Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner Servicing

Refrigerants must be captured and not knowingly released into the atmosphere. This page provides information on:

• Equipment
• Technician Certification
• Refrigerant Leaks
• Managing Refrigerants
• Record Keeping
• Certification Form
• More Information

Equipment

All equipment that recovers or recycles CFC-12 refrigerant or substitute refrigerants such as R-134a from motor vehicle air conditioners (MVACs), must be approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) or an approved equipment testing organization such as Underwriters Laboratory or ETL Testing Laboratories, Inc. The equipment must be designed to recover and/or recycle a specific refrigerant. Two types of equipment are acceptable:

1. Recover Only Equipment. Recovers refrigerant from MVACs, but does not clean the refrigerant. Refrigerant extracted by recover only equipment must be recycled on-site using approved equipment owned by the same person or sent to a U.S. EPA-approved reclaimer prior to reuse.

    

2. Recover and Recycle Equipment. Recovers refrigerant from MVACs and processes the refrigerant to purity levels specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Refrigerant recycled using approved equipment is suitable for reuse in MVACs provided the refrigerant is added by the same facility that recovered it.

Technician Certification

Persons who service MVACs must posses technician certification. "Servicing" is any activity during which refrigerant could be expected to be released to the atmosphere. This includes repairing, leak testing, "topping-off," and any dismantling of the air conditioning system. Technician certification can be attained by successfully completing a mail-in exam from a U.S. EPA approved certification program. A list of these programs is available through the U.S. EPA or the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

Refrigerant Leaks

The MPCA and the U.S. EPA do not require that leaks be repaired on MVACs; however we recommend that vehicle owners consider repairing leaks or retrofitting to a safer alternative to reduce emissions.

Managing Your Refrigerant

• Sales Restrictions: Refrigerant made of CFCs or HCFCs can only be sold to certified technicians. Refrigerant in "small cans" containing less than 20 pounds of R-12 can only be sold to technicians certified for MVACs by an EPA-approved certification program or to wholesalers. Anyone selling refrigerant must verify that the buyer is properly certified and post a sign that explains the sales restrictions.

The sign must read: "It is a violation of federal law to sell containers of Class I or Class II refrigerant of less than 20 pounds of such refrigerant to anyone who is not properly trained and certified to operate approved refrigerant recycling equipment."

• Avoid Mixing Refrigerants:
  • Store different types of refrigerant (i.e. R-12, R-134a, and refrigerant blends) in their own Department of Transportation approved cylinders
  • Always read refrigerant labels carefully.

Record Keeping

Certification Form

Motor Vehicle Air Conditioner Recovery/Recycle or Recovery Equipment Certification Form (7/97)

More Information

• For technical questions or for more information about CFCs, contact Jeffrey Bratko, U.S. EPA, Region V, Chicago, 312-886-6816. If you have a complaint, contact Lisa Holscher, U.S. EPA, Region V, Chicago, 312-886-6818.
  
  
• EPA Ozone Depletion Web Site. Information on acceptable alternatives, retrofitting, handling contaminated or unfamiliar refrigerants, and technician certification programs.