What is the required refrigerant removal efficiency for recovery equipment after November 15th, 1993?

The required refrigerant removal efficiency for recovery equipment after November 15th, 1993, is 90% or achieving a minimum vacuum level of 4 inches of mercury (Hg). This standard was established to ensure that recovery equipment is capable of removing a significant majority of refrigerants from systems before they are disposed of or serviced.

Achieving this level of efficiency is crucial for minimizing the release of refrigerants into the atmosphere, which can contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. Backing this regulation, the EPA emphasizes the importance of using recovery equipment that meets or exceeds these standards to promote environmental safety and compliance with federal regulations.

Values such as 80%, 85%, or 95% reflect varying levels of efficiency but do not align with the established requirement for efficient refrigerant recovery that is set at 90%. Similarly, the vacuum level required is specified to be 4 inches, not higher or lower, to ensure consistency across recovery practices.