Which appliances are covered
The EPA leak repair rules apply only to certain types of refrigeration and cooling equipment, and the charge size cutoff can differ by rule. See the recordkeeping guide and the AIM Act changes guide for the rule-specific scope, and verify the exact cutoff before relying on it.
Trigger rates by type
Leak repair is generally triggered when the annual leak rate is above the applicable threshold for the equipment category. That threshold can differ for commercial refrigeration, industrial process equipment, and comfort cooling, so check the source rule before comparing your system’s leak rate to the limit.
Repair window and verification
EPA rules can require repair within a set window and follow-up verification after repairs, but the timeline should be confirmed against the current text before use. If you are tracking this for a site, keeping leak-rate tracking and records together makes the review easier.
Section 608 vs AIM Act
Section 608 and the AIM Act do not cover the same universe of equipment, so the first question is which rule applies to your appliance. Start with the Section 608 records guide, then compare it with the AIM Act changes guide and the current EPA source.
Worked example
To calculate a leak rate, compare the amount released over a review period with the charge in the system, then express that loss as an annualized rate. If you want a faster check, use the leak rate calculator after confirming the inputs for your equipment and the rule that applies.
If you are building a reminder workflow around this process, you can also join the waitlist to follow HVAC Refrigerant Log updates.
Reference only. Verify with manufacturer data and gauges. Follow the manufacturer chart and EPA rules. This site is not an approval from EPA.