Thresholds and what follows
| Appliance | Threshold | Inspections once over it |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial process refrigeration | 30% | Every 3 months from 500 lb; once a year from 15 to 499 lb |
| Commercial refrigeration | 20% | Every 3 months from 500 lb; once a year from 15 to 499 lb |
| Comfort cooling, transport, other | 10% | Once a year |
Worked example
A supermarket refrigeration system holds 100 lb of R-404A. A technician adds 10 lb, 73 days after the last addition.
- 10 ÷ 100 = 0.10 of the charge.
- 365 ÷ 73 = 5, so the loss is running at five times that a year.
- 0.10 × 5 × 100 = 50% a year, over the 20% commercial refrigeration threshold.
- The owner has 30 days to find and fix the leaks and must run initial and follow-up verification tests.
Two rules, two refrigerant families
- HFCs and their substitutes (GWP above 53): 15 lb or more, from 1 January 2026, under the AIM Act rule at 40 CFR part 84. Residential and light commercial AC and heat pumps are outside it.
- CFCs and HCFCs such as R-12 and R-22: 50 lb or more, under the Clean Air Act section 608 rule at 40 CFR 82.157.
- Both use the same thresholds and the same two calculation methods. Knowingly venting refrigerant is prohibited either way.
Try 5 EPA 608 practice questions
Which equipment does the Section 608 rule cover?
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D. Air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment containing CFCs or HCFCs, except motor vehicle air conditioners The rule applies broadly to appliances that contain ozone-depleting refrigerants, including small appliances, chillers, and commercial refrigeration, but motor vehicle air conditioners are handled under a separate program (Subpart B). Appliances containing non-exempt substitute refrigerants are also covered for venting and servicing requirements.
What is the difference between recovering and recycling refrigerant?
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C. Recovery removes refrigerant to an external container; recycling cleans it for reuse by the same owner Recover means removing refrigerant in any condition and storing it in an external container without necessarily testing or processing it. Recycle means extracting refrigerant and cleaning it for reuse in equipment owned by the same person without meeting full reclamation requirements. Reclaim reprocesses refrigerant to AHRI Standard 700-2016.
Why should a technician avoid mixing different refrigerants in one recovery cylinder?
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A. Mixed refrigerant cannot be reclaimed to specification and may be unusable Once two refrigerants are mixed in a cylinder, the blend typically cannot be reclaimed to specification and may have to be destroyed, which wastes refrigerant and creates unnecessary emissions. Technicians keep separate recovery cylinders for each refrigerant type, label them, and use dedicated hoses and equipment where practical.
In a basic vapor-compression cycle, where does the refrigerant change from liquid to vapor while absorbing heat?
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B. In the evaporator The evaporator is where low-pressure liquid refrigerant absorbs heat from the space being cooled and boils into vapor. The condenser rejects that heat and turns the vapor back into liquid, and the compressor raises the vapor's pressure and temperature. Cooling occurs in the evaporator, not the condenser.
Why is R-134a not considered a drop-in replacement for R-12?
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A. R-134a requires a different lubricant and system changes There are no true drop-in replacements. R-134a works with polyolester (ester) lubricants and is not compatible with the mineral oil commonly used with CFCs. A retrofit may also require changing driers, seals, and other components, so a technician cannot simply charge R-134a into an R-12 system without modification.
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Common questions
With the annualizing method: divide the pounds added by the full charge, multiply by 365 divided by the days since refrigerant was last added (or 365 if that is shorter), and multiply by 100. With the rolling average method: add up the pounds added over the past 365 days, divide by the full charge and multiply by 100. A facility uses one method for all its appliances.
30% for industrial process refrigeration, 20% for commercial refrigeration, and 10% for comfort cooling, refrigerated transport and other appliances.
From 1 January 2026, appliances with 15 pounds or more of an HFC or an HFC substitute with a GWP above 53 (40 CFR 84.106), except residential and light commercial air conditioning and heat pumps. Appliances with 50 pounds or more of a CFC or HCFC such as R-22 stay under 40 CFR 82.157.
30 days from when refrigerant is added to an appliance that exceeded its threshold, or 120 days if an industrial process shutdown is needed. Initial and follow-up verification tests must show the repair worked.
The owner must write a retrofit or retirement plan within 30 days and complete it within one year, with limited exceptions.
Three years, in paper or electronic form, unless a rule says otherwise.
Sources, checked 2026-10-29: U.S. EPA, AIM Act leak repair requirements fact sheet (January 2026); 40 CFR 84.102, definition of leak rate; 40 CFR 84.106, leak repair; 40 CFR 82.157, appliance maintenance and leak repair (ozone-depleting refrigerants). QuizCram is not affiliated with the agencies or standards bodies named here.
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