40 CFR 82 Subpart F: EPA Refrigerant Management

Regulatory citation: Clean Air Act Section 608; 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F, Recycling and Emissions Reduction

What Is EPA's Section 608 Refrigerant Management Program?

Under Clean Air Act Section 608, EPA regulates refrigerant handling when stationary refrigeration and air conditioning equipment is serviced or disposed of. The rules in 40 CFR Part 82 Subpart F cover ozone-depleting refrigerants, such as R-22, and many cover non-exempt substitute refrigerants, such as HFCs.

Why Refrigerant Management Matters

Released refrigerants can deplete the ozone layer or act as potent greenhouse gases.

Core Requirements

1. Venting Prohibition

No one maintaining, servicing, repairing or disposing of appliances may knowingly vent ozone-depleting or non-exempt substitute refrigerant. Certain substitutes, such as carbon dioxide and some hydrocarbons in specific uses, are exempt.

2. Technician Certification

Anyone whose work could reasonably be expected to violate the integrity of the refrigerant circuit must be certified through an EPA-approved program. Type I covers small appliances, Type II covers medium-, high- and very high-pressure appliances, Type III covers low-pressure appliances, and Universal covers all three.

3. Evacuation and Recovery

Before opening or disposing of an appliance, technicians must recover refrigerant to required evacuation levels using certified recovery or recycling equipment. Sales of covered refrigerant are generally restricted to certified technicians.

4. Leak Repair

Owners of appliances with 50 or more pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerant must repair leaks within 30 days (120 days if an industrial process shutdown is needed) when the leak rate exceeds 20 percent for commercial refrigeration, 30 percent for industrial process refrigeration, or 10 percent for comfort cooling. Since 2020, these rules don't apply to equipment containing only substitutes like HFCs. A separate 2024 AIM Act rule (40 CFR Part 84 Subpart C) set HFC leak repair requirements starting January 1, 2026, for many appliances with 15 pounds or more of HFC-containing refrigerant. EPA has proposed changes to that rule, so check its current status.

5. Recordkeeping

Leak repair records are generally kept for at least three years. Appliances that leak 125 percent or more of their full charge in a calendar year must be reported to EPA by March 1 of the next year. Technicians disposing of appliances with more than 5 and less than 50 pounds of refrigerant must keep recovery records for three years.

6. Safe Disposal

The final processor of small appliances and vehicle air conditioners, such as a scrap recycler, must recover the refrigerant or get a signed statement verifying it was recovered.

Common Compliance Approaches

Keep an Appliance Inventory

List each appliance's refrigerant type and full charge to see which rules apply.

Verify Technician Credentials

Keep certification copies for in-house and contract technicians.

Example: Section 608 in Practice

A grocery store has a commercial refrigeration rack holding 300 pounds of R-22. A certified technician adds refrigerant and calculates a 25 percent annualized leak rate, above the 20 percent threshold. The store has the leak repaired within 30 days, completes initial and follow-up verification tests, and keeps the service records for three years.

Related regulations: EPA General Duty Clause, EPA Risk Management Program, EPA Used Oil Management.

Note: This summary reflects federal EPA requirements under the Clean Air Act. Some states and local governments have their own refrigerant management rules that may be more stringent. Always check the current regulation text and any state rules that apply to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who needs EPA Section 608 certification?

Anyone who maintains, services, repairs or disposes of appliances in a way that could release refrigerant must be certified, unless they are an apprentice closely supervised by a certified technician. Disposing of small appliances and motor vehicle air conditioners doesn't require certification.

Do Section 608 leak repair rules apply to HFC equipment?

No. Since 2020, the Section 608 leak repair rules apply only to appliances with 50 or more pounds of ozone-depleting refrigerant. HFC equipment may be covered by separate AIM Act leak repair rules in 40 CFR Part 84.

Can I vent refrigerant if the system is small?

No. The venting prohibition applies to appliances of any size. Only small releases during good faith recovery using required practices, and exempt substitutes, are allowed.