LEAKS AND MAINTENANCE
GUIDELINES |
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Note: many items on this page are pulled from www.epa.gov/section608/stationary-refrigeration-leak-repair-requirements
Under EPA guidelines: "Owners or operators must take corrective action when an appliance with a full charge of 50 or more pounds is discovered to be leaking ozone depleting refrigerant at a rate that exceeds the applicable *trigger rate. Starting January 1, 2019, these requirements will also apply to appliances containing substitute refrigerants (including carbon dioxide, ammonia, and HFO alternatives)."
*The trigger rate is the rate at which refrigerant is leaking out of the system that warrants intervention. Depending on the type of refrigeration system that you own, the trigger rate will vary. Below are the EPA's trigger rates for varying types of equipment. Rates are per year.
*The trigger rate is the rate at which refrigerant is leaking out of the system that warrants intervention. Depending on the type of refrigeration system that you own, the trigger rate will vary. Below are the EPA's trigger rates for varying types of equipment. Rates are per year.
If these leak rates astound you, they should.
Logically, these leak rates are very high. Fortunately, with alternatives to HFC, the EPA has dialed its acceptable leak rates down to a stricter level. This is in part because of the toxicity and flammability of these new substances.
Under EPA definitions, the "appliance types" listed above can be considered as
Industrial process refrigeration: These are complex customized appliances that are directly linked to the processes used in, for example, the chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and manufacturing industries. This sector also includes industrial ice machines, appliances used directly in the generation of electricity, and ice rinks. Where one appliance is used for both industrial process refrigeration and other applications, it will be considered industrial process refrigeration equipment if 50 percent or more of its operating capacity is used for industrial process refrigeration.
Commercial refrigeration: These are refrigeration appliances used in the retail food and cold storage warehouse sectors. Retail food appliances include the refrigeration equipment found in supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants and other food service establishments. Cold storage includes the refrigeration equipment used to store meat, produce, dairy products, and other perishable goods.
Comfort cooling: These are air-conditioning appliances used to provide cooling in order to control heat and/or humidity in occupied facilities including but not limited to residential, office, and commercial buildings. Comfort cooling appliances include but are not limited to chillers, commercial split systems, and packaged roof-top units.
Logically, these leak rates are very high. Fortunately, with alternatives to HFC, the EPA has dialed its acceptable leak rates down to a stricter level. This is in part because of the toxicity and flammability of these new substances.
Under EPA definitions, the "appliance types" listed above can be considered as
Industrial process refrigeration: These are complex customized appliances that are directly linked to the processes used in, for example, the chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and manufacturing industries. This sector also includes industrial ice machines, appliances used directly in the generation of electricity, and ice rinks. Where one appliance is used for both industrial process refrigeration and other applications, it will be considered industrial process refrigeration equipment if 50 percent or more of its operating capacity is used for industrial process refrigeration.
Commercial refrigeration: These are refrigeration appliances used in the retail food and cold storage warehouse sectors. Retail food appliances include the refrigeration equipment found in supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants and other food service establishments. Cold storage includes the refrigeration equipment used to store meat, produce, dairy products, and other perishable goods.
Comfort cooling: These are air-conditioning appliances used to provide cooling in order to control heat and/or humidity in occupied facilities including but not limited to residential, office, and commercial buildings. Comfort cooling appliances include but are not limited to chillers, commercial split systems, and packaged roof-top units.
CORRECTIVE ACTION AND DEADLINES |
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If you have an appliance above the accepted trigger rate, you have two options.
- Fix the leak within 30 days of its discovery
- Within 30 days, develop a plan to either retrofit the system with new technology, or to dispose of the system altogether.
A refrigerant technician primes his system to destroy HFC refrigerants. By combining these refrigerants with other chemicals, companies make innocuous compounds that won't contribute to global climate change.
In order to encourage your technicians to keep leak rates low, you could offer financial incentives. We know that not all businesses are economically equipped to hand out bonuses to technicians, but this is just one simple way to help reduce your refrigerant footprint.
MAINTENANCE TOOLS |
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For all large appliances, you are mandated by the EPA to hire a refrigeration technician to repair your system. Although it's not required by the EPA, you should also consider hiring a technician, especially because maintenance is probably too difficult to do yourself.
One common malpractice in the maintenance world is to "recharge" leaking refrigeration systems with more refrigerant, as opposed to finding the leak and patching it. Why don't people take the time to find leaks? They're hard to find. In a dark space with thin tubing, it's hard to find tiny holes in your tubes. But if you have the right equipment, namely a leak detector, it can be very easy to find and patch your leak.
An additional list of refrigeration maintenance tools can be found here: www.giz.de/expertise/downloads/giz2010-en-good-practices-in-refrigeration.pdf
One common malpractice in the maintenance world is to "recharge" leaking refrigeration systems with more refrigerant, as opposed to finding the leak and patching it. Why don't people take the time to find leaks? They're hard to find. In a dark space with thin tubing, it's hard to find tiny holes in your tubes. But if you have the right equipment, namely a leak detector, it can be very easy to find and patch your leak.
An additional list of refrigeration maintenance tools can be found here: www.giz.de/expertise/downloads/giz2010-en-good-practices-in-refrigeration.pdf