Updates to EPA Section 608 – Effective January 1, 2018
by HVAC Distributors December 14, 2017Effective January 1, 2018 new regulations impacting the way refrigerants are handled and sold go into effect. Additional regulatory changes will go into effect on January 1, 2019.
Effective January 1, 2018
The sale of HFC and HFO refrigerants is restricted to technicians certified under Section 608 and Section 609 of the Federal Clean Air Act.
Technician Certification
Starting January 1, 2018, technicians must:
- Pass a certification exam in order to maintain, service, repair, or dispose of appliances containing HFC and HFO refrigerants. The certification exam will be updated to reflect the new rules and new refrigerants.
- Keep a copy of their certificate at their place of business.
- Maintain a copy of their certificate until three years after no longer operating as a technician.
New Recordkeeping for Appliances with 5 to 50 Pounds of Refrigerant
Technicians who dispose of mid-sized appliances (e.g., residential split systems), must keep records of:
- The location, date of recovery, and type of refrigerant recovered for each disposed appliance;
- The quantity of refrigerant, by type, recovered from disposed appliances in each calendar month; and
- The quantity of refrigerant, and type, transferred for reclamation or destruction, the person to whom it was transferred, and the date of the transfer.
Maintenance, Servicing, Repair, and Disposal
All requirements for the maintenance, service, repair and disposal of CFC and HCFC are extended to HFC and HFO refrigerants.
Certification cards issued issued prior to January 1, 2018 remain valid. Currently certified Section 608 technicians do not need to be re-certified. If you do require Section 608 Certification, HVAC Distributors offers EPA Certification testing at all of our locations.
Effective January 1, 2019
Section 608 regulations include new leak inspection and verification test requirements for owners/operators. To review the full schedule, click here.