4 Type I Refrigerant Recovery Requirements

Classifying small appliances

A small appliance is manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed at a factory, and contains five pounds or less of refrigerant. Household refrigerators and freezers, window air conditioners, and dehumidifiers are common examples when they meet this definition.

Type I is the Section 608 certification category for technicians who service small appliances.

Recovery before service or disposal

Before opening a small appliance for service or repair, or disposing of it, recover its refrigerant using recovery and/or recycling equipment certified for that appliance. Federal rules prohibit knowingly releasing regulated refrigerants during service or disposal.

The required recovery level depends on the recovery equipment's manufacture date and the appliance compressor's condition:

• Equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993: recover at least $80\%$ of the refrigerant.

• Equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, with a functioning compressor: recover at least $90\%$.

• Equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, with a nonfunctioning compressor: recover at least $80\%$.

As an alternative to meeting the applicable recovery percentage, evacuate the appliance to four inches of mercury vacuum. Follow the recovery equipment manufacturer's instructions unless they conflict with EPA requirements. EPA describes small-appliance recovery equipment standards as requiring recovery of $90\%$ with a functioning compressor or $80\%$ with a nonfunctioning compressor.

For example, if the compressor is operating and the recovery equipment was manufactured after November 14, 1993, recover at least $90\%$ of the refrigerant or evacuate the appliance to four inches of mercury vacuum before opening it.

Certification duties

A person who maintains, services, or repairs small appliances and could reasonably be expected to compromise the refrigerant circuit must hold EPA Section 608 Type I certification. Section 608 certification applies regardless of refrigerant type, except for refrigerants specifically exempted by regulation.

An apprentice may work without certification only while closely and continually supervised by an appropriately certified technician. A person who only disposes of small appliances is not required to hold Section 608 technician certification. That exception does not remove the obligation to recover refrigerant properly or comply with safe-disposal requirements.

Disposal and records

The final processor in the disposal chain must either recover any remaining refrigerant or verify that it was properly recovered before the appliance is delivered. Verification may be provided through a signed statement or contract. A signed statement must identify the person who performed refrigerant recovery and state the recovery date.

The final processor must notify suppliers of the recovery requirement and keep copies of signed statements or contracts on site, in paper or electronic form, for three years. If all refrigerant had leaked out before delivery, the final processor must obtain a signed statement to that effect.

Section 608-certified technicians must keep a copy of their certification at their place of business and retain a copy until three years after they stop working as technicians. The recovery and disposal records described here apply to final processors; they are distinct from additional recordkeeping rules for larger appliances.