Fundamental refrigerant management

Intent

To reduce stratospheric ozone depletion.

Requirements

Zero use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigerants in heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) base building systems unless a third-party audit (as defined in the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Operations & Maintenance, 2009 Edition) shows that system replacement or conversion is not economically feasible or it is demonstrated that a phase-out plan for CFC-based refrigerants is in place.

Required economic analysis: The replacement of a chiller is considered not economically feasible if the simple payback of the replacement is greater than 10 years. To determine the simple payback, divide the cost of implementing the replacement by the annual cost avoidance for energy that results from the replacement and any difference in maintenance costs. If CFC-based refrigerants are maintained in the building, reduce annual leakage to 5% or less using EPA Clean Air Act, Title VI, Rule 608 procedures governing refrigerant management and reporting, and reduce the total leakage over the remaining life of the unit to less than 30% of its refrigerant charge.

Small HVAC&R units (defined as containing less than 0.5 pounds of refrigerant), standard refrigerators, small water coolers and any other cooling equipment that contains less than 0.5 pounds of refrigerant are not considered part of the base building system and are exempt.