refrigerant regulations
Refrigerant Recovery from Stationary Equipment
Remove refrigerant from a stationary appliance into an external cylinder so it can be opened without release.
12 steps5 criticalLimit 30 minAlways tested
Steps
- 1Know the refrigerant and the appliance's full charge, and turn off power to the system
- 2Critical stepWork out the pressure class (from the refrigerant) and use class and full charge to find the Table 1 level you must reach
- 3Use a recovery machine certified under 40 CFR 82.158, and follow its manufacturer's directions
- 4Put on safety glasses with side shields and gloves, and work with ventilation, away from low spots where vapor collects
- 5Critical stepInspect the recovery cylinder: undamaged, rated for this refrigerant, labeled with the refrigerant, and never mixed with another
- 6Check the cylinder's fill limit before you start: about 80 percent of capacity is the common industry and manufacturer figure (it is not set by Part 82), and your supplier or the cylinder markings may set a specific limit; watch its weight on a scale
- 7Critical stepConnect the recovery machine to the appliance's high-side and low-side service ports with a manifold, and to the recovery cylinder
- 8Critical stepStart the machine and recover all the refrigerant, liquid included, while watching the cylinder weight
- 9Critical stepKeep recovering until the Table 1 level is reached; if leaks make it unattainable, isolate the leaking part and take it as low as possible without contaminating the refrigerant, never above 0 psig
- 10Verify the level has been reached in the appliance (or the isolated part) before it is opened
- 11Close the valves and shut down the machine; do not let the recovered refrigerant escape to the air
- 12Record what you recovered and keep any records your employer or the rules require
What graders are watching for
Tips
- Table 1 of 40 CFR 82.156(a) sets the level by pressure class and full charge; small appliances instead use percent recovery or 4 inches Hg vacuum
- Do not mix refrigerants in a recovery cylinder, and label it with the refrigerant it holds
- Recovered refrigerant may go back into the same appliance or another one owned by the same person; selling it to a new owner requires reclamation by an EPA-certified reclaimer
Common mistakes
- Using one flat number for every system. The level depends on class and charge, and low-pressure uses a different unit (mm Hg absolute).
- Mixing up 10 and 15 inches Hg. Medium-pressure at 200 lb or more is 15; high-pressure at 200 lb or more is 10.
- Applying the large-appliance table to a small appliance, or the reverse.
- Opening the system because the machine stopped, without confirming the reading.
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Sources and how we check them: How we verify.