Recovery is not limited to the 15-pound leak-repair threshold
Part 82 recovery and evacuation requirements apply to relevant ODS and non-exempt substitute refrigerants. HFC recovery duties did not begin with Part 84’s 15-pound leak-repair threshold. EPA’s Section 608 regulatory update distinguishes the removal of certain HFC leak-repair requirements from the other refrigerant-management requirements that remain.
Part 84 leak repair has its own scope and residential/light-commercial AC/heat-pump exclusion under §84.106(a). Being outside that leak-repair rule does not establish a recovery or venting exemption.
Select the correct evacuation requirement
40 CFR 82.156 distinguishes appliance pressure categories, charge sizes, recovery-equipment manufacture/import dates, small appliances and other specific cases. Its Table 1 cannot be replaced by a three-row charge-size-only chart.
For example, Table 1 lists 0 inches Hg vacuum for a high-pressure appliance below 200 pounds and 10 inches Hg for one at or above 200 pounds when using recovery equipment manufactured or imported on or after November 15, 1993. Zero inches Hg vacuum relative to atmospheric pressure is not full vacuum. The rule has separate provisions and exceptions; consult them for the actual job.
Use the equipment-specific procedure
Identify the refrigerant and appliance, consult current safety data and manufacturer instructions, and use appropriately rated recovery equipment and cylinders. Follow applicable cylinder filling, inspection, transport and workplace safety requirements. This article does not provide a step-by-step recovery or flammable-refrigerant service procedure.
Keep the service and disposition documentation required for the particular activity. FieldPad records can support that work, but an entry does not establish that all recovery, cylinder or reporting requirements were satisfied.
