Refrigeration update

              The recent meeting and trade show sponsored by the Board for licensees and other interested parties was well at-tended and highly successfully.
The meeting was designed for all lev-els of industry pro-fessionals and of-fered current infor-mation on code regulations, safety training, refriger-ants as well as access to the latest in equipment and ven-dors.
Workshops were
presented by John Edison, System Sales Engineer for Hill Phoenix Refrig-eration; Allison Whittington, Tech-nical Specialist, Du-pont; Rebecca Is-rael, Safety Compli-ance Officer II, NC Department of La-bor, OSHA; and Henry Webster, Me-chanical Section Su-pervisor, Engineer-
ing and Codes, N. C. Department of In-surance.
A highlight of the meeting was the ex-hibits. These ven-dors exhibited this year:
ACR Supply Com-pany. A distributor of heating, a/c and refrigeration prod-ucts. “Your Cope-land Primesource Distributor.”
ASP Corporation
Provides solutions for electrical distri-(Continued on page 4)
2004 Up-Date Recapped
A Good Refrigeration Practice #1
By Steve Peay
How often do you replace the filter-dryer in your re-frigeration racks or sys-tems?
Different refrigerants and circumstances require dif-ferent filter-dryers. The
following is some informa-tion gathered to help deter-mine when you need to change your filter dryers:
Moisture:
The newer HFC refriger-ants have a greater ability to absorb water than the
traditional CFCs. A good example is R-134a, at 32 degrees F, R-134a will hold 25 times more water in solution as R-12. As we know moisture in a refrig-eration system will cause freeze ups at the expansion (Continued on page 2)
Special points of interest:
 In this guidance document, the term “systems” is used to refer to refrigeration appliances and equipment
 The trigger rate for industrial process re-frigeration systems is 35%
 If you are experiencing compressor failures then you need to look at your Refrigeration Practices
CFC Testing Centers
8
CFC Testing Schedule
2
Compliance Guide
3
Disciplinary Action
7
Permanent Lapsed Licenses
7
Reminders
7
Inside this issue:
Refrigeration Up-Date
STATE BOARD OF REFRIGERATION EXAMINERS
Volume XV, Issue 2
May 2004 The Board offers testing through any of the community colleges across the State. Colleges are encouraged to pro-vide the Board office with their CFC testing schedule. CFC classes and ex-aminations have been received in the office as follows:
A B Tech
May 3-17, 2004
Blue Ridge
As needed
Cape Fear
As needed
Central Piedmont
June 12, 2004
August 21, 2004
October 2, 2004
December 4, 2004
College of the Albemarle
As needed
Craven
As needed
Edgecombe
May 25, 2004
October 5, 2004
Guilford
Class held each semester
Nash
June 5, 2004
September 11, 2004
November 6, 2004
Rowan Cabarrus
September 11, 2004
If you are one of your employees are interested in attending on of these classes, please contact the individual community college. Most classes are run with a minimum enrollment so classes may be cancelled if enrollment is not met. A list of known testing cen-ter and contacts is on Page 8.
device, but what you may not know is that dangerous levels of moisture will be reached before this happens, resulting in problems such as acid formation, copper plating and corrosion within the system. You should have a good working “Moisture and Liquid Indicator” to monitor moisture levels in all systems. We also know that the newer polyolester (POE) lubricants are very hygroscopic, it absorbs water more easily. Therefore, again is a chance for more moisture. I think we can safely say there is some moisture in every refrigeration system out there. The point, monitor your moisture levels regularly and change your filter-dryers with the proper filter-dryer to re-move moisture.
Air:
If you have ever had part of a system (Continued from page 1)
open and it was not properly evacuated then there is air in the system. Once it is in there you can’t get it all out without completely evacuating the system and recharging it with refresh refrigerant. So, again there are a lot of refrigeration sys-tems out there with air in them. A recent HFC-POE oil systems study statistically linked air in the test systems to acid for-mation. Acid was statistically linked to increased compressor wear. Since filter-dryers will not remove air from a system, then the proper filter-dryer will help maximize compressor life by removing the acids if they exist in the system.
Are you changing the filters in your systems as often as you should? If you are experiencing compressor failures then you need to look at your “Refrigeration Practices”.
Page 2
Good Refrigeration cont.
CFC Testing Schedule and Sites
REFRIGERATION UP-DATE
STATE BOARD OF
REFRIGERATION
EXAMINERS
Volume XV, No. 2
Published quarterly as a service to refrig-eration contractor licensees and others in the refrigeration industry.
Suggestions for articles of interest for pub-lication in this newsletter are welcome.
State Board of Refrigeration Examiners
Suite 208, 893 Hwy. 70 W
Garner, NC 27529
Telephone: 919-779-4711
Fax: 919-779-4733
E-Mail: sbre1@bellsouth.net
Website: www.refrigerationboard.org
BOARD MEMBERS
S.B. PEAY, Chairman
Raleigh, NC
F.V. STAHL, Treasurer
Lewisville NC
T.F. WELCH, Secretary
Mount Airy NC
J.M. KING
Lumberton, NC
G.G. RAMSEY
Concord, NC
D.L. FOX
Chapel Hill, NC
D.E. KLETT
Greensboro, NC
B. H. HINES
Executive Director
NOEL ALLEN, Esq.
Legal Counsel
S. L. CAVINESS
Administrative Assistant VOLUME XV, ISSUE 2
Page 3
Over the next several issues of “Refrigeration Up-Date, the Board will publish the complete Guidance for Indus-trial Process Refrigeration Leak Repair. This information was gathered from a Food Market Institute meeting last year.
A. Overview
The purpose of this guidance is to explain portions of the August 8, 1995 amend-ments to the leak repair provisions of the refrigerant recycling regulations (hereafter referred to as “the amend-ments”) and assist those affected by these amendments in complying with them. The original refrigerant recycling regula-tions were published on May 24, 1993 (58 FR 28660). The amendments were issued by EPA on August 8, 1995 and became effective on September 7, 1995. The amendments make important changes to the leak repair rules and readers familiar with the original rule should review the amendments and guidance carefully.
B. Applicability
Affected Operations
Industrial process refrigeration is de-fined as complex, customized systems used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and manufacturing indus-tries. These systems are directly linked to the industrial process. This sector also includes industrial ice machines, appli-ances used directly in the generation of electricity, and ice rinks. The amend-ments refer to “appliances” and “equipment”, but this guidance refers to “systems” - the term more commonly used in the industry.
The refrigerant recycling rule applies to systems that contain and use a class I or class II substance as a refrigerant.
• Class I refrigerants are mostly chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrig-
erants or any refrigerant mixture contain-ing a CFC.
• Class II refrigerants are hy-drochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refriger-ants or any refrigerant mixture containing an HCFC.
NOTE: If you are not sure whether you have a class I or class II refrigerant, refer to the lists in 40 CFR, Part 82, subpart A, Appendices A and B or call your refriger-ant supplier.
Applicability Triggers
The leak repair requirements of this regu-lation are triggered when an owner or operator of an industrial process refrig-eration system discovers that refrigerant is leaking at a rate that would exceed 35 percent of the total charge in a 12-month period. (See D for more information on leak rates.
EXEMPTIONS
OR
EXCLUSIONS
C. FULL CHARGE
The full charge is the amount of refriger-ant necessary to operate at normal operat-ing characteristics and conditions. There are two reasons why you need to know how much refrigerant is in the full charge for a system.
1. The leak repair requirements of this law do not apply to any sys- tem whose full charge is 50 pounds or less of refrigerant in any independent refrigerant circuit.
2. To calculate the leak for a sys- tem, you need to know the full charge (see D for more infor mation on leak rates).
To determine the full charge, you must use one of the following methods:
a. Measure the refrigerant. For example, draw the refrigerant from the system and weigh it. Or, you can measure how much refrigerant you put into an empty system to fully charge it.
(Continued on page 6)
Compliance Guidance for Industrial Process Refrigeration Leak Repair Regulations Under Section 608 of the Clean Air Act
In this guidance document, the term “systems” is used to refer to refrigeration appliances and equipment.
Trigger Rates
For all systems that have a refrigerant charge of more than 50 pounds:
System Rate
Commercial refrigeration 35%
Industrial process refrigeration 35%
Comfort cooling 15%
All other refrigeration 15%
Leak repair provisions of this regulation do NOT affect sys-tems normally containing 50 pounds or less of refrigerant.
You MUST know the full charge of your refrigeration system.
You MUST use an acceptable method. VOLUME XV, ISSUE 2
Page 4
bution systems that pay for them-selves.
ASP is the leader in the power distribution and energy manage-ment field with over fifty years experience in the retail store in-dustry.
Baker Distributing
Distributors of refrigeration, air conditioning, heating and venti-lation equipment, parts and supplies.
Blue Ridge Supply
Wholesale commercial/industrial lighting supplier. Blue Ridge Supply stocks lamps, ballast and fixtures for almost any application. They are an authorized distribu-tor for Anthony Doors/Coolers replacement parts.
C. C. Dickson Company
Wholesaler of parts, supplies and equipment for heating, air condi-tioning and refrigeration.
Cannon Marketing, Inc.
Hoshizaki Ice Systems … refrig-erators and freezers. Cuno Wa-ter Filtration Systems, Everest Refrigeration
Chadwick & Associates, Inc.
Celebrating 20 years of service and support to the HVACR in-dustry.
Cooling Technology, Inc.
Manufacturers of a full line of chillers and cooling systems from 1 to 300+ tons for industrial and commercial applications. Turn-key solutions are available.
E. V. Dunbar Company
Representing Genetron Refriger-ants, Richie (yellow jacket), Fluke, Di-versitech, J. W. Har-ris, Presto-o-Lite, REHVAC, and Packless in the southeast.
Frank Door Co.
America’s new standard for cold storage doors. Innovative manu-facturers of custom and standard doors for new and existing walk-in coolers, freezers and refrigera-tion warehouses.
Greer Systems
Manufacturers of computer con-trol and gas detection systems for industrial and building controls.
Heatcraft Refrigeration Prod-
ucts, LLC. “The Name Behind the Names You Trust”. Bohn, Climate Control, Chandler & Larkin feature the Beacon-II Re-frigeration Control System.
Hill Phoenix.
Major manufacturer of refrigera-tion display cases, walk-in cool-ers and freezers, compressor sys-tems, machine houses and elec-trical distribution products.
Hussman Corporation
Commercial and industrial re-frigeration for the food industry.
ICOR International, Inc.
Producer and distributor of envi-ronmentally safe refrigerants.
Johnstone Supply Dedicated to providing the HVAC/R indus-try with the highest level of cus-tomer service and support. Four stores in central
NC.
Kysor Panels and Kysor
Warren. As the largest supplier of walk-in coolers and freezers to the food retail market, Kysor Panel Systems coolers and freez-ers are engineered to exacting standards. Kysor Panel Systems delivers the first time and every time with the quality you want, the service you deserve and the
2004 Up-Date VOLUME XV, ISSUE 2
delivery you expect.
Linzmaier & Associates, Inc.Manufacturers’ Rep. – rep-resenting Aircondex (compressors) and Danfoss Com-pressors and refrigeration con-trols.
Machine & Welding Supply
Welding, brazing sup-plies, torches, regulators, oxygen, acetylene, nitrogen, safety supplies.
Nu-Calgon
Complete chemical supplier to the HVACR market.
Parker
With $6.2 billion in an-nual sales , Parker Hanni-fin Corpora-tion (PH-NYSE) is a global leader in motion and control technologies. Within the AC & R industries, Parker serves the following market segments: mobile and residential and com-mercial air conditioning, indus-trial and commercial refrigera-tion, supermarket refrigeration, transport refrigeration, reclaim and recovery, food service/ice machines and appliances. Prod-uct lines include filter dryers, solenoid valves, expansion
valves, accumulators, ball, check, hand and service valves, pressure regulators, accumulators and more. Product sub assem-blies, lean manufacturing analy-sis, e-business services and just in time delivery complete Parker’s package of value added services.
PowerCold Comfort Air Solutions, Inc.
A solution provider for en-ergy-efficient products for the refrigeration, air condi-tioning and power industries. Evaporative con-densers and fluid coolers are some of the manufac-tured products.
RefComp-ThermoKey USA
Manufacturers of refrigera-tion screw compressors and heat exchanger components for the HVAC/R industry.
Ref Plus USAManufac-turer of commercial, indus-trial refrigeration equipment
as well as cus-tom re-frigeration packages and CEM custom coils.
Resource Marketing
Manufacturers Representative for Russell Refrigeration and Kramer Refrigeration.
Spectronics Corporation
Fluorescent leak detection sys-tem for refrigerants, hydraulics and water. Includes OEM-approved, solvent free lubricant specific fluorescent dyes and pat-ented high intensity UV and UV/Blue inspection lamps. Also four types of injectors for adding dye into different size AC & R systems.
Sporlan Valve
Refrigeration flow controls.
Steve Lee and Associ-ates
“Linking Thermal Re-sources and Technol-ogy”. Manufacturers represen-tative handling Parker – Climate Industrial FlowControls; Master-cool – HVAC/R gauges, tools, accessories and Insultube rubber insulation.
Supermarket Parts Warehouse
Replacement parts for Hill Phoe-nix, Hussman, Kysor Warren and Tyler. Shelves, reface, ends and electrical parts.
Supermarket Systems, Inc.
Manufacturers representative for Zero Zone, EBI/RJ Trausch,
W. A. Brown.
Page 5
2004 Up-Date cont. VOLUME XV, ISSUE 2
b. Calculate the weight of the refrigerant charge in the system
c. Use the manufacturer infor-mation. Some manufacturers specify the amount of refrigerant in the full charge for a system, either on a plate attached to the system or in specifications (or vendor literature).
d. Establish range. If you know the system functions properly within a range of refrigerant amounts, use the midpoint of that range. Special record keeping requirements apply if this method is used along or in combination with other methods.
e. Combinations of a through d. For example, suppose you have a system that consists of two components con-nected by pipe or tubing. The length of the pipe or tubing varies from one instal-lation to another. As a result, the manu-facturer has specified how much refriger-ant is in a full charge for the two compo-nents, but NOT for the pipe or tubing. You may calculate how much refrigerant is in the length of the pipe or tubing for your system, and than add that amount to the manufacturer’s estimates for the two components.
D. LEAK RATE
Each time you add refrigerant to a system normally containing 50 pounds or more of refrigerant (see C), you should promptly calculate the leak rate. If the leak rate is higher than the trigger rate, you are required to do one of the follow-ing:
a. Repair leaks (see Module E);
b. Retrofit the system (see F); or
c. Retire the system from service (see F)
Calculating a Leak Rate
Presented below is one way of calculating a leak rate. Facilities can use other meth-ods, e.g., rolling averages.
1. Take the number of pounds of refrig-erant you added to return the system to a full charge and divide it by the
number of pounds of refrigerant in the normal full charge for the system.
# lbs refrigerant added
# lbs refrigerant in normal full charge
2. Take the number of days that have passed between charges (that is, how many days between the last time re-frigerant was added and this time refrigerant was added) and divide by 365 (the number of days in a year).
#days since refrigerant last added
365 days
3. Take the number you determined in step 1 and divide it by the number you determined in step 2.
4. Multiply the number you deter- mined in step 3 by 100 (to cal- culate a percentage).
The result is the leak rate, expressed in the percent of full charge that would be lost per 12 month period.
In some complicated situations, other cal-culations may also be appropriate. For example, if a known amount of refrigerant was removed intentionally and put back into the system, then the amount should not be counted as a “leak”. The four step approach describe above, however, will give the correct leak
Timing
After refrigerant is added, you should calculate the leak rate as soon as you can. If the system is leaking above the trigger rate, the law imposes strict deadlines for repairing the leaks or retrofitting or retir-ing the system. For example, if you wait three days to determine the leak rate, there will be three less days available to solve the problem.
Purged Refrigerant
In calculating the leak rate, you may ex-clude purged refrigerant that is destroyed. A destruction efficiency of at least 98 percent is required, and there are
(Continued on page 7)
Page 6
Compliance Guidance Cont.
If you use method a, b, or c, it is recommended that you document (and are able to show) how you determined the full charge, although it is not specifically required.
If you use method d, your are required to document how you determined the full charge.
If you use method e, your are not required to keep records unless you incorporation method d.
The trigger rate for industrial process refrigeration systems is 35 percent.
REPAIR
RETROFIT
RETIRE VOLUME XV, ISSUE 2 Page 7
Permanently Lapsed Refrigeration Contractor Licenses
Compliance Guidance cont.
monitoring, record keeping and reporting
requirements.
Record keeping/Reporting
Keep records that show:
1. The date and type of service;
2. How much refrigerant was added;
and
3. The date when the refrigerant was
added.
It may be required and is always advis-able
to keep records of the full charge
and leak rate.
(Continued from page 6)
If you are the OWNER OR
OPERATOR
Penalties for violation of the licensing
law and Board Rules vary depending
on the facts and circumstances of each
case.
Bryan Hartsell, dba Advanced Heat-ing
and Air Services, Mooresville,
NC.
Allegations of refrigeration contracting
without a license. Letter of warning
signed on January 7, 2004.
Mike Holland, dba Calvary Appli-ance
and Refrigeration Service,
Franklin, NC.
Allegations of refrigeration contracting
without a license. Consent judgment
and permanent injunction entered in
Wake County Superior Court on Janu-ary
29, 2004 enjoining defendant from
further engaging in refrigeration con-tracting
until properly licensed to do so.
Larry Sawyer, dba, Larry Sawyer
Equipment Sales, Manteo, NC.
Allegations of refrigeration contracting
without a license. Letter of warning
signed on January 28, 2004.
Disciplinary Action
REMINDERS ….. Scholarship appli-cations
are now available. Please call
the Board office for information on
the scholarship and an application.
Many of you are still using our old
address. Please change your records
to show the address as Suite 208, 893
Highway 70 West, Garner, NC
27529, telephone (919) 779-4711.
The following refrigeration contractor licenses permanently
lapsed on 12/31/2003 for non payment of licensing fees:
T0002 Randall C. Mikles, Lexington, NC
T0048 Jeffrey L. Johnson, Mt. Airy, NC
T0050 William M. Robertson, Jr., Snow Camp, NC
119 Elton B. Foushee, Raleigh, NC
776 Perry M. Taylor, Morehead City, NC
1008 John D. William, Cary, NC
1085 William G. McNeil, Fayetteville, NC
1175 Marvin E. Pennington, Mooresboro, NC
1241 J. Garvin Allen, Whitsett, NC
1298 Ray J. Everson, Fayetteville, NC
1321 Douglas H. Williams, Camden, NC
1360 Lester J. Norris, Newton, NC
1421 William Bridgers, Jr., Elm City, NC
1444 Taylor Nethercutt, Knightdale, NC
1496 Homer L.Harrelson, Southport, NC
1503 W. John Messer, Jr., Franklin, NC
1521 Ronnie S. Boles, Winston-Salem, NC
1596 James L. Hoffler, Sr., Spring Lake, NC
1617 Dale L. Reynolds, Roxboro, NC
1627 Walter L. Ball, Franklinton, NC
1661 Harold G. McGee, Myrtle Beach, SC
1792 James G. Carson, Graham, NC
1878 Rufus G. South, W. Jefferson, NC
1916 Lee R. Groce, Randleman, NC
1948 Buddy R. Russell, Ocean Isle Beach, NC
1952 Jim D. Snellings, Lexington, NC
2159 Enoch J. Cooper, Murfreesboro, NC
2325 Ronald A. Workman, Trinity, NC
2327 Billy R. Allen, Durham, NC
2403 Oliver J. Greene, Tryon, NC
2425 Jack E. Horrell, Dudley, NC
2580 T. Y. Hester, Sr. Lumberton, NC
2621 Bobby E. Brooks, Gold Hill, NC
2626 John M. Dellinger, Denver, NC
2628 Vernon D. Eanes, Granite Quarry, NC
2697 Joseph B. Bellinger, Walnut Cove, NC
2704 Danny L. Dean, Raleigh, NC
2919 Jerry W. Parker, Pigeon Forge, TN
2961 Thomas W. DuVall, Jr., Burnsville, NC
2963 Ronald D. Fisk, Windsor, NC
2976 Herbert T. Holcombe, Birmingham, NC
3012 Ronald F. Smith, Reidsville, NC
3027 James R. Moore, Greensboro, NC
3136 Raymond T. Sides, Jr., Salisbury, NC
3154 James W. Coxe, Shallotte, NC
3169 Doyle D. Thomas, Sylva, NC
3222 Mark Craven, Chapel Hill, NC.
3244 Dennis L. Snyder, Hickory, NC.
3555 Michael B. Glasgow, Sitka, AK
3566 Scott T. Jones, Elizabeth City, NC
3662 John H. Troup., Fitzgerald, GA
3704 Michael D. Gunn, Virginia Beach, VA
3863 Aubrey J. McStay, Kennesaw, GA
Suite 208, 893 Highway 70 West
Garner, North Carolina 27529
STATE BOARD OF REFRIGERATION EXAMINERS
AB Tech, Nancy Troxler, 828-254-1921, ext. 5824 or ntroxler@abtech.edu.
Blue Ridge, Joe McCanless, joemcc@blueridge.edu.
Caldwell, Joe Abby, 828-759-4672 or jabbey@ccti.edu.
Cape Fear, Josh Padgett, 910-362-7146 or jpadgett@capefear.cc.nc.us.
Carteret Community College, Pam Drum, 252-222-6203 or psd@carteret.cc.nc.us.
Central Carolina Community College, Continuing Education, 919-775-5401, ext 7225 or 7250.
Central Piedmont Community College, Kathie Cox, 704-330-6508 or kathie.cox@cpcc.edu.
College of the Albemarle, Sherry Hewitt, 252-335-0821, ext. 2210 or shewitt@albemarle.edu.
Craven, Dave Novak, 252-638-7239 or novakd@admin.craven.cc.nc.us.
Davidson Co. Community College, Randall Parks, 336-249-8186, ext. 244.
Edgecombe, Kenneth Lewis, lewisk@edgecombe.edu
Fayetteville, Bill Zellers, wzellers@nc.rr.com
Forsyth Technical Community College, Michelle Griffin, 336-734-7771 or mgriffin@forsyth.cc.nc.us.
Gaston County Community College, Sandy Hamilton, 704-922-6251 or or shamilt@gaston.cc.nu.us.
Guilford Tech, Mark Highfill, 336-334-4822, ext 2513.
Martin CC, Frankie McKeel, 252-792-1521, extension 261 or flmckeel@martin.cc.nc.us.
Mitchell CC, Diane Pritchard, 704-878-4266 or dpritchard@mitchell.cc.nc.us.
Nash, Jennifer Foster, 252-443-4011 or jfoster@nash.cc.nc.us.
Randolph, Lewis Edwards, 336-663-0217 or lwedwards@randolph.edu.
Roanoke Chowan, James Hutchinson, jamesh@roanoke.cc.nc.us.
Rowan Cabarrus, Kaye Parks, 704-788-3197, ext. 241 or dsmith@rccc.cc.nc.us.
Southwestern, Keith Corbeil, 828-349-1278
Surry, Bennie Harris, 336-386-3265/336-386-3211 or harrisb@surry.cc.nc.us
Wake Tech, Richard Garrett, 919-773-4732 or jrgarrett@waketech.edu.
Wilkes, Jeff Shore, 336-838-6206
Wilson Technical Community College, Karen Gliarmis, 252-246-1232 or kgliarmis@email.wilsontech.cc.nc.us.
CFC Testing Centers and Contacts
Phone:919-779-4711
Fax: 919-779-4733
Email: sbre1@bellsouth.net