using CFC refrigerants will either have to be converted or replaced by January 1, 2015 as it will be illegal to operate a chiller using CFC refrigerant after that date. It will be illegal to add (charge, top up) CFC refrigerant to any chiller after January 1, 2010.

All Provincially Regulated building owners and managers, that have chillers still operating on R-11 or R-113 should be working on, or already have a plan in place to convert or replace these chillers so that they can implement their plan before January 1, 2012.

Refrigerant 11 or 113 can still be charged into a chiller if there has been a leak, however, the unit has to be leak checked and the leak must be repaired before the refrigerant can be charged. If the leak can be repaired without a "Major Overhaul", then the machine does not have to be converted or replaced until January 1 2012.

There are two sets of Halocarbon regulations, Federal and Provincial.

The general Federal regulations apply to everyone. These are laws about importing, exporting, manufacturing, packaging and sale of halocarbon refrigerants.

The specific Federal regulations about use of refrigerants apply only to Federal buildings/lands or buildings/lands owned or operated by Federally-Regulated businesses such as banks, transportation companies or communications companies.

The Provincial regulation deal with uses of halocarbon refrigerants in all other buildings/lands. See the Links button on our web site for Federal and Provincial links to these regulations.

Refrigerant 123 is a low- pressure HCFC refrigerant. Most low-pressure chillers operating on R-11 can be converted to use R-123. Conversion costs less than replacement, however a new replacement chiller may cost less to operate and could be more cost effective. Production and, the use of HCFC refrigerants will be phased out in future. Production of all HCFC refrigerants will be phased out in 2030.

Refrigerant 134A is a high- pressure refrigerant used in some centrifugal chillers. There is no present phase out date for this refrigerant.

All centrifugal chillers must be leak checked at least twice per year. The certified mechanic with an Ozone Depletion Prevention card must leave a leak check ticket on the chiller stating his name, card number, date of leak check, expiry date of ODP card, and the results of the leak check. It is illegal to remove this ticket unless it is being replaced with another ticket. Therefore every chiller must have a leak check ticket attached. If a leak is found it is up to the owner of the machine to repair the leak. The leak must be repaired or the refrigerant must be removed from the machine.

All pressure relief valves must be replaced or recertified every five years. (B-52-05 8.4.1a)

All refrigerant monitors must be tested for function at the specified refrigerant concentration according to the manufacturers instructions at least once per year. (B-52-05 8.4.1d)