Refrigerants (R12), Refrigerants (R134a), and more Refrigerants (R1234yf)!

Hello everyone!  We hope you are all doing well and surviving the chilly weather!  Consistent with the cold temperatures, we are going to discuss a pretty cool topic – refrigerants.  Refrigerants are substances utilized in cars to, not surprisingly, keep the interior cool (something we are all thankful for)! But, why does it matter for the auto recycling industry?  Today we are going to discuss how refrigerants affect the environment, applicable regulations, and tips for compliance.  Buckle up, guys!

How do refrigerants affect the environment?

There are two major ways refrigerants affect the environment.  First, older versions of refrigerants are ozone depleting substances.  What does this mean?  Well, the ozone layer is located in the Earth’s stratosphere which is miles and miles above the Earth’s surface.  Just like the name implies, this layer contains high levels of ozone (O3).  When ozone depleting substances enter the stratosphere, ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes the substance to break down and form chlorine and/or bromine as a byproduct.  This is problematic because when chlorine interacts with O3, the ozone molecules are destroyed.  Now, this doesn’t sound good, but what does this actually mean for us down here on Earth’s surface?  The ozone layer is crucial because it absorbs a large quantity of UV radiation from the sun’s rays before the rays reach Earth’s surface.  The small amount of UV radiation that still makes it through the ozone layer is what causes sunburns and other skin damage.  While this sounds pretty miniscule, without the ozone layer, the UV radiation from the sun’s rays would be too powerful.  The full power of the sun’s rays would damage DNA in plants and animals and ultimately make the Earth uninhabitable!  Therefore, the ozone layer does a lot to keep us happy and healthy here on Earth.  This is all important because prior to 1994, R12 was the most common refrigerant used in cars.  However, scientists discovered that R12 was an ozone depleting substance and removed it from circulation to prevent further damage to the ozone layer.  However, this is important for auto recyclers as facilities may still be processing cars manufactured prior to 1994.

The newer forms of refrigerants, R134a and R1234yf, are not ozone depleting substances, but they are both greenhouse gases.  Greenhouses gases absorb and trap heat in the atmosphere, ultimately raising the Earth’s temperature.  While we have made a step in the right direction through discontinuing R12, R134a and R1234yf are still harmful to the environment by contributing to rising temperatures.  This is why refrigerants are subject to environmental regulations.

How are refrigerants regulated?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) regulates refrigerants through the Clean Air Act (CAA).  The CAA was passed in 1963 to regulate emissions of air pollutants in order to protect human health and the environment.  While the CAA addresses a variety of pollutants, refrigerants are regulated specifically by Sections 608 and 609 of the CAA.  Section 608 is the regulation that outlaws release of refrigerants to the atmosphere while Section 609 specifically addresses Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC).  This means auto recycling facilities are subject to regulation under both Sections 608 and 609 of the CAA.

What should I do to maintain compliance?

There are three main elements to consider in regard to refrigerant compliance: training, recordkeeping, and equipment.

1)      Training: Employees removing refrigerants from vehicles must be trained through an USEPA approved program.  These programs cover the proper techniques to recover and recycle refrigerants.  This is imperative in order to prevent releases to the atmosphere that could occur during refrigerant evacuation.  Only properly certified technicians are permitted to remove refrigerants due to the negative consequences of improper evacuation.  The USEPA’s website lists a variety of different training programs, but we often see clients certified through Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS).  Interested parties can take the training course and the required examination online at the MACS website.  We recommend having at least one employee and one manager trained to ensure multiple people per facility are available to perform refrigerant evacuation.

2)      Recordkeeping: Facilities need to keep current, accurate, and detailed records.  First, facilities should maintain a refrigerant recovery record.  This record needs to include the technician evacuating the refrigerants and the date the refrigerants were removed along with the make, model, year, and VIN number of the car.  Facilities need to also maintain refrigerant disposal records.  In addition, we recommend that facilities maintain a record of vehicles obtained without refrigerants.  This record should include the date the vehicle was processed along with the make, model, year, and VIN number of the car.  All records should be maintained on-site for at least three years.  These records ensure that, if asked, you can produce documentation to support your processes and compliance with applicable regulations.

3)      Equipment: All equipment utilized in the refrigerant evacuation process should be approved by the USEPA.  This ensures that the equipment used is compliant with the CAA and properly prevents refrigerant releases to the atmosphere.  The USEPA’s website has a list of Section 609 certified equipment.  We recommend checking it out to ensure your facility has proper equipment.

We hope this article provides some insight into the world of refrigerants and helps you understand the basics.  If you have any questions about refrigerants or any other topic, give us a call at (812) 822-0400!

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