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R22 Refrigerant Gas Phase Out: A Few Key Things Organization Need To Know

Daniel J. Stouffer
March 06, 2009
When it comes to harming the environment, R22 refrigerant is one of the guilty parties. That´s why the United States and many other countries around the world have joined together in an effort to convert usage of R22 refrigerant in commercial facilities to a more environmentally friendly alternative. The conversion process is already underway among many organizations to meet the 2015 phase out deadline. Others are implementing measures to comply with tracking and reporting requirements required of existing systems.

Because it is used in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems in most commercial and business facilities, R22 refrigerant is one of the widely used chemicals in the world. Besides offices, warehouses, production facilities, restaurants and stores, it is also used in process chiller and industrial refrigerant plants. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons contained in the chemical are the focus of concern because these harmful gases are released into the air when a refrigerant leak occurs. This adds to the growing problem of global warming and continues to deplete the earth´s protective ozone layer.

Organizations needing to replace R22 refrigerant are faced with the challenge of switching over to new heating and cooling systems with minimal interruption to business. Along with the conversion, federal law requires proper discarding of R22 and extensive reporting when leaks occur. Under a 2009 law, companies with systems containing 50 pounds of R22 refrigerant must submit annual reports of its usage, service and leaks, while facilities using larger systems are required to submit more frequent reports.

Previous laws have already led to the banning of R22 refrigerant in various areas of production, in household equipment and in certain types of vehicles. The chemical is no longer used in the manufacture of new refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. By 2010, new R22 refrigerant for the maintenance and servicing of existing refrigeration and air conditioning systems will be banned and by 2015, recycled R22 refrigerant for the same purposes will be prohibited.

There are extensive containment and management practices that commercial facilities must adhere to under the U.S. Clean Air Act pertaining to the recovery and recycling of R22 refrigerant during installation, service, or retirement of a system. To make the tasks more manageable, many businesses use software programs and tracking applications that monitor everything automatically.


As R22 refrigerant is phased out under federal regulations established by the United States and other countries, several environmentally friendly alternatives have been identified. Among those approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for use in commercial facilities are ammonia, R404A and R407c. None of these alternatives deplete the ozone and they are more energy efficient.

What´s bad about R22 refrigerant are the hydrochlorofluorocarbons it contains. These gases cause damage to the ozone layer. Many companies are doing their part by implementing and complying with new refrigerant use laws. Among the directives are monitoring equipment using R22 refrigerant, tracking its usage and reporting any leaks. Government regulators are allowed to make unannounced spot checks under a 2009 law to ensure proper management of R22. If a leak has occurred, documentation is carefully reviewed for evidence that the law was followed to recover the gases.

With a focus on reducing harm to the ozone layer and lowering global warming potential, the United States and other countries are identifying substances, such as R22 refrigerant, that contribute heavily to the problem. By taking proactive steps now, a healthy world awaits in the future.

Refrigerant tracking products from Verisae help to organizations manage R22 refrigerant gases effectively as mandated by EPA environmental regulations. Verisae makes it easier to report R22 refrigerant usage and track refrigerants across all HVAC-R systems. Explore further Verisae's refrigerant management tools at www.Refrigerant-Tracker.com
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Daniel J. Stouffer

I am Daniel Stouffer. I am a part-time writer, passionate Solar Energy Consultant, and a full-time Product Manager for Refrigerant Tracker, a solution to help manage, track, report refrigerant gases.

Educated in English and Mathematics, I dabble in writing pieces of this or that on the Internet while I work my day job building demand side energy management, carbon footprint reporting, and refrigerant gas tracking software.

I work for Verisae, Inc. I'm deeply involved in carbon management and renewable energy. My quest is to bring solar energy to U.S. Residential homeowners and to better manage the substances that harm our environment.

I'm also a small business owner working to promote the adoption of renewable energy. Solargies (Solar Energies), my goal is to spread the use of renewable solar power as simply and as rapidly as possible. He is also a writer, investing his time and energies educating people about renewable energy, the exciting world of interactive marketing, and other oddities of interest. (www.Solargies.com)

My personal mission statement: To gather data, to distill information, to build knowledge, and to attain wisdom. To learn, to work hard, and to be internally motivated when acquiring skills. "Every person that you meet knows something you do not - learn from them."

Verisae's Refrigerant Tracker and the Enterprise Carbon Footprint (ECF) products allows companies to take inventory of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and refrigerant gas emissions. CO2 gas, Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), and refrigerant gas emissions are tracked and better manage. Organizations can have a direct effect on the environment through better data management and taking accurate inventories of all greenhouse gases (GHGs) that contribute to their Carbon Footprint.

In my position, I work collaboratively with client teams to understand their goals, document the solution, and mange User Centered Design projects. I'm driven to implement solutions that deliver measurable business value and enhanced user experience.

As a Product Manager for Refrigerant Tracker, I help design how to make the right content available to the right people at the right time. My role involves the design of interactive systems that help users find and manage information or functionality more successfully. (www.refrigerant-tracker.com)

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