What happens to the 30-day repair deadline?

Leak repair requirements · EPA 608 Type III. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Allowable annual leak rates for low-pressure appliances.

The question

The owner of an R-123 chiller leaking above its rate has its refrigerant recovered and shuts the chiller down for the winter. What happens to the 30-day repair deadline?

• AIt is automatically extended to 120 days
• BIt is suspended until refrigerant is added backCorrect answer
• CIt is cancelled and never resumes
• DIt keeps running while the chiller is off

Why “It is suspended until refrigerant is added back” is correct

Evacuating an appliance to at least atmospheric pressure and temporarily shutting it down is "mothballing." Under 40 CFR 82.157(d)(3), the repair time frames are suspended while mothballed and resume on the day refrigerant is added again.

Source: 40 CFR 82.157(d); 40 CFR 82.152; EPA: Leak Repair Requirements

Why the other answers are wrong

• It is automatically extended to 120 days — The 120-day period is for industrial process shutdowns, not mothballing.
• It is cancelled and never resumes — The clock picks up again when the appliance gets refrigerant back.
• It keeps running while the chiller is off — Mothballing suspends the time frames.

Practice more of this

More EPA 608 Type III practice questions, or see every EPA 608 practice test.