HVAC legislation

The following is only a general overview of key legal points in servicing an HVAC system.

• It must be emphasized that, in most countries, any person who services an air conditioning system must be separately accredited to comply with local environmental protection legislation, or under close supervision of an accredited person.
• In 1987, most of the world's industrialized countries signed an agreement called the "Montreal Protocol". Incorporated in the protocol is a ban on production of ozone-depleting substances. R-12, an automotive air conditioning refrigerant, is one of these substances. The Act gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to establish regulations to prevent the release of refrigerants during the servicing of air conditioning systems.

• R-12, and its replacement R-134a, can be a health hazard. When they are released into a poorly ventilated work area, they displace the air we breathe. This can cause breathing difficulty or asphyxiation. When working with any air conditioning refrigerants, it must be in a well-ventilated area.
• Before servicing an air conditioning system, a technician should test for the type of refrigerant used. This can be done by using a refrigerant identification diagnostic tool available from air conditioning suppliers.
• All leaks in a system must be repaired prior to recharging an air conditioning system. The practice of "Topping Up" is illegal as it contravenes the Montreal Protocol and laws and regulations of most countries.
• If a workshop handles R-12 and R-134a, it must have a separate recovery unit for each refrigerant to prevent the possibility of cross-contamination.
• If cross-contamination occurs, the gases cannot be separated, recycled or used in an air conditioning system. Under the rules of the environmental protection agencies in most westernized countries, the mixture must be managed as a "hazardous waste".