Leak repair rules (82.157): EPA 608 Practice Questions

The leak repair rules in 40 CFR 82.157 apply to which appliances?

Since April 10, 2020, 82.157 covers appliances with a full charge of 50 lb or more of a class I or class II refrigerant (or a blend containing one).

A rooftop unit holds 60 lb of R-410A only. Do the 82.157 leak repair requirements apply to it?

Since 2020, 82.157 applies only to appliances with ozone-depleting refrigerants. Repairing leaks is still good practice.

What is the leak-rate threshold that triggers repair for a comfort cooling appliance with 50 lb or more of R-22?

Comfort cooling and other appliances have a 10% annual leak-rate threshold. Commercial refrigeration is 20% and industrial process refrigeration is 30%.

What is the leak-rate threshold for commercial refrigeration with 50 lb or more of an ozone-depleting refrigerant?

Commercial refrigeration (supermarkets, cold storage) has a 20% threshold under the current rule.

What is the leak-rate threshold for industrial process refrigeration with 50 lb or more of an ozone-depleting refrigerant?

Industrial process refrigeration has a 30% threshold. Comfort cooling is 10% and commercial refrigeration is 20%.

Once a covered appliance exceeds its leak-rate threshold, how long does the owner normally have to repair the leaks?

Leaks must be repaired within 30 days of the refrigerant addition that showed the threshold was exceeded (120 days if an industrial process shutdown is needed).

An industrial process refrigeration system needs an industrial process shutdown to repair its leaks. How long is allowed?

When an industrial process shutdown is required, the repair period is 120 days instead of 30.

When must the initial verification test be done after a leak repair under 82.157?

The initial verification test, which shows the repaired leaks are fixed, is done within the 30- or 120-day repair period.

When must the follow-up verification test be done after a successful initial verification test?

The follow-up test is due within 10 days of the successful initial test, or within 10 days of returning to normal operation if the system was evacuated.

If the owner decides to retrofit or retire a leaking appliance instead of repairing it, when must the plan be written?

A retrofit or retirement plan is due within 30 days. It must be signed, dated and kept on site for EPA inspection.

Once a retrofit or retirement plan is written, when must the work be completed?

Retrofit or retirement must be finished within one year of the plan date, and no later than 13 months after the plan was required.

A covered appliance leaks 125% or more of its full charge in a calendar year. What must the owner do?

Chronically leaking appliances (125% or more of full charge in a calendar year) require a report to EPA by March 1 describing the efforts to fix the leaks.

How long must owners keep the service, leak inspection and verification test records required by 82.157?

Records are kept for at least three years. Full-charge determination records are kept until three years after the appliance is retired.

What must a technician give the owner of a covered appliance after adding or removing refrigerant?

Technicians must document refrigerant additions and removals for the owner so the owner can calculate the leak rate and keep records.

Which is NOT one of the allowed ways to determine an appliance's full charge?

Full charge may be set by the manufacturer's data, appropriate calculations, actual measurements of refrigerant added or removed, or the midpoint of an established range.