Refrigerants

Overview

The University of Notre Dame Refrigerant Procedure establishes a formal written program for the safe and compliant handling of refrigerants on campus. Chlorofluorocarbons contained in some refrigerants are considered ozone-depleting compounds and therefore damaging to the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires a Refrigerant Compliance Program to prevent releases of chlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere. Refrigerants on campus are managed by maintenance groups and contractors during the maintenance, service, repair, and/or disposal of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment.

Written Program

Refrigerant Procedure (879 kb, pdf.)

Certification Requirements

EPA regulations require that technicians who maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment that could release ozone-depleting and substitute (including hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerants into the atmosphere must be certified. Technicians are required to pass an EPA-approved test to earn Section 608 Technician Certification. The tests are specific to the type of equipment the technician seeks to work on. Tests must be administered by an EPA-approved certifying organization. Section 608 Technician Certification credentials do not expire.

Only EPA-certified technicians are allowed to purchase ozone-depleting substances (ODS) used as refrigerants.

Regulatory Information

Section 608 of the Clean Air Act prohibits the knowing release of refrigerant during the maintenance, service, repair, or disposal of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. All personnel working with equipment containing refrigerants on the Notre Dame Campus are subject to this program in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) Section 608 of the Clean Air Act.