6 Type I Certification Practice

Small appliance definition

A small appliance must meet every part of its definition: it is fully manufactured, charged, and hermetically sealed in a factory, and contains $5$ pounds or less of refrigerant. A unit with a small refrigerant charge does not qualify if it was not factory-sealed as specified. The boundary includes a unit containing exactly $5$ pounds, provided it meets the other requirements.

Examples include household refrigerators and freezers, window and portable air conditioners, dehumidifiers, vending machines, and drinking-water coolers. Type I certification is for technicians who maintain, service, or repair small appliances.

Section 608 distinguishes service from disposal. Technician certification is not required solely to recover refrigerant from a small appliance during disposal, but applicable refrigerant recovery and disposal requirements still apply.

Recovery requirements

Before opening a small appliance for service or disposing of it, recover refrigerant using appropriate recovery equipment. The applicable requirement may be met either by recovering the specified percentage or by evacuating the appliance to $4$ inches of mercury vacuum.

The percentage requirement depends on the recovery equipment’s manufacture date and, for equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993, the compressor’s condition:

• Equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993: recover $80\%$, regardless of compressor condition.

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

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

Follow the recovery-equipment manufacturer’s instructions. For a full charge of $2$ pounds, the targets are $1.8$ pounds at $90\%$ recovery or $1.6$ pounds at $80\%$ recovery. Evacuation to $4$ inches of mercury vacuum is the alternative to meeting the applicable percentage.

Recovery techniques and service decisions

When using a system-dependent (passive) recovery device on an appliance with a functional compressor, operate the compressor during recovery and follow the device manufacturer’s instructions. The compressor helps move refrigerant through the recovery process.

An inoperative compressor cannot circulate refrigerant for a passive device. Install access valves on both the high side and low side so refrigerant can be recovered from the appliance circuit. Follow the equipment instructions; service-training techniques described for releasing trapped refrigerant include warming and sharply striking the compressor. Do not use a technique that risks damaging the appliance or injuring the technician.

After service, remove temporary solderless access fittings when appropriate and restore the system using the specified service procedure. Use suitable recovery equipment, handle recovered refrigerant in accordance with applicable requirements, and do not intentionally vent it.

Applying the rules

A factory-sealed refrigerator contains $4$ pounds of refrigerant, has a functional compressor, and is serviced with equipment manufactured on or after November 15, 1993. The recovery target is $90\%$, or $3.6$ pounds; evacuation to $4$ inches of mercury vacuum is an alternative.

If the same refrigerator’s compressor is inoperative, the target is $80\%$, or $3.2$ pounds. When using a passive device, provide access to both the high and low sides because the compressor cannot circulate refrigerant.

For equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, the target is $80\%$ even when the appliance compressor operates, or the appliance may be evacuated to $4$ inches of mercury vacuum.

A factory-manufactured, factory-charged, hermetically sealed unit containing exactly $5$ pounds meets the charge limit. By contrast, a field-assembled unit with a $3$-pound charge does not qualify as a small appliance based on charge alone; it must also meet the factory-manufacturing, charging, and sealing conditions.