Outline of JARAC Activity
for Fluorocarbons

Japan Association of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Contractors

Table of contents
1. Outline of JARAC
2. Background: Regulation and Relevant Activities
by Industry
3. Leakage of HFCs in Japan
4. Roles of user
5. JRC GL-01
6. Training of engineers
7. Dissemination and enlightenment of the Freon
Emission Control Law
8. Retraining of active engineers (Brazing)
9. Disposal of recovered refrigerant
10. Summary2

1. Outline of JARAC
Japan Association of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Contractors
JARAC is a group of refrigeration and air
conditioning equipment contractors.
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Member37 Organizations (3,321 Companies )JARAC is run by directors selected from eachorganization.

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36 73

Beautiful Earth

43 11265 47 47 57

158

93 47

47 21
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137 67
76 86

60

42464
221 169
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63 63 45
27 140101
59

328

50 47
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Japan

JARAC’s main work is as follows: Promotion of ozone layer protection and measures to prevent globalwarming Ensuring the quality of refrigeration and air conditioning work
 Promotion of energy conservation
 Holding seminars
 Investigation and provision of technical information3

2. Regulation and Relevant Activities by Industry
International
1940~

1990
~

1974 Ozone
depletion
found
1985 ViennaConvention
1987 MontrealProtocol

Japan
1954 High Pressure Gas ControlLawIndustry
1949 JRAIA established as “the Japan Refrigerating
Machine Manufacturers Association“
1972 JARAC established as “Japan Association ofRefrigeration and Air-Conditioning Contractors”

1988 Ozone Layer Protection Law

1992 UNFCCC
1997 Kyoto Protocol
2001 Law concerning the Recovery
and Destruction of
Fluorocarbons

1993 Refrigerant Recycling Center (RRC) established1994 Training course for refrigerant recovery technician
certification started

2009 Survey results of Leakage ofHFCs in Japan
2010~2015 Paris (COP21)

2014 Act on Rational Use andProper Management of FCs(Amended)2016 Kigali(MOP28)
2019 Ozone Layer Protection Law(Amended)2010 JRC GL-01 Fluorocarbon Leak Inspection andRepair Guideline
2014 Type 2 fluorocarbon refrigerant handling technicians
started2016～2019
Dissemination and enlightenment of the Freon
Emission Control Law

2019 Rome(MOP31)2020 Act on Rational Use andProper Management of FCs(Amended)43. Leakage of HFCs in Japan
About 10 years ago, METI's investigation revealed that there are verymuch refrigerant leakage of fluorocarbons when using refrigeration andair conditioning equipment.
（Milliont-CO2）

50254020

小型冷凍冷蔵機器
Small refrigeration equipment
大型冷凍機
Big refrigeration equipment

30

At disposal

15

その他中型冷凍冷蔵機器
Medium refrigeration equipment
ビル用ＰＡＣ
Package air conditioner for building

201010

Other equipment
その他業務用At using

Room air conditioner
家庭用エアコン5

別置型ショーケース
Separate type showcase0
Amountof leakage
漏洩量54. Roles of user ( 1/ 4 )① Proper installation location for equipment• Ensure that there are no vibration sources around the installation
location, and avoid, as far as possible, locations where large vibrations
may occur, e.g., where other equipment is close nearby, or near roads
traveled by large trucks.
• Avoid corrosive environments with such as exhaust gas, dispersal ofseawater.

② Secure necessary space for the inspection/repair• Ensure the enough space for inspection or repair after installation.

③ Maintenance and management of a suitable usage environment• Periodically clean drain plates, condenser, and heat exchangers• Periodically remove drainage water• Be very careful when installing other equipment on top of the equipment.
(To prevent equipment damage and degradation of performance)Showcase drain cleaning

Showcase honeycomb cleaning

Secure space forinspection/repair

Keep tidy around outdoor unit
64. Roles of user ( 2 / 4 )① Basic leak inspection by user All commercial refrigeration and air conditioning equipment② Periodic leak inspection by engineer
 Carrying out periodic leak inspection of equipmentby Engineer
 Conducted at the frequency shown in the table below
EngineersType

Rated output of compressor motor

Inspection frequency

7.5kW or more, less than 50kW

At least once every 3 years

50kW or more

At least once a year

7.5kW or moreAt least once a year

Air conditioner
Refrigeration/Freezing equipment

74. Roles of user ( 2/ 4 ) Example of basic leak inspection of air-conditioner
Check points and items （only when the inspection can be done safely and easily)
Check points

Check items① ②③ ④① Frost formation on heat exchanger
Indoor Unit

② Smear of oil on heat exchanger or tube
③ Smear of oil on surroundings④ Abnormal vibration or operating sound⑤ Abnormal vibration or operating soundOutdoor Unit

⑥ Smear of oil on surroundings⑦ Flaw, corrosion, or rust of heat exchangerSome grills riseand lower
automatically⑧ Flaw, corrosion, or rust of refrigerant tube⑤
⑦Outdoor unit is vibrating abnormally⑧Outdoor unit is making
unusual noises⑥Corrosion on the lower section of a heat exchanger

84. Roles of user ( 2/ 4 ) Ex of basic inspection of showcase
Check points and items (Check points

Check items① Temperature inside (confirm if its within preset range)

Indoordisplay case

② Frost formation on heat exchanger①③ Smear of oil on heat exchanger or tube②

④ Smear of oil on surroundings⑤ Abnormal vibration or operating soundOutdoor Unit

⑥ Smear of oil on surroundings⑦ Flaw, corrosion, or rust of heat exchanger⑧ Flaw, corrosion, or rust of refrigerant tube

Frost on heat exchanger checkedfrom gaps between fan blades④⑤③⑤⑥Outdoor unit is making
unusual noises

Outdoor unit is vibrating
abnormally
Oil seepage⑦⑧⑨Corrosion

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4. Roles of user ( 3,4 / 4 )③ When a refrigerant leak has been discovered Prompt identification and repair of leak points
 It is prohibited to fill the refrigerant without repairs
Basic leakinspectionuser

Leak inspection
due to a problem(professionalinspection)

Leakdiscovered

Periodic leakinspection(professionalinspection)

Identificationof leak point

Repair
FillingEngineers④ After the inspection or repair
 Record and keep the history of inspection, repair, filling, andrecovery

Engineersuser

Simplified inspection sheet

Inspection record book10

4. Roles of user ( 4 / 4 )Recording and storage of the history of inspection, repair, and refilling
Refrigerant Leak Inspection and Maintenance Register
Equip.
manager(Year)(Month)~(Year)(Company) Name(Month)Supplementary
items

Control#(Day)

Equipment manufacturer

Address

Systemname

Facility name

TEL

Address

TEL

Person responsible formanaging equipment

TEL

Equip.
location(Day)

Inspection
company
name/address

Installation date(Year)Class(Day)Model

Equipment used Product#Total filling
Refrigerant quantity amount
(kg)

TEL

(Month)Application

Total recovery
Total leakage
amount

CO2 tonTEL
Refrigerant used

TEL

Initial total fill (kg)

R11

R12

R32

R134a

R22

R123

R245fa

R502

R404A

R407A

R407C

R410A

R410B

R152a

R142b

R507A

R543

4750

10900

675

1430

1810

771030

4660

3920

2110

1770

2090

2230

12423103990

1000Inspection
resultCause ofleakage/
damageGWP of primary refrigerant
Filling amount (kg)Date of work

Inspection/maintenancecategoryAmountfilled fromrecoveredportion (kg)

Recoveryamount(kg)Inspection content

Leakage/damagedlocation

Repair content

Name of contractor forTechnician Technician
inspection/repair/
nameNo.
recovery/fill

Reason if
repair notcompleted

Scheduled
repair date

Total

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5. JRC GL-01
JRC GL-01 : Guideline for leak inspection and repair for reducing fluorinated greenhouse gas
emission from commercial refrigerating and air condition equipment and systems(Japan Association of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Contractors (JARAC))
http://www.jarac.or.jp/business/cfc_leak/dl/JRC_GL-01-20190530.pdf

1. Scope
2. Normative References
3. Term and definitions
4. Requirement of method of leakage inspection
5. Requirement of procedure of leakage inspection
6. Requirement of periodical inspection
7. Requirement of repair of leakage
8. Publication of inspection record book
9. Requirement of prevention and maintenance of refrigerant leakage
Appended Document A～M
A) Judgment criteria for refrigerant system leak inspectionB) Leak inspection by direct methodC) Pressure leak testing, vacuum testing (vacuum drying)D) Procedures for periodic inspectionE) Causes of leaks and examples
F) Procedure for refrigerant recovery workG) Procedure for refrigerant fillingH) Brazing procedureI) Flare connection procedureJ) Preventive measures against piping breakageK) Refrigerant piping support
L) Flow of construction and maintenance (repair)M) Checklists for preventing refrigerant leaks(reference)12

5. JRC GL-01 ( 6. Requirement of periodical inspection)
System Leakage Check (visual check)Appearance of the whole system is checked by visual and auditory perception
before direct and indirect inspection.

Indirect Inspection
By utilizing checklists shown below, confirm any
abnormal operating condition and conduct diagnosisof leakage.

Direct Inspection
Leak detection
equipment method

Bubble solution
methodFluorescent agent
methodDetect fluorocarbons
leaking from tubes byusing electronic detection
equipment. This method
can detect smaller amountof leakage than othermethods, depending on
the equipment’s accuracy.

Suitable to detect
pinpoint leakage. Apply
bubble solution overthe potential leakage
point, and detect
fluorocarbons blowing
out from the point.

Inject fluorescentagent into tubes, anddetect the leakage
point by identifying
the leaking agent byusing ultraviolet lamp.

It is important that inspections are conducted using proper methods that conform to refrigerant leak inspection
guidelines, etc., established by industry groups.
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6. Training of engineers ①
Training course for refrigerant recovery technician certification.
FY1985～FY2019 about 85,000 engineers
 Established with the aim of certifying recovery engineers to supply
high-quality recovery fluorocarbons to RRC-certified recycling
facilities.
 For those who do not have experience or technical qualifications, helectures on the basics of environmental issues, fluorocarbon emission
control law, high pressure gas safety law, health and safety, recovery
technology, and refrigeration and air conditioning technology.

Certificate
Textbook fortraining

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6. Training of engineers ②
Type 1 Certified Training session for refrigerant fluorocarbons refrigerant
handling engineer
FY1985～FY2019 27,913 engineers
For engineers who already have qualifications and experience inrefrigeration and air conditioning technology, We give lectures onenvironmental issues, “Act on Rational Use and proper Management ofFluorocarbons”, ”High Pressure Gas Safety Act”, filling, recovery, andleakage inspection methods, etc.

Certificate
Textbook fortraining

Pocket manual on FCs
handling15

6. Training of engineers ③
Class 2 Certified Training session for refrigerant fluorocarbons
refrigerant recovery technician certification.
FY1985～FY2019 27,913 engineers
For engineers who have only experience in refrigeration and air
conditioning technology, we are lecturing on the basics of refrigeration
and air conditioning technology in addition to environmental issues, “ActRational Use and proper Management of Fluorocarbons”, “HighPressure Gas Safety law”, health and safety, leak inspection method.

Certificate
Textbook fortraining

Pocket manual on FCs
handling16

7. Dissemination and enlightenment of the Freon Emission Control Law
As equipment users have also a responsibility to prevent fluorocarbon leakage, theseinformation sessions are held to explain the appropriate measures to them as seen in
the figure above. (Free session about 3hours)

FY2014～FY2018 about 14,000 Users
FY2014～FY2018 about 5,000 Active engineers

session underway

Material for theinformation session

Handbook on basicinspection

Commercial song(The Song of the Freon Act)

Source: Japan Association of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Contractors(JARAC)178. Retraining of active engineers (Brazing)
Leakage of refrigerant fluorocarbons from air conditioners and refrigeration
machines often occurs from voids at joints when equipment is installed and installed,
and it is important to train construction engineers for leakage during use.
FY2014 9 Sessions
FY2015 40 Sessions
FY2016 28 Sessions

seminarBrazing horizontal
piping91 instructors
404 engineers
308 engineers

Text book

Brazing work fromthe front

FY2017FY2018FY201921 Sessions19 Sessions
20 Sessions

Safety work

Vertically split
copper tube

193 engineers
161 engineers
200 engineers (to be implemented)

Teaching
practical skills

Evaluation of penetration ofbrazing materials
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9. Disposal of recovered refrigerant ①
Examples of equipment to destroy refrigerants

Liquid Injection
Incineration Method

Rotary Kiln Combustion Method

Overheated Steam Pyrolysis Method

Cement Kiln Method
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9. Disposal of recovered refrigerant ②
Examples of equipment to recycle refrigerants

RecoveryEquipment withRecycle Function

Simplified Distilling
Equipment

Distillation
Purification Facility209. Disposal of recovered refrigerant ③
Recycling and destruction operators licensed by the government of Japan are
indicated below.

4,543t-FCs/FY2017

1,295t-FCs/FY2017

Recycling operators
in Japan
25 locations

As of Dec. 7, 2017

Destruction
operators in Japan
60 locations

As of Jan. 16, 201821

10. Summary
1. Training of refrigerant fluorocarbon handlingengineers to prevent leakage of fluorocarbons
2. Dissemination and awareness of freon emission
control methods
3. Retraining of brazing, flare processing, etc. forrefrigerant piping engineers
4. Research and research to improve recovery rate
5. Introduction of Japanese technology and systems
overseas to control emissions of fluorocarbons

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Thank you for your listening.

Kikaishinko-kaikan，3-5-8，Shibakoen，Minato-ku，Tokyo 105-0011，Japan
Phone：03-3435-9411 FAX：03-3435-9413
E-mail： info@jarac.or.jp URL： http://www.jarac.or.jp

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