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 Certification Procedures for Small Containers of 

Automotive Refrigerant 

Adoption Date: July 20, 2009 

As Last Amended: January 5, 2010

NOTE: This document, approved by the Air Resources Board at its January 22, 2009 

hearing for incorporation by reference in California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 17, 

sections 95360 through 95370, was originally shown without underline as permitted by 

California Code of Regulations, title 1, section 8. The modifications are indicated in 

underline to indicate additions and in strikeout to indicate deletions. 
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1. GENERAL INFORMATION AND APPLICABILITY................................................ 1

2. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................... 1

2.1 Self-sealing Valve and Leakage Rate.......................................................................................1

2.2 Recovery Facilities.....................................................................................................................2

2.3 Container Labeling Requirements ...........................................................................................3

2.4 Education Requirement.............................................................................................................5

3. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION .......................................................................... 6

4. APPLICATION REVIEW......................................................................................... 6
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California Environmental Protection Agency 

Air Resources Board 

Certification Procedures For 

Small Containers of Automotive Refrigerant 

The definitions in Section 95361, Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) 

apply to this Certification Procedure. For purposes of these Procedures, the term 

"ARB" refers to the California Air Resources Board.

1. GENERAL INFORMATION AND APPLICABILITY 

This document specifies the criteria and procedures used by ARB to evaluate and 

certify small containers of automotive refrigerant that are manufactured for sale, 

advertised for sale, sold, or offered for sale in California, or that are introduced, 

delivered or imported into California for introduction into commerce. An Executive 

Order will only be issued for a small container of automotive refrigerant that 

demonstrates compliance with all applicable certification requirements. 

Compliance with the standards specified in these procedures does not exempt small 

containers of automotive refrigerant from compliance with other applicable federal or 

state statutes or regulations such as safety codes and other safety regulations, nor will 

the ARB test for or determine compliance with such other statutes or regulations. 

2. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

A manufacturer seeking an Executive Order for small containers of automotive 

refrigerant that are subject to the requirements set forth in Title 17, CCR sections 

95360 et seq. must submit information demonstrating that the small containers of 

automotive refrigerant comply with each of the requirements set forth below. 

 

 2.1 Self-sealing Valve and Leakage Rate 

(A) Each container of refrigerant must be equipped with a single self-sealing 

 valve that automatically closes and seals when not dispensing 

 refrigerant. 

(B) The leakage rate from each container must not exceed 3.0 grams per 

year when the self-sealing valve is closed. This leakage rate applies to 

new, full containers as well as containers that may be partially full. 

 (C) The leakage rate specified in 2.1(B) of these procedures will be 

determined by TP-503, Test Procedure for Diurnal Leaks from Small 
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Containers of Automotive Refrigerant, adopted [Date of Adoption] July 

20, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference. 

 (D) All testing to demonstrate compliance with sections 2.1(B) and (C) of 

these procedures must be conducted by an independent test laboratory 

in the United States. For purposes of this requirement, an independent 

test laboratory is one that is not owned, operated or affiliated with the 

applicant seeking an Executive Order. 

(E) Test procedures other than those specified in this Certification Procedure 

may be used only if prior written approval is obtained from the Executive 

Officer. A request for approval to use an alternative test procedure must 

describe the proposed alternative test procedure, including equipment 

specifications and personnel skill requirements necessary to conduct the 

test. If training is required to properly perform a test, a proposed training 

program must be included. The Executive Officer will utilize good 

engineering judgment to determine if an alternative test procedure will 

produce data that is as accurate and precise as the data generated from 

the specified test procedures. 

 If the Executive Officer approves a request to utilize an alternative test 

procedure, he or she may condition the approval upon provisos including, 

but not limited to, the manufacturer’s acknowledgement and agreement 

that notwithstanding the approval, ARB will determine the leakage rate 

for a small container of automotive refrigerant by using test procedure 

TP-503, Test Procedure for Diurnal Leaks from Small Containers of 

Automotive Refrigerant , adopted [Date of Adoption] July 20, 2009, which 

is incorporated herein by reference, and will base decisions whether to 

initiate enforcement actions for non-compliant small containers of 

automotive refrigerant on the results obtained from TP -503. 

 (F) Test procedures referred to in this subarticle can be obtained from the 

 California Air Resources Board. 

 2.2 Recovery Facilities 

(A) Each manufacturer seeking an Executive Order for small containers of 

refrigerant must identify and register with ARB each facility that will be 

used to recover refrigerant from a small container. Registration includes 

providing location, contact information, a description of recovery 

equipment including operating parameters such as vacuum to be used 

and operational capacity, and description of any processing and ultimate 

fate of the recovered refrigerant. Any recovery facility must use best 

operating procedures to minimize leakage of refrigerant to the 

atmosphere. 
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 2.3 Container Labeling Requirements 

 (A) Each container of refrigerant must clearly display instructions for proper 

 use in both English and Spanish. The instructional language must be 

 approved by ARB and must include the following: 

 (1) General safety precautions with the following statements required: 

 

 (a) “Wear protective (rubber) gloves and safety glasses”. 

 (b) “Contents under pressure”. 

 (c) “Do not expose to temperatures above 120°F”. 

 (d) “Store in a cool place”. 

 (e) “Do not puncture or incinerate”. 

 (f) “Keep out of reach of children”. 

(2) Vehicle operating parameters for the performance of a typical DIY air 

conditioning recharge, phrases to be included are: 

 (a) “Start engine...” 

 (b) “... Set air conditioner on maximum cooling”. 

 (c) “...fan on highest setting (high)”. 

 (3) Procedures for recharging with the following phrases included as a 

minimum requirement: 

 (a) “Check hoses and ports for leaks and repair before 

recharging”. 

 (b) “Follow instructions on recharge hose.” – or similar instruction. 

 (c) “Hold can upright to charge. While charging, rotate can 

between 12 o’clock and 3 o’clock, continually agitating (sweeping) 

can back and forth.” – or similar instruction. 

 (d) “Continue process until can is empty (5 to 15 minutes) or until 

correct amount of refrigerant is charged into system”. – or similar 

instruction. 
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 (e) An instructional phrase such as “Check A/C system nameplate 

for maximum volume”, or “Check A/C system pressure”, followed 

by the instruction: “Do not overcharge”. 

 (f) “Visit ‘a website address’ ” [the website will contain information 

as described in Certification Procedures 2.4 (A)(6)] with one of the 

following: “for best practices”, “for more info”, “to learn more”, “for 

project instructions”. 

 (B) Each small container must clearly display the following items: 

 

 (1) The following statement in English and Spanish in a font size of at 

least 6 point unless otherwise specified “Contents of this container 

contribute to Global Warming. It is illegal to destroy or discard this 

container or its contents. Return for $XX refund.” Refer to Title 17, CCR 

section 95360 et seq. for actual dollar amount. 

 (2) The following statement in English and Spanish in a font size of at 

least 9 point for English and 8 point for Spanish: “Approved for use in 

California”. 

(3) The following statement in English and Spanish: “$XX refundable 

deposit, if returned within 90 days of purchase”. “$10” “XX” must be in 

the lead position and at least 15 point font. “Refundable Deposit” must 

be at least 10 point font for English and 7 point font for Spanish. “If 

returned within 90 days of purchase” must be at least 7 point font for 

English and 6 point font for Spanish. Refer to Title 17, CCR section 

95360 et seq. for actual dollar amount. 

(4) A product SKU code that is uniquely identifiable to this program by 

dedicated markings, UPC coding, and program identification markings, 

language or icons that serve to reasonably differentiate this product as 

approved for use in California. 

(C) Each manufacturer must display on each small container of refrigerant 

offered for sale in California a legible date or coded data of manufacture 

and file an explanation of such date code with the Executive Officer no 

later than three months after the effective date of this subarticle or within 

three months of production, and within three months of any change in 

coding. 

(D) Each manufacturer must supply to the Executive Officer a list of 

California specific SKU codes and non-California SKU codes with their 

application no later than three months after the effective date of this 

subarticle or within three months of production, and within three months 

of any change in coding. 
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 2.4 Education Requirement 

(A) Each manufacturer seeking an Executive Order for small containers of 

refrigerant must develop educational materials suitable for use by 

ultimate purchasers of automotive refrigerant in small containers. The 

format and content of the educational materials must be in both English 

and Spanish, must be approved by the Executive Officer, and must 

include the following: 

 (1) Advice to identify and repair leaks in the MVAC system; 

 (2) Proper techniques to minimize can heel and servicing loss while 

 transferring refrigerant from the container to the MVAC system; 

 (3) Information on environmental hazards associated with refrigerant; 

 (4) Information on risks and consequences of overcharging or 

undercharging the MVAC due to lack of professional diagnostic 

techniques. 

 (5) Components of the container deposit and return program. 

 (6) Web pages containing the information in items 1 through 5 above that 

 are suitable for browsing by do-it-yourself consumers of automotive 

 refrigerant in small containers 

 (7) Brochures containing the information in items 1 through 5 above that 

 are suitable for distribution to do-it-yourself consumers of automotive 

 refrigerant in small containers 

 (8) Each manufacturer must also provide a description of any enhanced 

educational program it proposes to fund with unclaimed consumer 

deposits as specified in Title 17, CCR section 95366(b)(6). 

 

(B) Any manufacturer who sells small containers of automotive refrigerant 

that are subject to Title 17, CCR section 95360 et seq. must make 

available to consumers an Internet web site containing the educational 

course materials described in 2.4 (A)(6) of these certification procedures. 

 

(C) Any retailer who sells small containers of automotive refrigerant that are 

subject to Title 17, CCR section 95360 et seq. must display material as 

described in 2.4 (A)(7) of these certification procedures to customers. 

(D) On or after January 1, 2010, any retailer selling small containers of 

automotive refrigerant must display a placard next to the display of small 
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containers of automotive refrigerant. This placard must be at least 8 1⁄2 

inches by 11 inches and describe environmental hazards associated with 

release of HFC-134a, references for proper recharge techniques, and a 

description of the deposit and recycle program. The language must be in 

English and Spanish and must be approved by ARB. 

3. SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION 

An applicant must submit the following information in an application for certification: 

3.1 Model number(s), size(s), and SKU(s) of the small containers of automotive 

refrigerant for which certification is requested. The applicant must supply test 

data that demonstrates the small cans of automotive refrigerant comply with 

each of the requirements specified in Section 2.1 of these Procedures. 

3.2 The bill of materials and engineering drawings of the small containers of 

automotive refrigerant that detail the dimensions specific to each component. 

3.3 A sample of the small container of automotive refrigerant. 

3.4 Test data from each of the test procedures specified in Section 2.1 of these 

procedures. 

 

3.5 Any other test data that supports the requirements in 3.4 above and that would 

assist in the determination of certification. 

 

3.6 The language and documentation required by Sections 2.2 through 2.4 of 

these procedures. 

 

4. APPLICATION REVIEW 

4.1 If an application for certification contains all of the information required by 

these procedures, it will be deemed to be complete, and will be processed for 

certification. The application will not be deemed complete unless an applicant 

has supplied all of the information required by section 3 of these procedures. 

4.2 The Executive Officer may find it necessary to request additional information 

from the applicant in order to fully evaluate the application. 

4.3 Applications will be processed in accordance with the procedures and time 

periods set forth in Title 17, CCR section 60030 et seq. The time periods may 

be extended by the Executive Officer for good cause. 

4.4 An application must be signed by the applicant or their authorized delegate.