Tops Market chooses Matelex to enhance management of its refrigeration facilities

New York Urges Automatic Leak Detection for Grocery Retailers Now

Matelex Helps Supermarkets Stay Compliant and Competitive as State-Level Enforcement Tightens

NEW YORK – June 10, 2025 –  As of June 1, 2025, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) requires tens of thousands of commercial refrigeration systems with more than 1,500 pounds of high GWP refrigerants such as R-404A to be equipped with ALD  (Automatic Leak Detection) systems — a move aimed at cutting emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), some of the most potent greenhouse gases. Matelex, a global leader in automatic leak detection, is helping grocery retailers across New York State to act now.

“With New York now requiring ALD systems, grocers can’t rely on outdated or direct detection methods only,” said David Reitz, U.S. Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Matelex. “Automatic leak detection is no longer optional — it’s essential to stay compliant, ensure cold chain safety, and protect merchandise and profits.”

This new requirement is part of the DEC’s finalized 6 NYCRR Part 494 regulation, which builds on existing rules that already apply to facilities with 50 pounds or more of refrigerant. Under both old and new mandates, failure to comply can result in penalties — including fines up to $37,500 per day per violation, depending on the severity and duration of the offense.

“States like New York, California, and Washington are moving forward regardless of any changes that might take effect at the federal level,” Reitz added. “Retailers who wait for Washington to act are going to be left behind — both on compliance and operational efficiency.”

Matelex’s ALD solution helps grocery retailers in New York not only stay compliant but also unlock significant financial and operational benefits. At the same time, it simplifies the workload on refrigeration technicians, enabling faster, precise interventions and better service quality across store locations.

Operational Benefits for Grocery Retailers:

• Reduce refrigerant losses and cut overall costs
• Improve energy efficiency and lower utility bills
• Prevent costly system failures and protect perishable goods
• Extend equipment lifespan and reduce emergency repairs

Efficiency Gains for Technicians:

• Receive precise, remote leak alerts, eliminating guesswork
• Prioritize service calls and avoid unnecessary site visits
• Share transparent, data-backed insights with store managers
• Manage more store locations with fewer resources

Tops Markets, which operates 148 grocery stores across New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, equipped about 10 stores with 24 installations of Matelex’s ALD system in advance of the June 1 compliance deadline.

“We’re seeing much stricter regulations in New York State compared to the federal level,” confirms Ron Smith, Sr. Maintenance & Energy Specialist at Tops Markets. “A proactive compliance strategy is key. Matelex has a track record — their solution is tested, reliable, and built for long-term compliance.”

Matelex’ proven, patented ALD and energy monitoring solution – PolarBox paired with the PolarVisor web app – is an award-winning two-part system designed to simplify compliance and control costs. At the New York-based Tops Markets a new pilot project is underway featuring this technology.

More About PolarBox and PolarVisor

PolarBox is a remote monitoring device for refrigeration installations, offering 24/7 visibility to owners and technicians. With measurements taken every 5 seconds and data analysis tools, the PolarBox is able to learn the normal operation of an installation in order to identify drifts and leaks, also alerting the proper personnel by leveraging current infrastructure. It can even integrate into an existing alarming workflow. It gives owners as well as operators and technicians access to a remote web app called Polar Visor with real time and historical refrigerant level curves, prompting them to take action based on what is actually happening in the system. The algorithm is the critical component in detecting all leakages. It’s proactive, allowing immediate action to reduce risk of catastrophe including product loss. It will also detect slow leaks that are hard to detect. For more information about solutions for grocery store owners and operators, visit www.matelex.com.

It can even integrate into an existing alarming workflow. It gives owners as well as operators and technicians access to a remote web app called Polar Visor with real time and historical refrigerant level curves, prompting them to take action based on what is actually happening in the system.

The algorithm is the critical component in detecting all leakages. It’s proactive, allowing immediate action to reduce risk of catastrophe including product loss. It will also detect slow leaks that are hard to detect.