Stationary Refrigeration - Prohibition on Venting Refrigerants

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Types of Releases

EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F) under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act prohibit individuals from intentionally venting ozone-depleting substances (ODS) or their substitutes while maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of air-conditioning or refrigeration equipment. Only three types of releases are permitted:

  1. "De minimis" quantities of refrigerant released while making good faith attempts to recapture and recycle or safely dispose of refrigerant including releases that occur when connecting or disconnecting hoses to charge or service appliances.
  2. Refrigerant emitted during the 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 requires that leaks above a certain size be repaired in equipment that contains 50 pounds of refrigerant or more.
  3. Releases of substitute refrigerants that EPA has determined do not pose a threat to the environment. See the Recent Regulatory Developments box for more information.

Recent Regulatory Developments

The Final Rule on Listing of Substitutes for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning and Revision of the Venting Prohibition for Certain Refrigerant Substitutes exempts four hydrocarbon substitute refrigerants from the venting prohibition based on current evidence that their release does not pose a threat to the environment.

The Final Rule: Revision of the Venting Prohibition for Specific Refrigerant Substitutes exempts two substitute refrigerants from the venting prohibition in certain end-uses. Specifically, these are isobutane (R-600a) and R-441A in household refrigerators, freezers, and combination refrigerators and freezers, and propane (R-290) in retail food refrigerators and freezers (stand-alone units only).

Stationary Refrigeration

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Last updated on December 15, 2023