ShareUS: EPA to strengthen HFC laws
The proposed changes to Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, published on November 9, 2015, aim at reducing emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and substitute HFC refrigerants during the maintenance, service, repair and disposal of appliances.
The proposed changes to Section 608 of the Clean Air Act, published on November 9, 2015, aim at reducing emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and substitute HFC refrigerants during the maintenance, service, repair and disposal of appliances.
The EPA proposes lowering the allowed leak rates to 20% or lower (from 35%) for industrial process refrigeration and commercial refrigeration appliances and to 10% or lower (from 15%) for comfort cooling appliances for both ODS and substitute HFC refrigerants. In addition, under this proposal, an appliance containing 22.7 kg or more of refrigerant would not be allowed to leak more than 75% of its full charge in two consecutive twelve-month periods and remain in use.
The proposed rule will require regular leak inspections: quarterly for 227+ kilograms commercial refrigeration and Industrial Process Refrigeration (IPR); annually for all other appliances of 23 or more kilograms.
The EPA is also proposing to extend to HFCs the requirement for record-keeping by any person recovering refrigerant from an appliance normally containing more than 22.7 kg of refrigerant.
Knowingly venting or otherwise releasing into the environment of HFC and PFC refrigerants remains illegal but the EPA is considering changes to its interpretation which would make it illegal to add refrigerant to an appliance that is known to be leaking, without first repairing the leaks.
Existing regulations requiring that technicians be certified to work on ODS appliances and restrict the sale of ODS refrigerant to certified technicians will be extended to HFCs.
With the proposed changes, the EPA expects about 7.5 million metric tons in reductions of CO2eq emissions. Comments on the 608 proposed rule were due before January 25, 2016.
The EPA proposes lowering the allowed leak rates to 20% or lower (from 35%) for industrial process refrigeration and commercial refrigeration appliances and to 10% or lower (from 15%) for comfort cooling appliances for both ODS and substitute HFC refrigerants. In addition, under this proposal, an appliance containing 22.7 kg or more of refrigerant would not be allowed to leak more than 75% of its full charge in two consecutive twelve-month periods and remain in use.
The proposed rule will require regular leak inspections: quarterly for 227+ kilograms commercial refrigeration and Industrial Process Refrigeration (IPR); annually for all other appliances of 23 or more kilograms.
The EPA is also proposing to extend to HFCs the requirement for record-keeping by any person recovering refrigerant from an appliance normally containing more than 22.7 kg of refrigerant.
Knowingly venting or otherwise releasing into the environment of HFC and PFC refrigerants remains illegal but the EPA is considering changes to its interpretation which would make it illegal to add refrigerant to an appliance that is known to be leaking, without first repairing the leaks.
Existing regulations requiring that technicians be certified to work on ODS appliances and restrict the sale of ODS refrigerant to certified technicians will be extended to HFCs.
With the proposed changes, the EPA expects about 7.5 million metric tons in reductions of CO2eq emissions. Comments on the 608 proposed rule were due before January 25, 2016.