Tech Tip: New EPA Section 609 Certification requirements

Feb. 28, 2018
To purchase R-134a, R-1234yf or R-12 in containers greater than 2 lbs, buyers are now required to provide a copy of their SAE Section 609 certificate.

If you service A/C systems for compensation, you are likely familiar with the EPA Section 609 Certification requirements. Until January 2018, this certification was a bit of a formality with most technicians only referring to it if they needed to purchase R12 refrigerant. The arrival of R-1234yf ushered in a new era of EPA certifications, with new requirements that can’t be ignored. As of January 1, 2018, the purchase of R-134a, R-1234yf or R-12 in containers greater than 2 lbs requires the buyer to provide a copy of their SAE Section 609 certificate at the time of purchase.

If you are anything like me, your EPA Section 609 card is filed away in the “never to be found again” drawer, but all hope is not lost. If you know what organization certified you originally, you can contact them for a replacement card. If you don’t remember, you can take a paper or online test at many institutions, including:

  • ASE (ase.org)
  • MACS Worldwide (macsw.org)

A note for those who may have originally been certified by IMACA: you should consider contacting MACS for an updated card because your original may well have used your Social Security Number as your ID number.

Information provided by: Neutronics

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