Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling - EPA-Approved Section 609 Program for Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) Service

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by Muffet

Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling booklet explains the EPA-Approved Section 609 program for Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) service. It covers refrigerants and their health and environmental impacts, including R-12 risks and the transition from ozone depletion to global warming. The guide outlines EPA regulations, prohibited venting, approved equipment, certification and recordkeeping, and how Section 608 overlaps. It also provides practical safety-first recovery, recycling, identification, leak detection, and charging methods.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

A Message from David Johnson, ASE President & CEO

From Air Conditioning to Thermal Management

Terms and Acronyms

Refrigerants and Their Impact on Health and the Environment

R-12 – From Miracle to Menace

Environmental Impact of MVAC Refrigerants

EPA Regulations

Section 609 of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990

Section 82.42-Certification, recordkeeping and public notification requirements

Section 608 Programs-Differences and Overlap

Alternative Refrigerants

Acceptable and Unacceptable Substitutes in MVAC

Retrofitting

Responsible Refrigerant Management

Recovery/Recycling/Recharge Equipment

Best Practices for Working with Refrigerant Systems

Recovery, Leak Detection, and Charging

How to Recover Refrigerant on R-12 and R-134a Systems

Leaks and Leak Detection

Refrigerant Charging

System Charge Calculations

Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling REVIEW EPA-Approved Section 609 Program for Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) Service This booklet is distributed free of charge and is not to be sold. Table of Contents A Message from David Johnson, ASE President & CEO...............................3 From Air Conditioning to Thermal Management............................................4 Terms and Acronyms...................................................................................... 5 Refrigerants and Their Impact on Health and the Environment .................. 6 R-12 – From Miracle to Menace............................................................................................... 6 Risks and Effects of Excess UV Radiation............................................................................... 6 From Ozone Depletion to Global Warming .............................................................................. 7 Environmental Impact of MVAC Refrigerants........................................................................... 7 EPA Regulations ............................................................................................... 9 Section 609 of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 ........................................................... 9 Section 82.34-Prohibitions and required practices................................................................. 9 Section 82.36-Approved refrigerant handling equipment ....................................................... 9 Section 82.42-Certification, recordkeeping and public notification requirements ................ 11 Section 608 Programs-Differences and Overlap.................................................................. 11 Venting Prohibited .................................................................................................................. 11 Alternative Refrigerants .................................................................................. 12 Refrigerant Sales Restriction ................................................................................................. 12 SNAP Overview ..................................................................................................................... 12 The U.S. AIM Act .................................................................................................................... 12 Acceptable and Unacceptable Substitutes in MVAC......................................................... 13-14 Retrofitting .............................................................................................................................. 15 MVAC System Hoses ............................................................................................................. 15 Refrigerant Fitting Sizes ......................................................................................................... 16 Caution with Flammable Refrigerants, Including Hydrocarbon Refrigerants ......................... 16 Next Generation Air Conditioning Systems ............................................................................ 16 Responsible Refrigerant Management .......................................................... 18 Safety First ............................................................................................................................. 18 Recovery/Recycling/Recharge Equipment............................................................................. 18 Best Practices for Working with Refrigerant Systems ............................................................ 19 Used R-134a Refrigerant from Non-Mobile Sources ............................................................. 20 Checking Recycled R-12 and R-134a Stored in Portable Containers ................................... 20 How to Recover Refrigerant on R-12 and R-134a Systems .................................................. 21 Portable

FAQs

What does the EPA-Approved Section 609 program authorize for MVAC service?

The program credential allows legal servicing of Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) systems and purchasing automotive refrigerant.

Why are refrigerants like R-12 discussed in terms of health and environmental impact?

The booklet explains that refrigerants have impacts on health and the environment, including risks associated with R-12 and broader effects such as ozone depletion and global warming.

What key regulatory requirement does the booklet emphasize regarding refrigerant venting?

Venting is prohibited, and the guide also describes required practices under EPA regulations for proper refrigerant handling.

Oct 2, 2026

Uploaded by Muffet