| The Dangers of R22 Refrigerant to the Environment |
| Written by Daniel Stouffer | |
| Sunday, 22 March 2009 | |
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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.
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. Because it is used in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in most commercial and business facilities, R22 refrigerant is one of the widely used chemicals in the world. Besides offices, warehouses, production facilities, restaurants and stores, it is also used in process chiller and industrial refrigerant plants. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons contained in the chemical are the focus of concern because these harmful gases are released into the air when a refrigerant leak occurs. This adds to the growing problem of global warming and continues to deplete the earth's protective ozone layer. 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. Federal law currently bans R22 refrigerant in various areas of production, in household equipment and in certain kinds of vehicles. New refrigeration and air conditioning equipment being manufactured can no longer contain the chemical. Furthermore, banning of new R22 refrigerant in the maintenance and servicing of existing refrigeration and air conditioning systems takes place in 2010, while the use of recycled R22 refrigerant for the same purposes will be prohibited by 2015. The U.S. Clean Air Act outlines specific containment and management practices that businesses and municipalities must follow to recover and recycle R22 refrigerant during installation, service, or retirement of a system. Because of the complex requirements of these procedures, many organizations use software programs and tracking applications to automatically handle the protocols, rather than handle the paperwork manually. 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. Because it contains hydrochlorofluorocarbons, R22 refrigerant has shown to cause significant damage to the ozone layer. As such, companies have begun efforts to comply with the new regulations aimed at reducing the use of refrigerant use. Among the requirements of the law are monitoring equipment using R22 refrigerant, tracking its usage and reporting any leaks. Compliance has become even more important than before following new laws passed in 2009. These regulations allow government regulators to conduct unannounced spot checks to ensure proper tracking of R22. Particular oversight is given in the event of a leak to ensure documentation adequately shows how the gases were recovered. Addressing R22 refrigerant is one of many ways that the United States and other countries are identifying substances that cause long-term harm to the ozone layer and have the potential to contribute to global warming. By taking proactive steps, like phasing out the chemical, ensures a healthy, environmentally stable world in the future. The Article Author: Daniel Stouffer has detailed data on the importance of effective refrigerant gas management and more information about r22 refrigerant. |
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