TABLE OF CONTENTS - Everything R744

US EPA 608 Leak Repair
Regulations
Currently, there is a proposed rule for amendments 12 to
the US federal §608 Leak Repair Regulations 13 , a 1995
regulation addressing refrigerant leak repairs, which
applies to ozone depleting substances (ODS) only. The
regulations and proposed amendments do not directly
address non-ODS alternatives, like R404A etc., that have
been found acceptable under SNAP. Nonetheless, if
these regulations are tightened, this could mean that
some obsolete HCFC systems with very high leakage
rates might need to be replaced earlier than foreseen.
Given the high installation base of HCFC equipment in
North America, this could encourage demand for new
non-ODS equipment, both chemical and natural-based.
Refrigerant venting prohibition
under US Clean Air Act Title VI
The Clean Air Act prohibits venting of ozone depleting
substances or their substitutes. The venting prohibition
therefore covers all refrigerants, including natural
refrigerants and HFCs. As of 2004, the use of CO 2
as
refrigerant in very low temperature and industrial
process refrigeration applications is exempt from the
venting prohibition. Similarly, the venting prohibition
does not apply to hydrocarbons used in industrial process
refrigeration systems for processing hydrocarbons 14 .
Now that hydrocarbons have been deemed acceptable
in domestic refrigeration and stand-alone equipment,
the US EPA is looking at this particular application to
determine whether or not it will take action to lift the
venting prohibition for hydrocarbons in stand alone
refrigeration as well 15 .
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12 Proposed Rule on Amendments to the Section 608 Leak Repair
Requirements (December 15, 2010; 75FR 78558). Available from: http://
origin.www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2010-12-15/pdf/2010-31337.pdf
(Accessed December 2012)
13 Section 608 of the Clean Air Act. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/
air/caa/title6.html (Accessed December 2012)
14 US EPA Final Rule on Venting and Sales of Refrigerant Substitutes
(March 12, 2004; 69 FR 11946). Available from: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/
pkg/FR-1995-08-08/pdf/95-18999.pdf (Accessed March 2013)
15 hydrocarbons21.com (2009) US EPA may allow HC venting from standalone
refrigerators, hydrocarbons21.com, 18 June 2012. Available from:
http://www.hydrocarbons21.com/news/view/3257 (Accessed: 10 January
2013)