i



## 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 Californi a 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.ii 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.................................

................................................... ..... 61 California Environmental Protection Agency

Air Resources Board

Certification Procedures For Small Containers of Automotive Refrigerant

The definitions in Section 95361, Title 17 of the C alifornia Code of Regulations (CCR) apply to this Certification Procedure. For purpose s 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 C alifornia, or that are introduced, delivered or imported into California for introduct ion into commerce. An Executive Order will only be issued for a small container of automotive refrigerant that demonstrates compliance with all applicable certifi cation requirements.

Compliance with the standards specified in these pr ocedures does not exempt small containers of automotive refrigerant from complianc e 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 se t forth in Title 17, CCR sections

95360 et seq. must submit information demonstrating that the sma ll containers of automotive refrigerant comply with each of the requ irements 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 no t dispensing refrigerant.

(B) The leakage rate from each container must not e xceed 3.0 grams per year when the self-sealing valve is closed. This l eakage 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 Small2 Containers of Automotive Refrigerant, adopted [ Date of Adoption ] July

20, 2009 , which is incorporated herein by reference.

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

these procedures must be conducted by an independen t test laboratory in the United States. For purposes of this require ment, 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 t his Certification Procedure may be used only if prior written approval is obtai ned from the Executive Officer. A request for approval to use an alternat ive test procedure must describe the proposed alternative test procedure, i ncluding equipment specifications and personnel skill requirements nec essary to conduct the test. If training is required to properly perform a test, a proposed training program must be included. The Executive Officer wi ll 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 ut ilize an alternative test

procedure, he or she may condition the approval upo n provisos including, but not limited to, the manufacturer’s acknowledgem ent and agreement that notwithstanding the approval, ARB will determi ne 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 smal l 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 f or small containers of refrigerant must identify and register with ARB eac h facility that will be used to recover refrigerant from a small container. Registration includes providing location, contact information, a descript ion of recovery equipment including operating parameters such as va cuum to be used and operational capacity, and description of any pr ocessing and ultimate fate of the recovered refrigerant. Any recovery fa cility must use best operating procedures to minimize leakage of refrige rant to the atmosphere.3

2.3 Container Labeling Requirements

(A) Each container of refrigerant must clearly dis play 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 performanc e 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 be fore 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 agita ting (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 syste m”. – or similar

instruction.4 (e) An instructional phrase such as “Check A/C sys tem 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 des troy 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 Spanis h 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. “Ref undable Deposit” must be at least 10 point font for English and 7 point f ont for Spanish. “If returned within 90 days of purchase” must be at lea st 7 point font for English and 6 point font for Spanish. Refer to Titl e 17, CCR section

95360 et seq. for actual dollar amount.

(4) A product SKU code that is uniquely identifiabl e to this program by dedicated markings, UPC coding, and program identif ication markings, language or icons that serve to reasonably differen tiate this product as approved for use in California.

(C) Each manufacturer must display on each small co ntainer of refrigerant offered for sale in California a legible date or co ded 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 SK U codes with their application no later than three months after the ef fective date of this subarticle or within three months of production, an d within three months of any change in coding.5

2.4 Education Requirement

(A) Each manufacturer seeking an Executive Order fo r small containers of refrigerant must develop educational materials suit able for use by ultimate purchasers of automotive refrigerant in sm all containers. The

format and content of the educational materials mus t be in both English and Spanish, must be approved by the Executive Offi cer, and must include the following:

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

(2) Proper techniques to minimize can heel and ser vicing loss while transferring refrigerant from the container to the MVAC system;

(3) Information on environmental hazards associat ed with refrigerant;

(4) Information on risks and consequences of overc harging or undercharging the MVAC due to lack of professional diagnostic techniques.

(5) Components of the container deposit and retur n program.

(6) Web pages containing the information in items 1 through 5 above that are suitable for browsing by do-it-yourself consum ers 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 co nsumers of automotive refrigerant in small containers

(8) Each manufacturer must also provide a descrip tion of any enhanced educational program it proposes to fund with unclai med consumer deposits as specified in Title 17, CCR section 9536 6(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 contain ing the educational course materials described in 2.4 (A)(6) of these c ertification procedures.

(C) Any retailer who sells small containers of auto motive 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 proc edures to customers.

(D) On or after January 1, 2010, any retailer selli ng small containers of automotive refrigerant must display a placard next to the display of small6 containers of automotive refrigerant. This placard must be at least 8 1⁄2 inches by 11 inches and describe environmental haza rds 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 c ontainers 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 o f these Procedures.

3.2 The bill of materials and engineering drawings of t he small containers of automotive refrigerant that detail the dimensions s pecific to each component.

3.3 A sample of the small container of automotive refri gerant.

3.4 Test data from each of the test procedures specifie d 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 c omplete unless an applicant has supplied all of the information required by sec tion 3 of these procedures.

4.2 The Executive Officer may find it necessary to requ est additional information from the applicant in order to fully evaluate the a pplication.

4.3 Applications will be processed in accordance with t he 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 thei r authorized delegate.