Start with applicability
The appliance leak-repair provisions of 40 CFR 82.157 generally apply to appliances with a full charge of at least 50 pounds of a class I or class II ozone-depleting refrigerant, or a blend containing one. Technician certification, venting and recovery requirements are separate; a system below this charge threshold is not automatically free of those duties.
Compare the correct category
| Covered appliance category | Annual leak-rate threshold |
|---|---|
| Comfort cooling | 10% |
| Commercial refrigeration | 20% |
| Industrial process refrigeration | 30% |
Leak repair is triggered by a rate that exceeds the applicable threshold, subject to the rule’s calculation and applicability provisions. The earlier 15% comfort-cooling value on this website was incorrect and has been corrected.
Record facts and review deadlines
Retain the full-charge basis, refrigerant additions, chosen calculation method, category, service dates, repairs and verification evidence. The ordinary repair period is 30 days after an addition shows an exceedance. The 120-day provision applies to industrial process refrigeration when an industrial process shutdown is required, not to every industrial appliance. Review the actual rule for verification timing, exceptions, extensions, inspections and retrofit/retirement options.
Most required records have a three-year retention period; certain appliance facts must be retained until three years after retirement. This article covers selected leak-repair provisions, not every federal, state or local requirement. FieldPad supports recordkeeping and does not certify compliance.
