608 vs. 609

MVAC (609)

MVAC-like (609 or 608)

Non-MVAC (608)

 * If R-22, then 608

Aircraft – passenger & cargo

Refrigerated trailers

Ship/boat – passenger & cargo

Passenger cars

Buses* 

Trucks

Off-road vehicles

Trains

Protecting the Ozone Layer

The stratospheric ozone layer shields the Earth from the sun’s harmful 

ultraviolet radiation. Emissions of certain substances – including 

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) – 

that are commonly used as refrigerants, solvents, and insulating foams destroy 

the ozone layer.

In addition, many of these ozone-depleting substances (ODS), as well as their 

alternatives – including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – are potent greenhouse 

gases that contribute to climate change. The purpose of this fact sheet is to 

help understand the regulatory requirements for servicing motor vehicle air 

conditioners (MVACs).

Environmental Impact of Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners

Older model MVACs used CFC-12 (also known by trade names, such as 

Freon®). When CFCs leak from MVACs into the atmosphere, strong radiation 

in the atmosphere will break the molecules apart and release chlorine atoms, 

each of which can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules.

MVACs can have serious impacts on climate. For example, the global warming 

potential (GWP) of CFC-12 is approximately 10,000 times greater than that of 

carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. 

Currently, most MVACs use HFC-134a (also known as R-134a), a refrigerant 

that does not deplete the ozone layer, but has a GWP that is approximately 

1,400 times greater than CO2. 

Alternative refrigerants such as CO2

and hydrofluoroolefin (HFO)-1234yf 

do not deplete the ozone layer 

and have much lower GWPs than 

CFC- 12 or HFC-134a. CO2 has a 

GWP of 1 and HFO-1234yf has a 

GWP of 4. MVACs alone represent 

about 15% of the global use of HFCs.

Because of the potential damage that refrigerants can do to the environment, 

Section 609 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) directs EPA to establish requirements 

to prevent the release of refrigerants during the servicing of MVACs and 

MVAC-like appliances and to require recycling of used refrigerants. MVAC-like 

appliances are mechanical vapor compression, open-drive compressor 

appliances used to cool the driver’s or passenger’s compartment of a non-road 

vehicle, including agricultural and construction vehicles.

Section 609 of the Clean Air Act: 

Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning

Environmental Impacts of MVAC Refrigerants

Ozone Depletion

Potential

Global Warming 

Potential 

1

0

0

0

0

CFC-12

HFC-134a

HFC-152a

HFO-1234yf

CO2

10,900

1,430

124

4

1
Section 609 

Regulatory 

Requirements

Secti

SALES RESTRICTION

Section 609 prohibits the sale 

of small cans (less than 

20 pounds) of CFC-12 to anyone 

other than an EPA-certified 

technician.

TECHNICIAN TRAINING 

AND CERTIFICATION

Technicians repairing or servicing CFC-12, 

HFC-134a, and CO2, HFC-152a, or HFO-1234yf 

MVACs must be trained and certified by an 

EPA-approved organization. Certification is 

obtained by passing an EPA-approved 

examination.

SAFE DISPOSAL 

REQUIREMENTS

When refrigeration and air 

conditioning equipment enters 

the waste stream, the final 

person in the disposal chain 

must remove (or make 

certain that their customers 

have removed) refrigerants 

prior to appliance disposal.

RECORDKEEPING 

REQUIREMENTS

MVAC service shops must 

maintain records of the 

names and addresses of 

facilities to which the 

refrigerant they recover is 

sent. Service shops are also 

required to maintain records 

(on-site) showing that all 

service technicians are 

properly certified and must 

certify to EPA that they 

own approved 

equipment.

APPROVED EQUIPMENT 

Technicians repairing or servicing 

MVACs using CFC-12, HFC-134a, 

HFC-152a, CO2, or HFO-1234yf 

must use refrigerant 

recovery equipment that 

is approved by EPA.

EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATION 

REQUIREMENTS

MVAC service shops must certify to EPA

that they have acquired and are properly using 

approved refrigerant recovery equipment. 

Service shops must also verify that each 

person using the equipment has been 

properly trained and certified.

Venting Prohibition

Section 608 prohibits intentionally releasing (also called venting) ODS refrigerants and 

most alternatives (including all HFCs, HFOs, and their blends) while maintaining, servicing, 

repairing, or disposing of MVACs and MVAC-like equipment. CO2 refrigerants are exempted 

from the venting prohibition.

Section 609 Regulatory Requirements: Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning

Additional Resources

EPA Ozone Layer Protection Website: 

epa.gov/ozone/strathome.html

EPA Section 609 Website: 

epa.gov/ozone/title6/609/

EPA Phaseout of Ozone-Depleting Substances Website:

epa.gov/ozone/title6/phaseout/

Approved equipment information website: 

epa.gov/ozone/title6/609/technicians/appequip.html

EPA 430-F-13-004

EPA Stratospheric Ozone Information Hotline: 1-800-296-1996