Halogenated refrigerants, when released into the atmosphere, deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. This standard establishes practices and procedures that will help air-conditioning equipment designers, installers, operators, and owners reduce the inadvertent release of halogenated refrigerants. The standard helps reduce refrigerant release during equipment manufacture, testing, installation, operation, maintenance, repair and disposal.

The revised 2013 edition includes the addition of supermarkets to the standard; separation of air-conditioning systems into types, and specification of their requirements; and an explanation of the purpose and value of vacuum and pressure leak testing.

Keywords: refrigerant leak prevention; leak rate measurement; leak location method; equipment type; charging; evacuation; refrigerant monitoring; recovery; reuse