7 Type II Certification Practice

Type II certification scope

EPA Section 608 Type II certification covers technicians who service or dispose of medium-, high-, or very-high-pressure appliances. It does not cover small appliances, motor-vehicle air conditioners, or MVAC-like appliances.

Certification is required when work could reasonably be expected to compromise the refrigerant circuit. Examples include connecting gauges or hoses and adding or removing refrigerant. Reading a room thermostat without opening the refrigerant circuit does not meet the example of work that compromises the circuit. EPA-approved examinations are administered by approved certifying organizations.

Type II questions commonly address leak detection and repair, refrigerant recovery, evacuation levels, equipment selection, and safe work practices. Follow the appliance and recovery-equipment manufacturers’ instructions as well as applicable regulations.

Leak detection and repair

A Leak inspection is meant to locate a leak. A leak detector, ultrasonic method, gas-imaging camera, or bubble test can help identify its location. By contrast, a pressure check, sight-glass observation, or vacuum-decay test may indicate that a system is leaking but does not, by itself, locate the leak.

For appliances subject to leak-repair rules, keep the inspection distinct from the Initial verification test after repair and the Follow-up verification test under normal operating conditions.

Section 608 leak-repair requirements generally apply to appliances containing $50$ pounds or more of ozone-depleting refrigerant when the annual leak rate exceeds the applicable trigger. The listed annual leak-rate triggers are:

• Industrial process refrigeration: $30\%$.

• Commercial refrigeration: $20\%$.

• Comfort cooling and other appliances: $10\%$.

Owners or operators generally must repair qualifying leaks within $30$ days, or develop a retrofit or retirement plan within that period. Certain exceptions and extensions apply. These are owner/operator obligations, although technicians may perform inspections, repairs, and verification tests. Do not assume these thresholds apply to every refrigerant or appliance; other refrigerant-management rules may also be relevant.

For example, a commercial refrigeration appliance containing $80$ pounds of an ozone-depleting refrigerant with an annual leak rate above its applicable trigger requires corrective action by the owner/operator. A leak inspection should identify leak locations; a standing pressure check alone does not do so.

Recovering and handling refrigerant

Recover refrigerant rather than intentionally venting it. Use Recovery or recycling equipment appropriate for the refrigerant and appliance, and operate the equipment according to its instructions. Except for equipment manufactured before November 15, 1993, equipment used for these requirements must be certified by an EPA-approved testing organization.

When the equipment and procedure allow, recovering liquid first can make recovery faster. After reaching the required evacuation level, allow pressure to stabilize and check whether it rises. A pressure rise can indicate that refrigerant remains in the system or oil.

Recovered refrigerant may generally be returned to the same appliance or to another appliance owned by the same person. If it changes ownership, it must be reclaimed by an EPA-certified reclaimer before transfer for reuse.

Evacuation levels and exceptions

When opening an appliance for service, repair, maintenance, or disposal, evacuate refrigerant from the entire appliance or the isolated portion being serviced to the applicable Evacuation level. The levels below are inches of mercury vacuum relative to standard atmospheric pressure. They vary according to appliance type, full charge, and the date the recovery or recycling equipment was manufactured.

• Very-high-pressure appliance: $0$ in. Hg vacuum with equipment made before November 15, 1993, and $0$ in. Hg vacuum with equipment made on or after that date.

• High-pressure appliance with a full charge under $200$ lb: $0$ in. Hg vacuum for either equipment-manufacture period.

• High-pressure appliance with a full charge of $200$ lb or more: $4$ in. Hg vacuum with equipment made before November 15, 1993; $10$ in. Hg vacuum with equipment made on or after that date.

For high-pressure appliances, $0$ inches of mercury vacuum means the table does not require a vacuum below atmospheric pressure. It does not mean the system may be opened while positively pressurized. For high- or very-high-pressure appliances receiving a qualifying non-major repair that is not followed by evacuation to the atmosphere, the exception still requires evacuation to $0$ psig before opening.

Limited leak-related exception

If a leak prevents reaching the normal evacuation level, isolate leaking components from non-leaking components where possible. Evacuate non-leaking portions to the specified level. Evacuate leaking portions to the lowest level achievable without substantially contaminating the recovered refrigerant, but not above $0$ psig.

A separate limited exception applies to repairs that are not major and are not followed by evacuation of the appliance to the environment. These exceptions do not authorize venting refrigerant.

Applying the requirements

Use these scenarios to check how the requirements apply:

• Work that generally requires certification: Connecting gauges to measure appliance pressure can compromise the refrigerant circuit. Reading a room thermostat without opening the circuit is not the same kind of work.

• High-pressure appliance with a large charge: A full charge of $250$ pounds and recovery equipment manufactured after November 15, 1993, calls for an evacuation level of $10$ inches of mercury vacuum.

• Pressure check suggesting a leak: This may indicate a leak, but it is not, by itself, a leak inspection because it does not locate the leak.

• Leaking component under the limited leak-related exception: The maximum permitted pressure is $0$ psig. Isolate components where possible and evacuate non-leaking portions to the required level.

• Transfer to a different owner: Recovered refrigerant cannot be transferred for reuse without reclamation by an EPA-certified reclaimer.