The Big Chill has Arrived: EPA's R-410A Transition

There's no argument that maintenance technicians are important players in the game of apartment community management. And when vital regulations are handed down from federal agencies, it is often the staff in the maintenance shop who are the most affected.

As many in our industry are aware, from the onsite personnel to the executive level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be instituting a transition for maintaining and repairing air conditioning equipment that contains Hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or HCFCs. Specific to our industry, is an HCFC called R-22. Maintenance technicians nationwide will need to comply beginning January 1, 2010 the phase-out of HCFC refrigerants.

The following information will help technicians better understand their responsibilities under EPA regulations, adapt to industry practices and perform equipment maintenance and repairs properly.

1. Air conditioning equipment manufactured containing HCFC-22 (R-22) will cease on December 31, 2009, and beginning on January 1, 2010, all air conditioning equipment manufactured and imported will need to contain the new refrigerant HFC-410A, or R-410A as is commonly known to continue with the phase-out of refrigerants that are depleting the ozone layer like R-22.

2. Existing air conditioning equipment manufactured before January 1, 2010 containing R-22 will still be available for purchase until supplies run out. The prices for equipment containing R-22 will increase as the supplies decrease.

3. EPA is not requiring for existing equipment containing R-22 to be replace with equipment containing the new R-410A, since refrigerant R-22 and parts to repair equipment containing R-22 will be available for repairs and service until January 1, 2020. The continued use of existing air conditioning equipment containing HCFC's (R-22) is not banned, nor is there an EPA mandate for the conversion of existing R-22 equipment.

4. As of January 1, 2010 EPA will ban the production of R-22 for new equipment and companies producing R-22 will be allowed to only produce refrigerant R-22 for servicing and repairing equipment manufactured before January 1, 2010. Lowering the production of R-22 will increase the price of R-22 in the future.

5. As of January 1, 2020 EPA will ban the production and importation of R-22 completely, and the only R-22 available will be from recovered, recycle, or reclaimed sources.

6. EPA does not require any additional certification at this time to work on air conditioning equipment containing R-410A. EPA Section 608 Certification type II or Universal required to work on R-22 systems is the same certification required to work on R410A systems. However, some air conditioning manufacturers require certification when handling their R410A equipment to avoid injury or accidental damage. Service technicians are advice to receive proper training to handle R-410A safely and become certified even if is not required by EPA at this time.

7. The pressures of R-410A are much higher than R-22 (50% to 70% higher) and equipment containing R410A requires special manifold gauges, vacuum pumps, and recovery equipment to be handled properly.

8. Air conditioning systems containing R-22 cannot be charge with the new R410-A refrigerant due to higher pressures, different lubricants and metering devices.

NAA Education Institute will host a "Transition to R-410A: Webinar on January 15 and January 25 (encore) at noon ET. Click here to learn more.