Refrigerant Leak Detection Is Heavily Regulated By Government Agencies

By Verisae, Inc.

Refrigerant leak monitoring in refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC-R) equipment is very challenging, even for the most skilled HVAC-R technician. The leak could be well concealed from view in tubing, a system component, or in an operating or safety control component.

With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation captured in The U.S. Clean Air Act (sections 608 & 609), gas leak tracking takes on great urgency. The intent of the laws is to lower emissions of gases harmful to the environment. As such, the new government mandates no longer give service technicians the choice of adding refrigerants when the system is low due to a leak. Rather, the leak has to be found and fixed within a specified period of time.

There are numerous types of testing equipment that can be used in refrigerant leak monitoring, some of it automated and others acting as sniffers for onsite monitoring. To find the leak, HVAC-R technicians have to decide the best method to use. Methods include a soap solution, a halide torch, dye interception, isolation of a component from the system, or pressurizing the system with dry nitrogen gas.

All of these options take time and money, which can turn into a very expensive call. A less costly choice for companies is utilizing gas tracking software that pinpoints the origin of a leak by either tracking heating and cooling events over time to establish trends or to implement an systematic leak detection technology.

An electronic leak detector is one of the easiest methods used in refrigerants leak tracking. These types of detectors can find leaks of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Quick identification of a leak is important because the venting of these gases is strictly regulated by the EPA, with companies subject to fines if their emissions are not corrected within a certain timeframe.

Refrigerant gas management applications is a valuable tool in refrigerant leak monitoring. It offers companies with accurate data on what their refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) equipment and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment are venting, tracks performance, monitors and identifies gas gas fugitive emissions, provides refrigerants usage data, and keeps accurate records on maintenance.

Refrigerant leak monitoring regulations govern the repair of a leak and outline proper disposal for a system that cannot be repaired. These inclusive requirements are in force in the United States, as well as many foreign countries. The treaties set forth a globally response to improving and protecting the planet.

Quick implementation of gas leak tracking is of critical importance to the environment. Refrigerant contains gases that have been identified as damaging to the ozone layer and show a high correlation for causing global warming. To comply with ecological laws, many companies are investing in a refrigerant management program to monitor and track equipment usage.

Because of ecological and cost concerns related to refrigerants leak detection, many facilities with units that use refrigerants are relying on gas tracker applications. A refrigerant tracker monitors refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) units and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems around the clock and instantly detects the location of any emissions. Studies show that commercial and industrial facilities can save thousands of dollars a year by monitoring equipment for fugitive emissions.

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