How do I submit a registration?

Registration and reporting requirements are completed with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) through the Refrigerant Management Program (RMP) via the Refrigerant Registration and Reporting System (R3) Tool - https://ssl.arb.ca.gov/rmp-r3/

[Return to Top]

When are registrations due?

Registrations shall be submitted at the start of operation of any refrigeration system as defined in South Coast AQMD Rule 1415.1, and for every subsequent year thereafter.

The registration and annual reporting period will open on January 1 of every year. The deadline for submitting Annual Reports and making the fee payment is March 1 of every year.

[Return to Top]

Do I still need to file an additional Rule 1415.1 Registration Plan for refrigeration units with the South Coast AQMD?

No, not with the South Coast AQMD. However, all applicable refrigeration systems are required to be registered with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) through the Refrigerant Management Program (RMP).

[Return to Top]

What equipment or appliances are subject to the rule?

Facility owners or operators are subject to the rule if all the following apply:

1. It is a non-residential facility.
2. If the single largest refrigeration system in the facility has a refrigerant charge of > 50 pounds.
3. If the system uses a high-global warming potential (high-GWP) refrigerant.
   

Facilities that commonly use applicable refrigeration systems include but are not limited to supermarkets, cold storage warehouses, food processing plants, and industries with process cooling operations. Facilities that have only air conditioning systems, that are used exclusively for comfort cooling, which includes computer-room air conditioners, shall be subject to the requirements of South Coast AQMD Rule 1415 – Reduction of Refrigerant Emissions From Stationary Air Conditioning Systems http://www.aqmd.gov/home/rules-compliance/compliance/rule-1415-stationary-air-conditioning-systems.

[Return to Top]

What refrigerants are subject to the rule?

Any high-GWP refrigerant.

• High-GWP refrigerants include all commonly used chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with a global warming potential greater than 150. All ozone-depleting refrigerants regulated under Federal Rule 608 are also subject to the rule. Refrigerants that are not covered under the new California rule include ammonia, carbon dioxide and HFC-152a, all of which have a GWP less than 150 and are non-ozone-depleting.

Common High-GWP refrigerants include, but are not limited to: R22, R134, R404, R407, R410, and R507.

[Return to Top]

My facility uses a chiller with more than 50 pounds of high-GWP refrigerant for both air conditioning and process cooling, is it still subject to Rule 1415.1?

Yes. This falls into the category of "Other refrigeration" and will be subject to the rule.

"Other refrigeration" means any stationary, non-residential appliance that is used for an application other than industrial process refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, or air conditioning, or is used for two or more applications including industrial process refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, or air-conditioning.

[Return to Top]

What is a facility subject to Rule 1415.1 required to do?

- Register any refrigeration system in the facility with refrigerant charge of > 50 pounds with CARB through the RMP.

- Conduct periodic leak inspections depending on the size of the refrigeration system.

• Small – an annual leak inspection is required
• Medium – a quarterly leak inspection is required
• Large – an automatic leak detection system (ALD) shall be installed for systems located entirely within an enclosed building or structure, or if any component with a high potential for a refrigerant leak is located inside an enclosed building or structure. The ALD requires an annual audit and calibration to ensure system accuracy. A quarterly leak inspection is required for components of the system which are located outside.

- Repair leaks within 14 days of detection.

- Keep records onsite of leak inspections, repairs, and high-GWP refrigerants purchased and shipped.

- Submit an annual report and pay applicable fees, for systems categorized as "Medium" and "Large", with CARB through the RMP.

- Registration and reporting requirements are completed via the Refrigerant Registration and Reporting System (R3) Tool - https://ssl.arb.ca.gov/rmp-r3/

[Return to Top]

My facility has multiple applicable refrigeration systems, do I have to pay a fee for each unit?

The total fee is based on the single largest refrigeration system at the facility regardless of the number of registered systems. The deadline for submitting Annual Reports and making the fee payment is March 1, and each subsequent year thereafter. Invoices are generated through the RMP and payments are made directly to CARB. There is no fee for "Small" facilities.

[Return to Top]

How do I determine the size category of my facility’s system?

Facilities with applicable refrigeration systems are categorized as:

• Small: refrigeration systems using more than 50 pounds, but less than 200 pounds, of a high-GWP refrigerant.
• Medium: refrigeration systems using 200 pounds or more, but less than 2,000 pounds, of a high-GWP refrigerant.
• Large: refrigeration systems using 2,000 pounds or more of a high-GWP refrigerant.

Facilities with multiple refrigeration systems at the same site are categorized only by the single, largest system on site.

[Return to Top]

I have a refrigeration system that holds 200 pounds of a high-GWP refrigerant, but it is not operated at maximum capacity, what is the correct size category of my facility's system?

Refer to the full capacity of the system to properly categorize the applicable system. Depending on the use of the refrigeration system, the amount of refrigerant may differ during low seasons and peak seasons when more cooling capacity is demanded. The full charge capacity is to be used for uniformity.

[Return to Top]

How do I determine the number of refrigeration systems at my facility?

A refrigeration system, and its circuit, for the most part, operates in a closed loop. If separate systems are only separated by isolation valves then they would be considered part of the same system (and therefore, their sizes must be combined). A single refrigeration system can have multiple reservoirs, and those reservoirs would be used in determining the size of the refrigeration system, if they are part of the circuit.

For refrigeration systems to be counted as a "separate circuit" or a "separate system" they must run completely independent of each other with separate piping and components, where if one of the systems fail it has no direct effect on the second unit. (An indirect effect may be that the second unit must work harder since it is now the only system providing cooling).

[Return to Top]

When are leak inspections required?

Facility owner or operators are required to conduct periodic leak inspections depending on the size of the refrigeration systems. Beginning January 1, 2001,

• A quarterly leak inspection for Large systems with major components located "outdoors" or "partially outdoors",
• A quarterly leak inspection for Medium systems, and
• An annual leak inspection for Small systems are required.

By January 1, 2012, an Automatic Leak Detection (ALD) system shall be installed for "Large" systems located entirely within an enclosed building or structure. The ALD requires an annual audit and calibration to ensure system accuracy.

Adding refrigerant to a system, other than for seasonal adjustments and/or detection of visible oil residue, would also require a leak inspection be conducted.

[Return to Top]

Is there a specific method of leak detection required?

By January 1, 2012, an Automatic Leak Detection (ALD) system shall be installed for "Large" systems located entirely within an enclosed building or structure. The ALD requires an annual audit and calibration to ensure system accuracy. All other refrigerant leak inspections shall be conducted using one or more of the following methods: a portable leak detection device, a bubble test, or an alternate method approved by the Executive Officer.

[Return to Top]

I have a refrigeration system categorized as "Large" and all components are located entirely outside, do I still require an Automatic Leak Detection (ALD) system?

No. A refrigeration system that contains greater than 2,000 pounds of refrigerant ("Large") and is located entirely outdoors is only required to do a leak inspection quarterly/every 3 months.

- This is because ALD systems cannot properly function outdoors due to the wind and other natural issues.

[Return to Top]

How do I determine if my refrigeration system is an Indoor System?

A system is categorized as an "Indoor System" if the refrigerant circuit is located entirely within an enclosed building or structure, or the compressor, evaporator, condenser, or any other component of the refrigeration system with a high potential for a refrigerant leak is located inside an enclosed building or structure.

- For purposes of enforcement, an enclosed building or structure means a building or structure with a roof and walls that prevent wind from entering the facility.

- For purposes of enforcement, a refrigerant circuit means the parts of a refrigeration system that are normally connected to each other and are designed to contain a high global warming potential refrigerant. A single refrigerant circuit is defined by all piping and components that use refrigerant from a common reservoir of a high global warming potential refrigerant.

[Return to Top]

Is there any instance where a facility would be subject to both an Automatic Leak Detection (ALD) system and quarterly leak checks?

Yes. An ALD system and quarterly leak inspections would be required for "Large" systems (2,000 pounds or greater) that are partially indoors/outdoors.

Refrigeration systems with a full charge greater than or equal to 2,000 pounds shall have an ALD system installed if any component of the refrigeration system with a high potential for a refrigerant leak is located inside an enclosed building or structure, which includes, but is not limited to, the refrigerant circuit, compressor, evaporator, or condenser.

An ALD system is not satisfactory for monitoring any component of a refrigeration system located outdoors. This is because ALD systems cannot properly function outdoors due to the wind and other natural issues. Any refrigeration system that is connected to an ALD and is identified as being "outdoors" or "partially indoors/outdoors" will still require periodic leak inspections depending on the size of the refrigeration systems.

All refrigeration systems that contain greater than 200 pounds (medium and large) of refrigerant that are outdoors are required to do a leak inspection every 3 months.

[Return to Top]

When should a leak be repaired?

Leaks shall be repaired within 14 days upon detection. Service technicians and contractors should not add refrigerant to any appliance with a known leak (regardless of size and this includes air conditioning systems).

In certain circumstances, a facility may have up to 45 days or 120 days to repair a leak; all required conditions, as stated in the CARB RMP Regulation, must be met.

[Return to Top]

Who can repair leaks?

Repairs can only be made by U.S. EPA certified technicians who hold, or are employed by a contractor who holds, an active California contractor’s license in the C38 (Refrigeration) or C20 (HVAC) classifications.

[Return to Top]

 
For More Information

• Please visit: South Coast AQMD Reduction of Refrigerant Emissions from Stationary Refrigeration Systems webpage
• Please visit: CARB RMP webpage
• For complete rule language, please visit: South Coast AQMD Rule 1415.1 Reduction of Refrigerant Emissions from Stationary Refrigeration Systems

[Return to Top]