What Are the Latest California HVAC Regulations?

New California HVAC regulations are targeting refrigerant use and efficiency. This is not the first wave of changes in the industry. In 2013, Title 24 efficiency standards were set by the California Energy Commission; in 2016 the California Air Resources Board (CARB) was authorized to oversee the reduction of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions. Even more sweeping regulatory changes will take effect in 2023.

The U.S. Department of Energy has strictly regulated minimum efficiency levels for HVAC equipment since 1992. All air conditioning systems are measured using the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER). Meanwhile, the heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) is used for heat pumps and annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) is used for furnaces.

New Restrictions on Refrigerant

California passed legislation in 2018 that banned high global warming potential (GWP) HFCs, mirroring previous federal bans. California HVAC regulations announced in 2022 require:

Equipment with over 50 pounds of refrigerant to use coolant with a GWP of less than 150. Per the California Air Resources Board (CARB), this is expected to cut emissions by over 90% in facilities such as supermarkets and industrial buildings.
Food retailers with 20 or more stores to maintain a weighted average refrigerant GWP of less than 2,500, or reduce GWP potential by at least 25%, by 2026. By 2030, all stores would have to reduce their average GWP by 55%.
New systems for industrial refrigeration, in existing non-retail facilities, can use refrigerants between 1,500 and 2,200 GWP.
For new room air conditioners and dehumidifiers, the refrigerant used must have a GWP of below 750, beginning in 2023. Larger stationary ACs have until 2025 to meet this requirement.
CARB will launch a Refrigerant Recovery, Recycle, and Reuse Program in which AC manufacturers would have to use 10% of recovered R410 refrigerant from retired systems.

Nationwide Guidelines Also Apply

The Department of Energy (DOE) has made changes that will impact the entire nation. In the southwestern region, which includes California, the minimum standard SEER rating for cooling systems will be increased to 15 SEER (for split units using less than 45,000 BTU) and 14.5 SEER (for units that use more than 45,000 BTU). New EER/EER2 requirements will also go into effect. In all regions, furnaces must have at least an 81% AFUE rating and air-source heat pumps must have a minimum heating efficiency of 8.8 HSPF.

According to Angi, the increased efficiency requirements can mean paying $350 to $1,500 more for a new air conditioner, heat pump, or packaged system.2 But higher efficiency can mean saving on heating/cooling bills each month. After all, heating and cooling account for 55% of the energy used in homes, based on numbers by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

The 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards

These changes included requirements for fan efficiency in forced air systems; for gas furnace air-handling units, fans must operate at 0.45 watts/cubic feet per minute (CFM) or less. For non-gas air-handling units, it is 0.58 watts/CFM. Meanwhile, small duct, high-velocity forced-air systems must have fans running at 0.62 watts/CFM or less (with an airflow requirement of 250 CFM /ton or greater).

Porous inner core flex ducts are required as well. The exception is if there’s a nonporous layer or air barrier between the duct’s inner layer and outer vapor barrier. Mandatory air filtration requirements for systems with 10 feet or more of duct were set as well, with filtration being required on supply and balanced mechanical ventilation systems.

Title 24 Compliance Still Applies

The Energy Commission’s 2013 Title 24 rules still apply. These are minimum efficiency standards intended to reduce energy consumption throughout the state and include requirements such as:

Duct Testing: Unless ductwork is entirely enclosed within a conditioned space, it’s required to be sealed and insulated. Ducts must be insulated by material with an R-8 or R-11 value, while leakage must be HERS verified by a third-party licensed inspector/rater. Pressure tests are required everywhere in California and ductwork must be examined/repaired to pass an inspection.

*If no ducts are replaced, there must be 15% or less leakage; if ductwork replacement is performed, leakage must not exceed 6%).

HVAC Sizing: Before installing HVAC equipment, the heating and cooling load of a project must be properly calculated to ensure lasting efficiency. However, state requirements do not set rules as to the actual size of any piece of heating or cooling equipment.
Smart Thermostats: Title 24 requires smart thermostats with features like programmability and automatic setbacks. This pertains to the installation of central heating/cooling systems during construction. There are no specific requirements for how occupants use their thermostat’s programmable settings.

NexGen Factors the Latest Regulations into New System Design