When released, refrigerants can harm the environment. Refrigerant-containing equipment at USPS® sites, such as chillers, air conditioners, fire suppression systems, drinking fountains, refrigerators, and freezers, must be managed in accordance with Postal Service™ and regulatory requirements. This includes requirements for training, handling, recordkeeping, and disposal. Requirements apply to both Postal Service employees and contractors performing maintenance on USPS equipment.
Follow these requirements for proper refrigerant management:
n Never vent or otherwise release any refrigerants into the atmosphere for any reason.
n Maintain required documentation, including:
n Records of system maintenance, service, and repair, particularly those documenting refrigerant addition or removal. Note: Sites must obtain and maintain records from contractors who service refrigerant-containing equipment. Contractor records need to show the work that was done (e.g., refrigerant addition or removal), not just contractor hours onsite.
n Individual service logs and leak rate calculations whenever refrigerant is added to systems containing more than 50 pounds of refrigerant.
n Training records.
n Regulatory air permits and related fees.
n Investigate refrigerant leaks and repair leaking equipment immediately.
n Complete required training and obtain Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Technician Certification:
n Employees that maintain, service, or repair refrigerant-containing equipment must be certified, including employees who service motor vehicle air conditioning systems.
n Employees that purchase refrigerants may require certification.
n Manage refrigerant storage cylinders properly:
n Store in a centralized, secure location restricted to authorized employees only.
n Purchase and use cylinders that are certified by Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
n Clearly label refrigerant cylinders to identify their contents.
n Document each cylinder purchase and use of the refrigerant.
n Restrict recovery cylinder usage to cylinders within 5 years of their last certification.
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 an 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 centers. Never reuse non-refillable cylinders.
For more information about refrigerant management disposal:
n Review the Refrigerant Management Environmental Compliance Bulletin and Standard Work Instruction at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/environmental/_pdf/ecb-refrigerant-management.pdf.
n Review the National Refrigerant Management Policies and Procedures Maintenance Management Order (MMO-056-20) at mtsc.usps.gov/pdf/MMO/2020/MMO05620.pdf.
n Consult your designated USPS Environmental Specialist at blue.usps.gov/sustainability/regional-environmental-compliance-all.htm.
— Environmental Affairs and Corporate Sustainability,
Corporate Affairs, 4-3-25
