Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine November 2018

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are ozone depleting but that contribute to climate change.” Therefore, the EPA is currently reviewing its ability to regulate HFC and other refrigerants, which are considered to be non-ODS, but have a high GWP. Myth: ACCA has not been actively involved in these discussions and did not attend the EPA’s October 16, 2018 to address these issues with the EPA. Section 608 test updates for more than 2 years. Additionally, ACCA’s professional government relations staff does not need to attend public meetings, like the Oct. 16 meeting, because we meet directly with the EPA Administrator’s staff and the professionals who write these proposals. Fact: ACCA has been involved in the EPA’s refrigerant updates and that they would need to update refrigerant regulations to comply with the Mexichem ruling. Additionally, ACCA will be submitting comments to the EPA requesting that the EPA maintain the sales restriction of refrigerants to those who are Section 608 certified. • More than two years ago, ACCA hosted the New Refrigerant Rules from the EPA – What You Need to Know Now! w ebinar. This webinar featured the EPA’s professional staff • ACCA has been working with EPA officials since 2017 when it was clear

(who wrote the current proposals) and ACCA recruited them to teach ACCA members about changes to the Section 608 program and the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP). • ACCA’s technical staff also served on the Section 608 test revision committee with the EPA, and we were one of the first organizations to update our Section 608 testing materials . Fact: The rule that the EPA is proposing to update is the 2016 leak detection and repair regulation for HVAC equipment that use refrigerants that are considered substitutes to ozone depleting substances (ODS), like R-22. The proposed roll back would impact appliances with 50 or more pounds of substitute refrigerants, therefore contractors would not be required to: • conduct leak rate calculations when refrigerant is added to an appliance, • repair an appliance that leaks above the EPA-prescribed threshold leak rate, • conduct verification tests on repairs, • conduct periodic leak inspections on appliances that exceed the threshold leak rate, • report to EPA on chronically leaking appliances, • retrofit or retire appliances that are not repaired, and • maintain related records.