&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Radiation
16205J)
EPA-430-F-93-010
June 1993
Stratospheric Ozone Protection
•
Final Rule Summary
COMPLYING WITH
THE REFRIGERANT RECYCLING RULE
This fact sheet provides an overview of
the refrigerant recycling requirements of
section 608 of the Clean Air Act, 1990, as
amended (CAA), including final regulations
published on May 14, 1993 (58 FR 28660),
and the prohibition on venting that became
effective on July 1, 1992.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview 1
Prohibition on Venting 2
Regulatory Requirements 2
Service Practice Requirements .... 2
Table 1: Levels of Evacuation . . 3
Equipment Certification ........ 4
Equipment Crandfathering ...... 4
Refrigerant Leaks ". ... .... ..... 4
Technician Certification .......... 5
Refrigerant Sales Restrictions .... 5
Certification by
Owners of Equipment 5
Equipment Certification Form ... 7
Reclaimer Certification 6
MVAC-like Appliances 6
Safe Disposal Requirements 6
Recordkeeping Requirements .... 9
Hazardous Waste Disposal 9
Enforcement 10
Planning and Acting for the Future . 10
For Further Information 10
Definitions 11
Table 2: Compliance Dates 12
Overview
Under section 608 of the CAA, EPA has
established regulations that:
• Require service practices that maximize
recycling of ozone-depleting compounds
(both chlorofluorocarbons [CFCs] and
hydrochlorofluorocarbons [HCFCs])
during the servicing and disposal of air-
conditioning and refrigeration equip-
ment.
• Set certification requirements for recy-
cling and recovery equipment, techni-
cians, and reclaimers.
• Restrict the sale of refrigerant to certi-
fied technicians.
e Require persons servicing or disposing
of air-conditioning and refrigeration
equipment to certify to EPA that they
have acquired recycling or recovery
equipment and are complying with the
requirements of the rule.
m
Require the repair of substantial leaks *•*
air-conditioning and refrigeration equip-
ment with a charge of greater than 50
pounds.
Establish safe disposal requirements to
ensure removal of refrigerants from
ftocyctodfttocyciabl*
Prinwo on pip*r mat oonaSm
« Kan SOX racyctod SMf
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goods that enter the waste stream with
the charge intact (e.g., motor vehicle air
conditioners, home refrigerators, and
room air conditioners).
The Prohibition on Venting
Effective July 1, 1992, section 608 of
the Act prohibits individuals from knowingly
venting ozone-depleting compounds used as
refrigerants into the atmosphere while main-
taining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of
air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment.
Only four types of releases are permitted
under the prohibition:
"De minimis" quantities of refrigerant
released in the course of making good
faith attempts to recapture and recycle
or safely dispose of refrigerant.
2. Refrigerants emitted in the course of
normal operation of air-conditioning and
refrigeration equipment (as opposed to
during the maintenance, servicing,
repair, or disposal of this equipment)
such as from mechanical purging and
leaks. However, EPA is requiring the
repair of substantial leaks.
3.- Mixtures of nitrogen and R-22 that are
used as holding charges or as leak test
gases, because in these cases, the ozone-
depleting compound is not used as a
refrigerant. However, a technician may
not avoid recovering refrigerant by
adding nitrogen to a charged system;
before nitrogen is added, the system
must be evacuated to the appropriate
level in Table 1. Otherwise, the CFC
or HCFC vented along with the nitrogen
will be considered a refrigerant. Simi-
larly, pure CFCs or HCFCs released
from appliances will be presumed to be
refrigerants, and their release will be
considered a violation of the prohibition
on venting.
4. Small releases of refrigerant which
result from purging hoses or from con-
necting or disconnecting hoses to charge
or service appliances will not be consid-
ered violations of the prohibition on
venting. However, recovery and recy-
cling equipment manufactured after
November 15, 1993, must equipped
with low-loss fittings.
Regulatory Requirements
Service Practice Requirements
i
1. Evacuation Requirements. Beginning
July 13, 1993, technicians are required to
evacuate air-conditioning and refrigeration
equipment to established vacuum levels. If
the technician's recovery or recycling equip-
ment is manufactured any time before No-
vember 15, 1993, the air-conditioning and
refrigeration equipment must be evacuated
to the levels described in the first column of
Table 1. If the technician's recovery or
recycling equipment is manufactured on or
after November 15, 1993, the air-condition-
ing and refrigeration equipment must be
evacuated to the levels described in the
second column of Table 1, and the recovery
or recycling equipment must have been
certified by an EPA-approved equipment
testing organization (see Equipment Certifi-
cation, below).
Technicians repairing small appliances,
such as household refrigerators, household
freezers, and water coolers, are required to
recover 80-90 percent of the refrigerant in
the system, depending on the status of the
system's compressor.
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:'•',• •.-.••.":--".-•••• '*•:• '".. -T= v- ' TABLE 1 "•
REQUIRED LEVELS OF EVACUATION FOR APPLIANCES
EXCEPT FOR SMALL APPLIANCES, MVACS, AND MVAC-LIKE APPLIANCES
'••...•-. Type of Appliance
HCFC-22 appliance" normally containing less
than 200 pounds of refrigerant
HCFC-22 appliance" normally containing 200
pounds or more of refrigerant
Other high-pressure appliance" normally con-
taining less than 200 pounds of refrigerant
(CFC-12, -500, -502, -114)
Other high-pressure appliance" normally con-
taining 200 pounds or more of refrigerant
(CFC-12, -500, -502, -114)
Very High Pressure Appliance (CFC-13, -503)
Low-Pressure Appliance (CFC-11, HCFC-123)
Inches of Mercury Vacuum*
Using Equipment .Manufactured:
Before Nov. 1 5,
1993
0
4
4
4
0
25
On or after Nov. 15,
1993
0
10
10
15
0
25 mm Hg absolute
'Relative to standard atmospheric pressure of 29.9* Hg.
"Or isolated component of such an appliance
2, Exceptions to Evacuation Require-
ments. EPA has established limited excep-
tions to its evacuation requirements for 1)
repairs to leaky equipment and 2) repairs
that are not major and that are not followed
by an evacuation of the equipment to the
environment.
If, due to 'eaks, evacuation to the levels
in Table 1 is not attainable,..or would sub-
stantially contaminate the refrigerant being
recovered, persons opening the appliance
must:
• isolate leaking from non-leaking compo-
nents wherever possible;
evacuate non-leaking components to the
levels in Table 1; and
. evacuate leaking components to the
lowest level that can be attained without
substantially contaminating the refriger-
ant. This level cannot exceed 0 psig.
If evacuation of the equipment to the
environment is not to be performed when
repairs are complete, and if the repair is not
major, then the appliance must:
• be evacuated to at least 0 psig before it
is opened if it is a high- or very high-
pressure appliance; or .
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be pressurized to 0 psig before it is
opened if it is a low-pressure appliance.
Methods that require subsequent purging
(e.g., nitrogen) cannot be used.
"Major" repairs are those involving removal
of the compressor, condenser, evaporator,
or auxiliary heat exchanger coil.
3. Reclamation Requirement. EPA has
also established that refrigerant recovered
and/or recycled can be returned to the same
system or other systems owned by the same
person without restriction. If refrigerant
changes ownership, however, that refriger-
ant must be reclaimed (i.e., cleaned to the
ARI 700 standard of purity and chemically
analyzed to verify that it meets this stan-
dard). This provision will expire in May,
1995, when it may be replaced an off-site
recycling standard.
Equipment Certification
The Agency has established a certifica-
tion program for recovery and recycling
equipment. Under the program, EPA re-
quires that equipment manufactured on or
after November 15, 1993, be tested by an
EPA-approved testing organization to ensure
that it meets EPA requirements. Recycling
and recovery equipment intended for use
with air-conditioning and refrigeration
equipment besides small appliances must be
tested under the ARI 740-1993 test protocol,
which is included in the final rule as Appen-
dix B. Recovery equipment intended for use
with small appliances must be tested under
either the ARI 740-1993 protocol or Appen-
dix C of the final rule. The Agency is
requiring recovery efficiency standards that
vary depending on the size and type of air-
conditioning or refrigeration equipment
being serviced. For recovery and recycling
equipment intended for use with air-condi-
tioning and refrigeration equipment besides
small appliances, these standards are the
same as those in the second column of Table
1. Recovery equipment intended for use
with small appliances must be able to recov-
er 90 percent of the refrigerant in the small
appliance when the small appliance compres-
sor is operating and 80 percent of the refrig-
erant in the small appliance when the com-
pressor is not operating.
Equipment Grandfathering
Equipment manufactured before Novem-
ber 15, 1993, including home-made equip-
ment, will be grandfathered if it meets the
standards in the first column of Table 1.
Third-party testing is not required for equip-
ment manufactured before November 15,
1993, but equipment manufactured on or
after that date, including home-made equip-
ment, must be tested by a third-party (see
Equipment Certification above).
Refrigerant Leaks
Owners of equipment with charges of
greater than 50 pounds are required to repair
substantial leaks. A 35 percent annual leak
rate is established for the industrial process
and commercial refrigeration sectors as the
trigger for requiring repairs. An annual
leak rate of 15 percent of charge per year is
established for comfort cooling chillers and
all other equipment with a charge of over 50
pounds oth-r than industrial process and
commercial refrigeration equipment. Own-
ers of air-conditioning and refrigeration
equipment with more than 50 pounds of
charge must keep records of the quantity of
refrigerant added to their equipment during
servicing and maintenance procedures.
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Mandatory Technician Certification
EPA has established a mandatory techni-
cian certification program. The Agency has
developed four types of certification:
• For servicing small appliances (Type I).
• For servicing or disposing of high- or
very high-pressure appliances, except
small appliances and MVACs (Type II).
For servicing or disposing of low-pres-
sure appliances (Type III)
• For servicing all types of equipment
(Universal).
Persons removing refrigerant from small
appliances and motor vehicle air condition-
ers for purposes of disposal of these appli-
ances do not have to be certified.
Technicians are required to pass an
EPA-approved test given by an EPA-ap-
proved certifying organization to become
certified under the mandatory program.
Technicians must be certified by November
14, 1994. EPA expects to have approved
some certifying organizations by September
of .this .year. The Stratospheric Ozone
Hotline will distribute lists of approved
organizations at that time.
EPA plans to "grandfather" individuals
who have already participated in training
and testing programs provided the testing
programs 1) are approved by EPA and 2)
provide additional, EPA-approved materials
or testing to these individuals to ensure that
they have the required level of knowledge.
Although any organization may apply to
become an approved certifier, EPA plans to
give priority to national organizations able
to reach large numbers of people. EPA
encourages smaller training organizations to
make arrangements with national testing
organizations to administer certification
examinations at the conclusion of their
courses.
Refrigerant Sales Restrictions
Under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act,
sales of CFC-12 in containers smaller than
20 pounds are now restricted to technicians
certified under EPA's motor vehicle air
conditioning regulations. Persons servicing
appliances other than motor vehicle air
conditioners may still buy containers of
CFC-12 larger than 20 pounds.
After November 14, 1994, the sale of
refrigerant in any size container will be
restricted to technicians certified either
under the program described in Technician
Certification above or under EPA's motor
vehicle air conditioning regulations.
Certification by Owners of Recycling and
Recovery Equipment
EPA is requiring that persons servicing
or disposing of air-conditioning and refriger-
ation equipment certify to EPA that they
have acquired (built, bought, or leased)
recovery or recycling equipment and that
they are complying with the applicable re-
quirements of this rule. This certification
must be signed by the owner of the equip-
ment or another responsible officer and sent
to the appropriate EPA Regional Office by
August 12, 1993. A sample form for this
certification is attached. Although owners
of recycling and recovery equipment are re-
quired to list the number of trucks based at
their shops, they do not need to have a piece
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of recycling or recovery equipment for
every truck.
Reclaimer Certification
Reclaimers are required to return refrig-
erant to the purity level specified in ARI
Standard 700-1988 (an industry-set purity
standard) and to verify this purity using the
laboratory protocol set forth in the same
standard. In addition, reclaimers must
release no more than 1.5 percent of the
refrigerant during the reclamation process
and must dispose of wastes properly. Re-
claimers must certify by August 12, 1993,
to the Section 608 Recycling Program Man-
ager at EPA headquarters that they are
complying with these requirements and that
the information given is true and correct.
The certification must also include the name
and address of the reclaimer and a list of
equipment used to reprocess and to analyze
the refrigerant.
EPA encourages reclaimers to partici-
pate in third-party reclaimer certification
programs, such as that operated by the Air-
Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute
(ARI). Third-party certification can enhance
the attractiveness of a reclaimer's product by
providing an objective assessment of its
purity. . . '
MVAC-like Appliances
Some of the air conditioners that are
covered by this rule are identical to motor
vehicle air conditioners (MVACs), but they
are not covered by the MVAC refrigerant
recycling rule (40 CFR Part 82 Subpart B)
because they are used in vehicles that are
not defined as "motor vehicles." These air
conditioners include many systems used in
construction equipment, farm vehicles,
boats, and airplanes. Like MVACs in cars
and trucks, these air conditioners typically
contain two or three pounds of CFC-12 and
use open-drive compressors to cool the
passenger compartments of vehicles. (Vehi-
cle air conditioners utilizing HCFC-22 are
not included in this group and are therefore
subject to the requirements outlined above
for HCFC-22 equipment.) EPA is defining
these air conditioners as "MVAC-like appli-
ances" and is applying the MVAC rule's re-
quirements for the certification and use of
recycling and recovery equipment to them.
That is, technicians servicing MVAC-like
appliances must "properly use" recycling or
recovery equipment that has been certified
to meet the standards in Appendix A to 40
CFR Part 82, Subpart B. In addition, EPA
is allowing technicians who service MVAC-
like appliances to be certified by a certifica-
tion program approved under the MVAC
rule, if they wish.
Safe Disposal Requirements
Under EPA's rule, equipment that is
typically dismantled on-site before disposal
(e.g., retail food refrigeration, cold storage
warehouse refrigeration, chillers, and indus-
trial process refrigeration) has to have the
refrigerant recovered in accordance with
EPA's requirements for servicing. Howev-
er, equipment that typically enters the waste
stream with the charge intact (e.g., motor
vehicle air conditioners, household refrigera-
tors and freezers, and room air conditioners)
is subject to special safe disposal require-
ments.
Under these requirements, the final
person in the disposal chain (e.g., a scrap
metal recycler or landfill owner) is responsi-
ble for ensuring that refrigerant is recovered
from equipment before the final disposal of
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CMB# 2060-0256
Expiration Date: 5/96
THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA)
REFRIGERANT RECOVERY OR RECYCUNG DEVICE
ACQUISITION CERTIFICATION FORM
EPA regulations require establishments that service or dispose of refrigeration or air conditioning equipment
to certify by August 12.1993 that they have acquired recovery or recycling devices that meset EPA standards
for. such devices. To certify that you have acquired equipment, please cbmplete.this form according to
the instructions and mail it to the appropriate EPA Regional Office. BOTH THE INSTRUCTIONS AND
MAILING ADDRESSES CAN BE FOUND ON THE REVERSE SIDE OF THIS FORM.
PART1: ESTABLISHMENT INFORMATION
Name of Estabusnment Street
(Area Code) Telephone Numoer
City
State
ZID Code
ner of Service Ver.icies Basea at Establishment
County
PART 2: REGULATORY CLASSIFICATION
Identify the type of work performed by the establishment. Check all boxes that apply.
D Type A-Service small appliances
O Type B -Service refrigeration or air conditioning equipment other than small appliances
D Type C -Dispose of small appliances
O Type D -Dispose of refrigeration or air conditioning equipment other than small appliances
PART 3: DEVICE IDENTIFICATION
Name of Dewcels) Manufacturer
Model Nuircer
Year
Sera Number (if any)
Check Box it Self-
Contained
•
•2 • . •
3
4
5
6
7
0
0
0
O
O
O
O
PART 4: CERTIFICATION SIGNATURE
I certify that the establishment in Part 1 has acquired the refrigerant recovery or recycling device(s) listed in
Part 2, that the establishment is complying with Section 608 regulations, and that the information given is true
and correct.
Signature of Owner/Responsible Officer
Date
Name (Rease Print)
Title
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O»» ol Mwng«m.ni ana Budo^t w«ir,nQior DC 20S03 mirue 'Anwiticn Dm< Olte»r of EPA" DO NOT SEND THIS FORM TO THE ABOVE ADDRESSES OH.Y SEND CCM»*rVTS TO THESE
ADDRESSES
-7-
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Instruction*
EPA Rtgiontl Office*
Part 1: Please provide the name, address, and telephone
number of the establishment where the refrigerant recovery
or recycling device(s) is (are) located. Please complete
one form for each location. State the number of vehicles
based at this location that are used to transport technicians
and equipment to and from service sites.
Part 2: Check the appropriate boxes for the type of work
performed by technicians who are employees of the
establishment. The term 'small appliance* refers to any of
the'following products that are fully manufactured, charged,
and hermetically sealed in a factory with five pounds or
less of refrigerant: refrigerators and freezers designed for
home use, room air conditioners (including window air
conditioners and packaged terminal air conditioners),
packaged terminal heat pumps, dehumidifiers, under-the-
counter ice makers, vending machines, and drinking water
coolers.
Part 3: For each recovery or recycling device acquired,
please list the name of the manufacturer of the device, and
(if applicable) its model number and serial number.
If more than 7 devices have been acquired, please fill out
an additional form and attach it to this one. Recovery
devices that are self-contained should be listed first and
should be identified by checking the box in the last column
on the right. Self-contained recovery equipment means
refrigerant recovery or recycling equipment that is capable
of removing the refrigerant from an appliance without the
assistance of components contained in the appliance. On
the other hand, system-dependent recovery equipment
means refrigerant recovery equipment that requires the
assistance of components contained in an appliance to
remove the refrigerant from the appliance.
If the establishment has been listed as Type B and/or
Type D in Part 2. then the first device listed in Part 3 must
be a self-contained device and identified as such by
checking the box in the last column on the right.
If any of the devices are homemade, they should be
identified by writing 'homemade' in the column provided
for listing the name of the device Manufacturer. Type A or
Type B establishments can use homemade devices
manufactured before November. 15, .1993- Type C or Type
. D establishments can use homemade device's
manufactured anytime. If. however, a Type C'OrType D
establishment is using homemade equipment manufactured
after November 15. 1993. then it must not use these
devices tor service jobs.
Part 4: This form must be signed by either th.e owner of
the establishment or another responsible officer. The
person who signs is certifying that the establishment has
acquired the equipment, that the establishment '
complying with Section 606 regulations, and that the
information provided is true and correct.
-8-
Send your form to the EPA office listed under the state or
territory in which the establishment is located.
Connecticut Maine, Massacnusetts. New Hampshire,
Rhode Island, Vermont
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region I,
Mail Code APC, JFK Federal Building, One
Congress Street Boston, MA 02203
New York, New Jersey, Puerto' Rico, Virgin- Islands
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region II,
Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, Room 5000, 26
Federal Plaza. New York, NY 10278
Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, West Virginia
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region III,
Mail Code 3AT21, 841 Chestnut Building,
Philadelphia. PA 19107
Alabama, Florida, Georgia. Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region IV, .
Mail Code APT-AE, 345 Courtland Street, NE,
Atlanta, GA 30365
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota. Ohio, Wisconsin
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region V,
Mail Code AT18J, 77 W. Jacks.on Blvd., Chicago,
IL 60604
Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region VI,
Mail Code 6T-EC, First Interstate Tower at
Fountain Place. 1445 Ross Ave., Suite 1200,
Dallas TX 75202 .
Iowa. Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region VII,
Mail Code ARTX/ARBR, 726 Minnesota Ave.,
Kansas City, KS 66101
Colorado. Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah,
• Wyoming
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region VIII,
Mail Code 8AT-AP, 999 18th Street, Suite 500,
Denver, CO 80202
American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii,
Nevada
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region IX,
Mail Code A-3. 75 Hawthorne Street, San
• Francisco, CA 94105
Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
CAA 608 Enforcement Contact: EPA Region X.
Mail Code AT-082, 1200 Sixth Ave., Seattle, WA
98101
-------
the equipment. However, persons "up-
stream" can remove the refrigerant and
provide documentation of its removal to the
final person if this is more cost-effective.
The equipment used to recover refriger-
ant from appliances prior to their final
disposal must meet the same "performance
standards" as equipment used prior to ser-
vicing, but it does not need to be tested by
a laboratory. This means that self-built
equipment is allowed as long as it meets the
performance requirements. For MVACs
and MVAC-like appliances, the performance
requirement is 102 mm of mercury vacuum
and for small appliances, the recover equip-
ment performance requirements are 90
percent efficiency when the appliance com-
pressor is operational, and 80 percent effi-
ciency when the appliance compressor is not
operational.
Technician certification is not required
for individuals removing refrigerant from
appliances in the waste stream.
The safe disposal requirements are
effective on July 13, 1993. The equipment
must be registered or certified with the
Agency by August 12,-1993. A sample
form is attached.
Major Recordkeeping Requirements
Technicians servicing appliances that contain
50 or more pounds of refrigerant must
provide the owner with an invoice that
indicates the amount of refrigerant added to
the appliance. Technicians must also keep
a copy of their proof of certification at their
place of business.
Owners of appliances that contain 50 or
more pounds of refrigerant must keep ser-
vicing records documenting the date and
type of service, as well as the quantity of
refrigerant added.
Wholesalers who sell CFC and HCFC re-
frigerants must retain invoices that indicate
the name of the purchaser, the date of sale,.
and the quantity of refrigerant purchased,
Reclaimers must maintain records of the
names and addresses of persons sending
them material for reclamation and the quan-
tity of material sent to them for reclamation.
This information must be maintained on a
transactional basis. Within 30 days of the
end of the calendar year, reclaimers must
report to EPA the total quantity of material
sent to them that year for reclamation, the
mass of refrigerant reclaimed that year, and
the mass of waste products generated that
year.
Hazardous Waste Disposal
If refrigerants are recycled or reclaimed,
they are not considered hazardous under
federal law. In addition, used oils contami-
nated with CFCs are not hazardous on the
condition that:
They are not mixed with other waste.
• They are subjected to CFC recycling or
reclamation.
• They are not mixed with used oils from
other sources.
Used oils that contain CFCs after the
CFC reclamation procedure, however, are
subject to specification limits for used oil
fuels if these oils are destined for burning.
Individuals with questions regarding the
proper handling of these materials should
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contact EPA's RCRA Hotline at 800-424-
9346 or 703-920^9810.
Enforcement
EPA is performing random inspections,
responding to tips, and pursuing potential
cases against violators. Under the Act, EPA
is authorized to assess fines of up to
$25,000 per day for any violation of these
regulations.
Planning and Acting for the Future
Observing the refrigerant recycling
regulations for section 608 is essential in
order to conserve existing stocks of refriger-
ants, as well as to comply with Clean Air
Act requirements. However, owners of
equipment that contains CFC refrigerants
should look beyond the immediate need to
maintain existing equipment in working
order. EPA urges equipment owners to
act now and prepare for the phaseout of
CFCs, which will be completed by Janu-
ary 1, 1996. Owners are advised to begin
the process of converting or replacing ex-
isting equipment with equipment that uses
alternative refrigerants.
To assist owners, suppliers, technicians
and others involved in comfort chiller and
commercial refrigeration management, EPA
has published a series of short fact sheets
and expects to produce additional material.
Copies of material produced by the EPA
Stratospheric Protection Division are avail-
able from the Stratospheric Ozone Informa-
tion Hotline (see hotline number below).
For Further Information
For further information concerning
regulations related to stratospheric ozone
protection, please call the Stratospheric
Ozone Information Hotline: 800-296-1996.
The Hotline is open between 10:00 AM and
4:00 PM, Eastern Time.
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DEFINITIONS
Appliance
Major maintenance,
service, or repair
MVAC-like appliance
Reclaim
Recover
Recycle
Self-contained recovery
equipment
Small appliance
System-dependent
recovery equipment
Technician
Any device which contains and uses a class I (CFC) or class II (HCFC)
substance as a refrigerant and which is used for household or
commercial purposes, including any air conditioner, refrigerator, chiller,
or freezer. EPA interprets this definition to include all air-conditioning
and refrigeration equipment except that designed and used exclusively
fpr military purposes.
Maintenance, service, or repair that involves removal of the appliance
compressor, condenser, evaporator, or auxiliary heat exchanger coil.
Mechanical vapor compression, open-drive compressor appliances used
to cool the driver's or passenger's compartment of a non-road vehicle,
including agricultural and construction vehicles. This definition
excludes appliances using HCFC-22.
To reprocess refrigerant to at least the purity specified in the ARI
Standard 700-1988, Specifications for Fluorocarbon Refrigerants, and
to verify this purity using the analytical methodology prescribed in the
Standard.
To remove refrigerant in any condition from an appliance and store it
in an external container without necessarily testing or processing it in
any way.
To extract refrigerant from an appliance and clean refrigerant for reuse
without meeting all of the requirements for reclamation. In general,
recycled refrigerant is refrigerant that is cleaned using oil separation
and single or multiple passes through devices, such as replaceable/core
filter-driers, which reduce moisture, acidity, and paniculate matter.
Recovery or recycling equipment that is capable of removing the
refrigerant from an appliance without the assistance of components
contained in the appliance.
Any.of the following products that are fully manufactured, charged,
and hermetically sealed in a factory with five pounds or less of
refrigerant: refrigerators and freezers designed for home use, room air
conditioners (including window air conditioners and packaged terminal
air conditioners), packaged terminal heat pumps, dehumidifiers, under-
the-counter ice makers, vending machines, and drinking water coolers.
Recovery equipment that requires the assistance of components
contained'in an appliance to remove the refrigerant from the appliance.
Any person who performs maintenance, service, or repair that could
reasonably be expected to release class I (CFC) or class II (HCFC)
substances into the atmosphere, including but not limited to installers,
contractor employees, in-house service personnel, and in some cases,
owners. Technician also means any person disposing of appliances
except for small appliances.
-11-
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TABLE 2
MAJOR RECYCLING RULE COMPLIANCE DATES
•Date after which owners of equipment containing more than 50
pounds of refrigerant with substantial leaks must have such leaks
repaired.
•Evacuation requirements go into effect. . :::
• Recovery and recycling equipment requirements go into effect.
• Owners of recycling and recovery equipment must have certified
to EPA that they have acquired such equipment and that they
are complying with the rule.
• Reclamation requirement goes into effect.
• All newly manufactured recycling and recovery equipment must
be certified by an EPA-approved testing organization to meet the
requirements in the second column of Table 1 .
•
•All technicians must be certified.
• Sales restriction goes into effect.
•Reclamation requirement expires.
June 14, 1993
July 13, 1993
August 12, 1993
November 15,
1993
November 14,
1994
May 14, 1995
c/EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
.' (6205-J) ' . '
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
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