Denver-The new SAE J2788 standard placed on A/C recycle and recovery machine manufacturers this year, designed to reduce harmful refrigerants from being released into the atmosphere, is part of a greater effort by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the earth's ozone layer, according to the agency.
The proliferation of newer, more efficient A/C units, coupled with proper recycling and recharging procedures, should limit the amount of refrigerants, including R134a, from escaping into the atmosphere, said Jeffery Kimes, a Denver-based EPA environmental engineer.
"An end-of-life vehicle presents the highest potential for harm," Kimes said. He said he and his associate, David Cobb, EPA environmental scientist, plan to concentrate their efforts mainly in Colorado but will observe compliance in Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Utah.
The Denver team and its EPA counterparts across the country are making a concerted effort to check the A/C recycle and recovery taking place in automotive salvage operations and repair shops to ensure the continued success of the Clean Air Act, in particular, section 609 that that focuses on mobile air conditioning service, Kimes said.
Through unannounced visits, EPA officials plan to check for certifications to purchase refrigerant, technician certification, and registered recovery, recycling, or recharging machines that work properly, he said.
Kimes pointed out that the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) training is not the same as an EPA certification. To order a $20 handwritten certification test, technicians can visit www.epa.gov/ozone, he said.
The purity of the refrigerant that is recovered, recycled, and reused in a vehicle is largely dependent on how well a machine is maintained, said Mark Cirbo, co-owner of Rocky Mountain CFC, a Denver-based A/C sales and service specialist. The refrigerant filter is often the culprit of a poorly functioning machine, he added.
"The filters are designed to trap moisture," Cirbo said. "Any contaminants that get into A/C systems really affect its performance, especially moisture."
If a vehicle experiences an A/C compressor explosion or burnout, small pieces of metal contaminate a vehicle's A/C system, Cirbo said, adding that after a machine is hooked up to a vehicle with either of those compressor problems, filters need to be changed.
Most machines require a filter change for every 150 pounds of refrigerant processed, Cirbo said, adding that Robinair, a line he sells and services, recommends filter changes at 150 pounds.
On the new J2788-compliant recovery and recharge Robinair machines, a warning light illuminates, indicating that a filter is near the end of its life, said Lynn Cirbo, co-owner of Rocky Mountain CFC. "If you don't change it, it shuts down." The machine will not operate until a new filter is installed and its unique serial number is punched into the unit, she added.
The goal is to get the refrigerant recovered, sent to a certified reclaimer, and either destroyed or recycled, Kimes said.