The United States and other countries have passed federal laws requiring commercial facilities to convert usage of R22 refrigerant to a more environmentally friendly alternative. While many organizations are in the process of conversion to meet the 2015 phase out deadline, others are implementing measures to comply with tracking and reporting requirements for existing systems.
Used extensively throughout the world, R22 refrigerant is vital to the operation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems installed in the majority of commercial and business facilities. It can also be found in process chiller and industrial refrigerant plants. The widespread use of the chemical is a paramount concern because when a leak occurs hydrochlorofluorocarbons are released. They are deemed harmful because they damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.
It is a monumental task for facilities to replace R22 refrigerant. For many, it means changing existing heating and cooling systems or installing new equipment, all with minimal interruption to business. During this process, special care needs to be given to the chemical's safe removal and proper discarding to comply with federal regulations. Under a 2009 law, reporting requirements became stiffer. Companies using systems containing 50 pounds of R22 refrigerant must submit annual reports of its usage, service and leaks, while facilities with larger systems have a more frequent reporting schedule.
Currently, the use of R22 refrigerant is banned in many areas of production, in household equipment and in certain types of vehicles. It is no longer being used in new refrigeration and air conditioning equipment being manufactured. By 2010, the use of new R22 refrigerant in the maintenance and servicing of existing refrigeration and air conditioning systems will be banned and by 2015, using recycled R22 refrigerant for the same purposes will be prohibited.
There are extensive containment and management practices that commercial facilities must adhere to under the U.S. Clean Air Act pertaining to the recovery and recycling of R22 refrigerant during installation, service, or retirement of a system. To make the tasks more manageable, many businesses use software programs and tracking applications that monitor everything automatically.
As R22 refrigerant is phased out under federal regulations established by the United States and other countries worldwide, alternative substances have been identified. These alternatives are friendlier to the environment and more energy efficient. Among the commercial use refrigerants approved by the Environmental Protection Agency are ammonia, R404A and R407c.
What's bad about R22 refrigerant are the hydrochlorofluorocarbons it contains. These gases cause damage to the ozone layer. Many companies are doing their part by implementing and complying with new refrigerant use laws. Among the directives are monitoring equipment using R22 refrigerant, tracking its usage and reporting any leaks. Government regulators are allowed to make unannounced spot checks under a 2009 law to ensure proper management of R22. If a leak has occurred, documentation is carefully reviewed for evidence that the law was followed to recover the gases.
R22 refrigerant is just one of many substances that have been identified by the United States and other countries as causing long-term harm to the ozone layer. More recently, these substances have shown to have global warming potential. The effort to phase out dangerous substances will help the world reach its unified goal of recovering the damage done to date to the ozone layer and improve the overall health of the environment for years to come.
Used extensively throughout the world, R22 refrigerant is vital to the operation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems installed in the majority of commercial and business facilities. It can also be found in process chiller and industrial refrigerant plants. The widespread use of the chemical is a paramount concern because when a leak occurs hydrochlorofluorocarbons are released. They are deemed harmful because they damage the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.
It is a monumental task for facilities to replace R22 refrigerant. For many, it means changing existing heating and cooling systems or installing new equipment, all with minimal interruption to business. During this process, special care needs to be given to the chemical's safe removal and proper discarding to comply with federal regulations. Under a 2009 law, reporting requirements became stiffer. Companies using systems containing 50 pounds of R22 refrigerant must submit annual reports of its usage, service and leaks, while facilities with larger systems have a more frequent reporting schedule.
Currently, the use of R22 refrigerant is banned in many areas of production, in household equipment and in certain types of vehicles. It is no longer being used in new refrigeration and air conditioning equipment being manufactured. By 2010, the use of new R22 refrigerant in the maintenance and servicing of existing refrigeration and air conditioning systems will be banned and by 2015, using recycled R22 refrigerant for the same purposes will be prohibited.
There are extensive containment and management practices that commercial facilities must adhere to under the U.S. Clean Air Act pertaining to the recovery and recycling of R22 refrigerant during installation, service, or retirement of a system. To make the tasks more manageable, many businesses use software programs and tracking applications that monitor everything automatically.
As R22 refrigerant is phased out under federal regulations established by the United States and other countries worldwide, alternative substances have been identified. These alternatives are friendlier to the environment and more energy efficient. Among the commercial use refrigerants approved by the Environmental Protection Agency are ammonia, R404A and R407c.
What's bad about R22 refrigerant are the hydrochlorofluorocarbons it contains. These gases cause damage to the ozone layer. Many companies are doing their part by implementing and complying with new refrigerant use laws. Among the directives are monitoring equipment using R22 refrigerant, tracking its usage and reporting any leaks. Government regulators are allowed to make unannounced spot checks under a 2009 law to ensure proper management of R22. If a leak has occurred, documentation is carefully reviewed for evidence that the law was followed to recover the gases.
R22 refrigerant is just one of many substances that have been identified by the United States and other countries as causing long-term harm to the ozone layer. More recently, these substances have shown to have global warming potential. The effort to phase out dangerous substances will help the world reach its unified goal of recovering the damage done to date to the ozone layer and improve the overall health of the environment for years to come.
About the Author:
Daniel Stouffer has much more information on the need for effective refrigerant gas management and more information on r22 refrigerant.
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