Rule change will allow anyone to buy HFCs

USA: The US air conditioning and refrigeration industry has been urged to act over EPA plans to rescind current regulations and allow anyone to purchase refrigerants.

The US EPA has announced its intention to roll back its rules relating to HFC leak checking and is seeking comment on other rules on refrigerant recovery and refrigerant handling, including the removal of sales restrictions from substitute refrigerants. Currently, anyone purchasing or handling refrigerants needs to be a Section 608 certified technician.

“The removal of this sales restriction would enable anyone (do-it-yourselfers “DIY”), to purchase substitute refrigerants,” warns Howard Weiss, executive vice president of training company ESCO.

“This change would be bad for manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors. With easy access to equipment and refrigerants, DIYers will be able to purchase these items from big box retailers and online stores. This action will prove harmful to HVACR supply house and contractor businesses,” Weiss maintains.

The proposed rule change was published in the Federal Register at the beginning of this month, with the 45-day comment period ending on November 15.

“The HVACR industry collaborated with the EPA for two years, to modernise the Section 608 Refrigerant Management Programme,” said Weiss. “While no regulation is perfect, this regulation has always been good for business and the environment, and we should voice our opinions to keep it that way.”

He implores the industry to voice its comments here.

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EPA looks to rescind HFC leak controls – 20 September 2018
USA: The US Environmental Protection Agency is looking to roll back its rules relating to HFC leak checking and is seeking comment on other rules on refrigerant recovery and refrigerant handling. Read more…