember the ASHRAE changes to ventilation rates to see how things can change.