If you work in the HVACR
cfc certification , you have probably heard that the US Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are calling for the gradual elimination of all ozone-depleting refrigerants. This includes the most commonly used refrigerant today, HCFC R-22, which is found in residential and commercial systems everywhere. The regulations currently state that there will be no production or importing of HCFC R-22 beginning in 2020.
But, even sooner is the requirement that all HVAC/R manufacturers of air conditioning equipment must eliminate the use of HCFC R-22 in new equipment by January 1, 2010, in North America.
Many factories have started this process and are now building systems that utilize HFC R - 410A refrigerant that does not contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.
When you work with R - 410A now or in the future, you will quickly find that it is also a high pressure refrigerant. This will mean that there are safety issues that you must to be aware of concerning its use. R - 410A is also a zeoptropic refrigerant, but considered by the EPA as a Near Azeotropic Refrigerant Mixture (NARM), requiring different charging and servicing techniques than other 400-series blended refrigerants.
Currently HFC refrigerants such as R - 410A, are not covered under the refrigerant sales restriction of the Clean Air Act Amendments, and there is actually no current EPA certification required for working with HFC R - 410A. That means that the EPA does not require or mandate a separate certification for the handling of these refrigerants.
Also, there is currently no mandatory industry-wide requirement for participation in a course concerning R - 410A refrigerant from most equipment manufacturers. However, more and more are requiring "certification" when handling their R - 410A equipment to avoid injury or accidental damage. This training affects contractors and technicians who purchase R-410A equipment from authorized distributors, and typically assures they are EPA 608 certified and R-410A-trained through independent programs, and/or show proof of attending an approved training seminar, or an approved online equivalent.
This training will assure that you understand the differences between R-22 and R-410A refrigerants. You must also understand the background, regulations, impact on the industry, and application requirements of using R-410A. And, manufacturers assume you will obtain the practical knowledge for safe performance of service techniques on systems containing R-410A refrigerant. New systems will require that you know how to use different tools and service equipment, and follow safety standards to successfully install R-410A systems. You should also be able to retrofit
epa universal certification and service existing R-410A systems in the field.
This "certification" is, in most cases, proof to a manufacturer that the contractor and/or technician have successfully studied or reviewed information and concerns that the manufacturer has about R-410A refrigerant, and in most cases, passed a written examination. https://epa608practicetest.com
