A/C - Certification for Recovery and Recycling
December 3, 1992Model
All
Part Identifier
8700
Group
8
Number
9207
Subject:
Air Conditioning Certification
ATTENTION:
Service Manager/Service Technician
Models Affected:
All
Concern:
Due to a recent rule adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), new federal regulations now govern the recovery and recycling of CFC-12 (R-12) refrigerant from motor vehicle air conditioners. These regulations now require that by January 1, 1993, all service establishments which repair air conditioning systems for payment must only use approved equipment operated only by certified technicians.
The EPA also requires air conditioning service facilities to fill out and submit to the EPA a special form (see example) certifying that they have approved equipment and the equipment will only be operated by certified technicians. This must be done by January 1, 1993.
To obtain certification forms, please contact:
MVAC's Recycling Program Manager
Stratospheric Ozone Protection
Branch (6202J)
U.S. EPA
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Included in this bulletin is a list of approved technician training programs as well as a list of approved CFC-12 recycling equipment.
Currently, this EPA ruling only applies to CFC-12 refrigerant, but as a part of the Clean Air Act of 1990, Congress has also required recycling of new generation refrigerants such as HFC (R-134a). The EPA will soon begin rulemaking to require recycling of HFC 134a in 1995. This will also require the use of approved HFC 134a recovery/ recycling equipment and the certification of technicians who will use the equipment. Since CFC-12 and HFC 134a are not compatible, separate equipment for each refrigerant will be required. In addition, Porsche vehicles from M.Y. 1993 are using refrigerant HFC 134a. For this reason, dealers should purchase UL approved HFC 134a recovery/recycling equipment now for air conditioning service to existing 1993 models.
MVAC RECOVER/RECYCLE OR RECOVER EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION FORM
The tabulates refrigerant recovery/recycling equipment, automotive (SCMA) for mobile automotive air conditioning systems using CFC-12, design certified by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc.