When released, refrigerants can harm the environment. Refrigerant-containing equipment at Postal Service™ sites must be managed in accordance with Postal Service and regulatory requirements. Potential equipment includes:
n Chillers,
n Air conditioners,
n Fire suppression systems,
n Drinking fountains,
n Refrigerators, and
n Freezers.
Requirements apply to both Postal Service employees and contractors performing maintenance on USPS® equipment, as well as training, handling, recordkeeping, and disposal.
n Never vent or otherwise release any refrigerants into the atmosphere for any reason.
n Maintain required documentation:
n An inventory of refrigerant-containing equipment at the site.
n Records of system maintenance, service, and repair, particularly those documenting refrigerant addition or removal. Sites must obtain and maintain records from contractors who service refrigerant-containing equipment. Contractor records need to show the work that was done, not just contractor hours on site.
n Individual service logs and annual leak rate calculations for systems containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerants.
n Training records.
n Investigate refrigerant leaks and repair leaking equipment.
n Complete required training and obtain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) technician certification, if applicable:
n Employees that maintain, service, or repair refrigerant-containing equipment must be certified.
n Employees that purchase refrigerants may require certification.
n Manage refrigerant storage cylinders properly:
n Store in a centralized, secure location that is restricted to authorized employees.
n Purchase and use cylinders that are certified by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute and Underwriters Laboratories.
n Clearly label refrigerant cylinders to identify their contents.
n Document each cylinder purchase.
n Dispose of refrigerants, refrigerant-containing equipment, and cylinders properly:
n Refrigerant equipment. Evacuate refrigerants and tag equipment as empty. Use a local waste management or scrap vendor for disposal and keep disposal records.
n Refrigerants/Refrigerant-containing cylinders. Recycle waste refrigerants using a local, EPA-approved reclaimer. Keep records of off-site shipments. Never send refrigerants for disposal and never mix refrigerant types in the same cylinder.
n Empty refrigerant cylinders. Label as “Empty” and recycle with other steel recyclables at local steel recycling center. Never reuse non-refillable cylinders.
For more information, consult your designated USPS environmental contact at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/contact.htm or review the following documents:
n Refrigerant Management Environmental Compliance Bulletin at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/ecb-refrigerant-management.pdf.
n National Refrigerant Management Policies and NSProcedures Maintenance Management Order (MMO-056-20) at mtsc.usps.gov/pdf/MMO/2020/MMO05620.pdf.
— Environmental Affairs and Corporate Sustainability,
Corporate Affairs, 7-1-21
