EPA Dates

July 1, 1992 Prohibition against venting or releasing of CFC & HCFC Refrigerants.

June 14th 1993 Owners of equipment containing more than 50 lbs of refrigerant with substantial leaks must have such leaks repaired within 30 days after discovery. For the industrial process and commercial refrigeration sector, 35% leakage rate or more (35% loss of charge per year) is defined as a substantial leak, while for all other refrigeration systems with a charge of 50 pounds or more, a substantial leak is defined as a leakage rate of 15%. (Loss of charge per year)

Safe disposal requirements go into effect. July 13, 1993 Safe disposal requirements go into effect.

July 13th 1993 All persons opening appliances (Except for small appliances and motor vehicle A/C) for maintenance, service, or repair, and all persons disposing of appliance, expect for small appliances, must have at least one piece of certified, self-contained recovery equipment available at their place of business.

August 12, 1993 Owners of recycling and recovery equipment must have certified to the EPA that they have acquired such equipment and are complying with the rule.

August 12, 1993 Reclamation requirements to ARI-700 went into effect. Refrigerant that transfers ownership must be certified to ARI-700 purity standards before it can be recharged into a system of another owner, regardless of whether the refrigerant is sold or given to the second owner, it must be certified to ARI-700 purity standards, refrigerant may be returned to the appliance from which it was recovered or to another appliance owned by the same person without being recycled or reclaimed.

November 15, 1993 All manufactured appliance must be equipped with a service aperture or process stub. Appliances (Except small appliances) manufactured after Nov. 15, 1993) must be equipped with a service aperture. Small appliances manufactured after Nov. 15, 1993, can be equipped. With a service aperture.

November 15, 1993 cont Small appliances manufactured after Nov. 15th , 1993 can be equipped with either a process stub or a service aperture. A service aperture of process stub is used when adding or removing refrigerant from the appliance. A process stub service port is a straight piece of tubing that is entered using a piercing access valve.

Nov. 15th 1993 All recycling and recovery equipment manufactured after this date must be certified to ARI-740-1993 Standards.

November 15th 1993 Low loss fittings are required to be used.

November 14th, 1994 Mandatory technician certification for servicing installation and disposal of appliances containing refrigerants.

November 15th 1995 Prohibition on venting all types of refrigerants went into effect.

January 29th, 1998 Persons servicing MVAC like appliances have the option of becoming certified as section 608 type 2 technicians instead of becoming certified as section 609 MVAC technicians under sub part B. Persons servicing MVAC, do not have a choice. They must be certified as section 609 MVAC technicians if they perform the AC service for compensation.