Environmental Code of Practice for

Elimination of Fluorocarbon Emissions from

Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems
Table of Content
Abstract
Glossary
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Commercial /Industrial Systems (sections 2.1 to 2.6)
Commercial /Industrial Systems (sections 2. to 2.1!)
Residential Systems and Domestic Appliances
"obile Air Conditioners (Automobiles)
"obile #e$rigeration
%ea&y 'uty "obile Air Conditioning Systems
Strategic (lanning
)ist o$ #ecogni*ed Industry Standards
+,am-les o$ )abels
(rint .riendly
Residential Systems and Domestic Appliances
!.1 /y-es o$ Systems
!.2 +0ui-ment and Systems 'esign
!.! +0ui-ment "anu$acturing
!.1 Installation and Ser&icing
!.2 #e$rigerant Cylinders
!.6 Con&ersion o$ Systems to Alternate #e$rigerants
!. %andling o$ 3sed #e$rigerant
!.4 'is-osal o$ A--liances Containing #e$rigerants
3.1 ypes of Systems
#esidential systems include central air conditioning or s-lit systems under 1.6 k5 (2 t#)
o$ ca-acity6 window air conditioners6 7eat -um-s6 and central de7umidi$iers.
/7e general -rinci-les w7ic7 underlie Section 26 Commercial/Industrial Systems6 are also
a--licable to residential systems.
A--liances includes -lug8in residential re$rigerators6 $ree*ers6 window air conditioners6
and de7umidi$iers. A--liances are generally &ery reliable systems but -ro-er -rocedures
in manu$acturing and re$rigerant reco&ery are essential.
/o- o$ -age
3.! E"uipment and Systems Design
3.!.1 Compressor
/o -re&ent leaks and emissions6 t7e com-ressor s7ould be mounted on t7e unit9s $rame
in suc7 a way as to -re&ent &ibration and stress on connecting tubing. /7e com-ressor
s7ould be accessible and remo&able $or leak testing and re-airs.
3.!.! #solating $alves
Isolating &al&es s7ould be -ro&ided to -ermit com-ressor remo&al and re-lacement
wit7out losing t7e re$rigerant c7arge. A suitable -ermanent &al&e $or a reco&ery
connection s7ould be -ro&ided on all a--liances.
3.!.3 Condensers and Evaporators
Condensers and e&a-orator coils s7ould be designed and mounted in a way t7at will
-re&ent &ibration. :nly welded non -re8c7arged line sets s7ould be used to attac7 t7e
e&a-orator and t7e condensing unit toget7er. ;uick connects are not a de-endable leak8
$ree -ermanent connection and as suc7 t7eir use (e,ce-t $or tem-orary use) s7ould be
discontinued by <anuary 16 1==6.
/o- o$ -age
3.3 E"uipment %anufacturing
/7e e0ui-ment manu$acturing -rocess s7ould &eri$y t7at systems are leak8$ree be$ore
c7arging wit7 re$rigerant. /7e reuse o$ trace gas mi,tures used $or leak testing systems
s7ould be im-lemented.
.ugiti&e emissions s7ould be ca-tured using t7e best a&ailable tec7nologies $rom t7e
e&acuation and de7ydration -rocess.
Isolation &al&es s7ould be used to isolate t7e com-ressor6 condenser6 and e&a-orator on
larger residential systems. All systems s7ould 7a&e access &al&es $or t7e reco&ery o$
re$rigerants.
3.3.1 Elimination of Emissions in %anufacturing
+limination o$ emissions s7ould be establis7ed by>
&eri$ying t7e system is leak8$ree be$ore c7arging wit7 re$rigerant?
leak testing a$ter run8in?
c7ecking t7e carton $or damage be$ore s7i-ment? and
c7ecking t7e carton $or re$rigerant leakage.
/7e unit may be re-aired and rec7arged using t7e original name -late sticker. I$ a de-ot
or retail store $inds a re$rigerant s7ortage6 t7ey s7ould leak test t7e unit and a--ly a
re-air sticker indicating t7e sealed system 7as been o-ened.
3.3.! Cleanliness of Systems
Systems s7ould be absolutely clean to reduce t7e risk o$ re$rigerant contamination. @ey
-ersonnel s7ould be con&ersant wit7 re$rigerant tec7nology and $amiliar wit7 all as-ects
o$ t7e manu$acturing -rocess6 es-ecially t7ose related to emission -re&ention.
3.3.3 &abels
)abels on e0ui-ment are essential to -re&ent accidental addition o$ im-ro-er oils or
re$rigerants during ser&icing. )abels s7ould be -ermanent and dis-layed -rominently.
In$ormation s7ould include>
e0ui-ment manu$acturer6
re$rigerant ty-e C.C6 %C.C6 %.C6 or blend6
AS%#A+ #e$rigerant Aumber6
AS%#A+ Sa$ety 'esignation6
re$rigerant 0uantity6
re$rigerant oil ty-e6 0uantity6 and &iscosity6
o*one8de-leting -otential6 and
global warming -otential.
See A--endi, B $or e,am-les.
/o- o$ -age
3.' #nstallation and Servicing
3.'.1 (eneral Servicing
All ser&ice -ersons s7ould 7a&e an en&ironmental awareness course card. Installation and
Ser&icing -ersonnel s7ould be 0uali$ied and knowledgeable about t7e e0ui-ment t7ey are
ser&icing or installing. (ro-er location and installation -rocedures are im-ortant.
+0ui-ment s7ould be located so t7at leak testing and maintenance are not im-eded.
3.'.! )olt*on Access $alves
Bolt8on access &al&es cannot be used ot7er t7an as a tool t7at must be remo&ed be$ore
t7e ser&ice -erson lea&es t7e Cob site6 or t7e re-air s7o-. /7ese &al&es may be used to
e&acuate systems be$ore dis-osal.
3.'.3 &ea+ esting and Repair
/7e $ollowing -rocedures are recommended and a--ro&ed be$ore re-airing leaks and
re-lacing com-onents in systems.
Deri$ication t7at t7e unit is genuinely s7ort o$ c7arge6 be$ore o-ening t7e closed
loo-.
/7e system s7ould be t7oroug7ly leak c7ecked be$ore and a$ter ser&icing6 using t7e
best a&ailable tec7nology6 e.g.6 an electronic leak detector6 ca-able o$ detecting
leakage rates o$ less t7an 11 g (E.2 o*) -er year. I$ a leak is $ound6 t7e unit s7ould
be e&acuated and re-aired.
)eak testing using :'S and releasing t7em to t7e atmos-7ere is an unacce-table
-ractice and is illegal in most -ro&inces.
In t7e case o$ an non8re-airable leak6 t7e re$rigerant s7ould be reco&ered and t7e
owner s7ould dis-ose o$ t7e e0ui-ment in accordance wit7 t7e a--ro-riate "unici-al
By8laws or -ro&incial regulations. All re$rigerant and oil s7ould be reco&ered.
I$ t7ere is a re-airable leak6 t7e $ollowing -rocedures are recommended>
/7e ser&ice -erson will attac7 an access entry &al&e i$ necessary6 and e&acuate t7e
system.
A -ermanent access entry &al&e is bra*ed onto t7e re$rigeration system be$ore t7e
closed loo- is -unctured. /7is s7ould be done in accordance wit7 C+ASA -rocedures.
Small systems will t7en be swee- c7arged using t7e a--ro-riate C+ASA -rocedure.
NOTE: Do not use ODS for the leak test.
A$ter a leak testing and re-air6 t7e swee- c7arge is reco&ered.
/7e unit is rec7arged to t7e -ro-er o-erating le&el.
/7e $ollowing alternate met7ods are recommended $or larger e0ui-ments>
1. Standing Dacuum test 2 Fm $or 12 minutes. /7e system is t7en re-aired and
rec7arged.
2. Standing -ressure test at 1E!1 k(ag (12E -sig) o$ dry nitrogen $or 21 7ours. /7e
system is t7en re-aired and rec7arged.
NOTE: Charin cylinders are tools and not appro!ed storae !essels and
cannot be used to store or transport refrierant .
/7e unit s7ould be isolated to contain t7e re$rigerant or 7a&e t7e re$rigerant reco&ered
until t7e ser&ice is com-leted w7en re-airing leaks and re-lacing com-onents on
residential systems. )eak re-air o$ a residential s-lit system6 usually entails remo&ing a
ma,imum o$ $our to $i&e -ounds o$ re$rigerant w7ic7 s7ould be reco&ered $or reuse.
+-o,y s7ould not be used to re-air leaks6 as it may $ail or loosen a$ter se&eral mont7s
ser&ice. Bra*ing or welding is -re$erred.
3.'.' Recovery, Reuse, Recycling, and Reclamation
#eco&ery6 reuse6 recycling6 reclamation o$ re$rigerant is t7e only acce-table -ractice
today. Denting o$ re$rigerant into t7e atmos-7ere during manu$acturing6 installation6 or
ser&icing is unacce-table. /y-ical and nontraditional reco&ery systems suc7 as resin
adsor-tion tec7nology are now a&ailable to reco&er re$rigerant.
Refrierant Reco!ery. /7ere are t7ree acce-table met7ods o$ reco&ering re$rigerants
$rom residential systems and a--liances.
1. /7e Acti&e #eco&ery "et7od (reco&ery mac7ine and an a--ro&ed reco&ery
cylinder). /y-ical acti&e reco&ery e0ui-ment consists o$ two basic ty-es. /y-e one is
ca-able o$ re$rigerant reco&ery only. /7e 0uality o$ t7e re$rigerant remo&ed $or reuse
or storage is e,actly t7e same as was in t7e system being em-tied.
/7e second ty-e o$ e0ui-ment (reco&ery/recycle) not only reco&ers re$rigerants
similar to ty-e one6 but also im-ro&es t7e re$rigerant 0uality by remo&ing -articulate
matter6 moisture6 and re$rigerant oil. /7e material stored or returned to t7e system
is o$ su-erior 0uality to t7at remo&ed by ty-e 1.
2. /7e (assi&e #eco&ery "et7od uses a s-ecially designed industry a--ro&ed -lastic
reco&ery bag ($or domestic re$rigerators and $ree*ers only). /7e bag 7as been
designed to reco&er 62 g (21 o*) o$ # 8 12 or #82EE6 or 26E g (2E o*) o$ #822 or #8
1!1a and is reusable and recyclable.
/7e reco&ered re$rigerant is t7en trans$erred to an industry a--ro&ed reco&ery
cylinder $or reclaiming back at t7e s7o-.
!. /7e Adsor-tion #eco&ery "et7od uses resin in a cylinder. /7e cylinder is t7en sent
back to t7e su--lier to 7a&e t7e re$rigerant reclaimed. Because t7is cylinder is not
under -ressure it can be trans-orted wit7out s-ecial labelling under
t7e Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act .
Standards for Recycled Refrierants . Ser&ice organi*ations s7ould ensure t7at t7e
recycled re$rigerant 0uality meets t7e a--ro-riate industry standard o$ -urity6 unless t7e
re$rigerant is being returned to t7e same system.
Recyclin E"uipment #aintenance . .ollow t7e reco&ery/recycling e0ui-ment
manu$acturers9 maintenance instructions using t7e -rescribed $ilter and cleanu-
-rocedures. /7is e0ui-ment ser&ice includes suc7 t7ings as em-tying oil containers6
c7anging com-ressor oil6 c7anging $ilters and dryers6 c7ecking e0ui-ment and 7oses $or
leaks. /7is will ensure t7at t7e le&el o$ 0uality o$ $inal recycled re$rigerant is in
accordance wit7 t7e e0ui-ment manu$acturers9 certi$ied claim.
/o- o$ -age
3.- Refrigerant Cylinders
3.-.1 Approved Refrigerant Container
/7e designed ma,imum working -ressure and carrying ca-acity o$ t7e re$rigerant
reco&ery container s7ould not be e,ceeded. /7e working -ressure is stam-ed on t7e
cylinder.
A non-ressuri*ed re$rigerant reco&ery container suc7 as t7e molecular sie&e or resin
adsor-tion container is a--ro&ed by /rans-ort Canada. /7ese containers are not -ressure
cylinders. 'is-osable cylinders s7ould not be used. )ow -ressure re$rigerants are
normally s7i--ed in drums w7ic7 may be returnable or nonreturnable.
3.-.! Refrigerant./il %i0tures
#e$rigerant/oil mi,tures 7a&e a lower density t7an re$rigerant alone. .ill re$rigerant
reco&ery containers wit7 mi,ture only to 4EG by weig7t o$ t7e allowable -ure re$rigerant
weig7t.
3.-.3 Contaminated Refrigerant
I$ contaminated re$rigerant is decanted into a re$rigerant container6 corrosion may occur.
/7is container s7ould be sent to t7e reclaimer or dis-osed o$ as 7a*ardous waste as soon
as -ossible.
3.-.' Refrigerant Container )elonging to a 1ird Party
#e$er to Section 2.=.! o$ t7is re-ort.
3.-.- Cross*contamination of Refrigerant
" i,ing o$ di$$erent re$rigerants s7ould be a&oided. /7e recei&ing container s7ould 7a&e
been used -re&iously only $or t7e re$rigerant t7at is being trans$erred into it.
/o- o$ -age
3.2 Conversion of Systems to Alternate Refrigerants
In $uture it will become necessary to con&ert some C.C systems to alternate re$rigerants.
/7is is en&ironmentally desirable as t7e alternates 7a&e &ery low6 or *ero :'( &alues.
3.2.1 )asics of Conversion
/7e basic -rinci-les $or con&ersion are t7e same as t7ose $or commercial e0ui-ment
described in Section 2.4.1.
+nsure t7e new re$rigerant 7as a *ero or &ery low :'( and is t7ermodynamically
e$$icient. It is also im-ortant t7at it is com-atible wit7 all system com-onents and -arts6
including t7e lubricant oil. (arts t7at are not com-atible must be re-laced.
3.2.! Recommended Procedure
#emo&e all re$rigerant using reco&ery/recycling e0ui-ment and -ut reco&ered re$rigerant
in an a--ro&ed reco&ery container.
5arm t7e system wit7 indirect 7eat to reco&er re$rigerant $rom oil6 t7en remo&e oil. .lus7
system i$ necessary using -rocedures recommended by t7e manu$acturer. C7ange
com-onents as necessary. #eassemble t7e system and e&acuate to 2 Fm o$ %g. I$ t7ere
are any leaks use an a--ro&ed tracer gas and an electronic leak detector.
A$ter t7e system is leak $ree6 rec7arge wit7 t7e new re$rigerant and recommended oil.
#ec7eck $or leaks. :-erate systems $or 1 to 4 7ours and rec7eck $or leaks.
3.2.3 Surplus 3sed Refrigerant
3sed re$rigerant s7ould be returned to t7e su--lier or manu$acturer $or credit6
reclamation6 or dis-osal or it s7ould be sent to an inde-endent reclamation centre.
#eclaimed material s7ould meet or e,ceed A#I8EE -urity standards $or re$rigerant to be
reused (see A--endi, A).
/o- o$ -age
3.4 5andling of 3sed Refrigerant
#e$rigerant remo&ed $rom working e0ui-ment may be>
reused6
recycled6
reclaimed and returned to t7e su--lier6 or
dis-osed o$ as 7a*ardous waste.
+nsure t7at recycling e0ui-ment is intended $or t7e ty-e o$ re$rigerant being -rocessed
and will clean t7e re$rigerant to meet -rescribed s-eci$ications6 i.e.6 A#I EE latest
edition. #e$rigerant t7at cannot meet t7e -rescribed -urity s-eci$ications must be
returned to t7e su--lier $or reclamation or dis-osal using en&ironmentally acce-table
met7ods o$ destruction.
3.4.1 E0ternal Agencies
An e,ternal agency t7at reclaims used re$rigerants s7ould ensure t7at t7e e0ui-ment it
uses is $unctioning -ro-erly and t7e reclaimed re$rigerant meets t7e -rescribed -urity
s-eci$ications as de$ined in A#I EE latest edition (&eri$ied by laboratory analysis).
3.4.! Destruction Facilities
.acilities are -resently a&ailable wit7 limited ca-ability to destroy mi,tures o$ re$rigerant
t7at cannot be reused6 recycled6 or reclaimed. /7ese mi,tures s7ould be returned to t7e
manu$acturer.
#e$rigerant t7at 7as been contaminated by $oreign or to,ic materials (e,cluding oil) must
be sent to a 7a*ardous waste dis-osal centre.
/o- o$ -age
3.6 Disposal of Appliances Containing Refrigerants
/7e dis-osal o$ a--liances t7at contain re$rigerant s7ould be 7andled wit7 care and
broug7t to a -re8assigned site $or t7e reco&ery o$ t7e re$rigerant and oil.
Alternati&ely6 7a&e t7e re$rigerant remo&ed $irst6 de-ending on t7e (ro&incial regulations.
+0ui-ment s7ould be labelled indicating t7at all C.C/%C.C/%.C 7as been remo&ed