A cold storage warehouse system holds 600 pounds of R-22 and has exceeded the 20 percent leak rate. How often must it receive leak inspections?
Every three months. A commercial or industrial process refrigeration appliance with a full charge of 500 pounds or more that exceeds its leak rate is inspected quarterly, until leak rate calculations show four quarters in a row under that rate.
- Once a year until it stays under the rate for one year
- Once a month until the leak is repaired
- Only once, after the repair
- Every three months until four clean quarters in a rowCorrect answer
Why “Every three months until four clean quarters in a row” is correct
Commercial and industrial process refrigeration appliances of 500 pounds or more that exceed the trigger rate must be inspected every three months until the leak rate stays under the trigger for four consecutive quarters. Smaller ones, and comfort cooling, are inspected yearly.
Source: 40 CFR 82.157(g)(1)
Why the other answers are wrong
- Once a year until it stays under the rate for one year — Annual inspections apply to systems under 500 pounds and to comfort cooling.
- Once a month until the leak is repaired — No monthly inspection schedule exists in the rule.
- Only once, after the repair — Inspections continue on a schedule, not just once.
The source, word for word
For commercial refrigeration and industrial process refrigeration appliances with a full charge of 500 or more pounds, leak inspections must be conducted once every three months until the owner or operator can demonstrate through the leak rate calculations required under paragraph (b) of this section that the appliance has not leaked in excess of the applicable leak rate for four quarters in a row.
The full inspection schedule
The schedule depends on the type of appliance and its full charge, not on the refrigerant's pressure class. A process system follows the same quarterly schedule as this warehouse once it holds 500 pounds or more, so a 1,000-pound R-22 process system that exceeds its leak rate is also inspected every three months.
- A certified technician must do the inspection, using the methods the technician decides suit the appliance (40 CFR 82.157(g)(2)).
- Quarterly or annual inspections are not required on appliances, or parts of them, continuously monitored by an automatic leak detection system that is audited or calibrated annually (40 CFR 82.157(g)(4)).
| Appliance | Full charge | How often | Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial or industrial process refrigeration | 500 pounds or more | Once every three months | Four quarters in a row under the leak rate |
| Commercial or industrial process refrigeration | 50 to under 500 pounds | Once per calendar year | One year under the leak rate |
| Comfort cooling and other appliances | 50 pounds or more | Once per calendar year | One year under the leak rate |
When this rule applies
Section 82.157 covers appliances with a full charge of 50 pounds or more of an ozone-depleting refrigerant, such as R-22, or a blend containing one (40 CFR 82.157(a)). The trigger is 20 percent for commercial refrigeration, 30 percent for industrial process refrigeration, and 10 percent for comfort cooling and other appliances (40 CFR 82.157(c)(2)).
HFC appliances are outside this section. They have their own leak repair rule and inspection schedule in 40 CFR 84.106. The leak repair rules guide covers both.
Keep practicing
- EPA leak repair rules
- How often a comfort-cooling chiller is inspected
- How long a retrofit or retirement plan can take
- EPA 608 Type 2 practice test
- EPA 608 Type 2 mock exam
Unofficial, not affiliated with the EPA or any EPA-approved certifying organization. Questions are original practice written from public EPA material, not real exam questions.