Environmental Code of Practice for the Elimination of Fluorocarbon Emissions from Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems
6.0 Servicing
6.1 Preventive Maintenance
A regular preventive maintenance program is essential to the reliability of mobile cooling systems. It could be integrated into the vehicle maintenance safety inspection program.
The frequency of inspections could be increased for mobile cooling systems because they often operate under harsh conditions.
In addition to the manufacturers’ specifications, the following should be verified during an inspection of a mobile cooling system:
- presence of dust, debris, insects, road salt, etc. on the system,
- signs of physical damage of the system or its components,
- signs of oil deposits and corrosion (especially around clamps and metal connections).
A vehicle or an intermodal container equipped with a refrigeration system that is to be immobilized and operated for long periods should be parked in a shaded area to reduce the heat load on the refrigeration system.
Under the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2003, documentation shall be kept at a single location occupied by the owner. A notice can be affixed to the system to identify where the documentation is located. The records need to be available for inspection.
Refer to Environment Canada’s National Code of Practice for Automotive Recyclers Participating in the National Vehicle Recycling Program when disposing of a mobile cooling system.
6.2 Leak Testing
Leak testing mobile air conditioning systems using the refrigerant as the test gas, in accordance with internationally recognized standards, is acceptable provided that:
- visual inspection indicate no signs of oil deposits or any physical damage, and
- all refrigerant from the test be recovered immediately following the test, if there is a leak.
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