If it’s hot outside, chances are there’s a work order in your shop that says: “A/C won’t blow cold air.” When you hand off that job ticket to a technician, he or she needs to be certified under Section 609 of the Clean Air Act, which specifically addresses the servicing of motor vehicle air conditioners.
“Most shop managers know that technicians need to be Section 609 trained and certified,” says Scott Watson, aftermarket account manager for Red Dot Corp. (www.rdac.com), a company that supplies HVAC units and all-makes parts for heavy duty vehicles. “But they’re not always sure they can prove it.”
It’s worth finding out.
Any person who services a mobile A/C system must be certified. “Servicing” includes repairs, leak testing and “topping off” systems, as well as any other repair that requires opening the air conditioner.
Having an uncertified technician can subject shop owners to fines up to $37,500 a day by the U.S. EPA.
“Section 609 certification training is a way to make sure techs are compliant and also up-to-date on how to handle various refrigerants, especially now that they may be dealing with refrigerants R-134a and R-1234yf,” Watson says.
NOT A FORMALITY
Technicians must pass a 25-question written test at the conclusion of a training session. It is available in English and Spanish and the fee is nominal – around $50, depending on who administers it. The test is open-book and it can be taken online or in a classroom.
When a technician passes (the minimum score is 72 percent), they receive a certificate and wallet card to show employers and EPA auditors. If they fail, they can take the test again.
Section 609 training should not be viewed as just a formality, Watson says. “The training focuses on the properties of mobile A/C refrigerants and the environmental consequences of venting them into the atmosphere. It is important for technicians to be aware of their responsibility to legally and safely handle refrigerant.”
BEYOND COMPLIANCE
Certification has benefits that extend beyond compliance, observes Watson, and notes that there are many reasons for maintenance managers to support Section 609 training and certification for their technicians. Chief among them:
1. A much-needed refresher. Section 609 certification can be the start of a larger conversation about how A/C works, including proper service intervals and best practices for detecting leaks and safely recovering and handling refrigerant.
For this reason, it’s an advantage to have an instructor conduct the course in person, he says.
“Certification is good for a lifetime but I know techs who sit in on courses every spring because they want a refresher on basic A/C concepts, components and service techniques before the summer hits,” says Watson.
2. R-1234yf awareness. As more vehicle manufacturers adopt R-1234yf, Section 609 training can help technicians understand and manage the switch.
“People know it’s bad to leak refrigerant into the atmosphere but they aren’t fully aware of the harm that ozone depletion can do,” says Watson. “R-1234yf is expected to reduce automotive greenhouse gas emissions by 4 percent.”
Then there’s the dollars-and-cents rationale for properly recovering R-1234yf. At roughly $30 an ounce, “you want to capture the maximum amount of refrigerant possible for warranty reimbursement,” he says.
Certification training also can help technicians recognize illegal modifications that would convert A/C systems and service equipment from R-1234yf to R-134a.
3. Vehicle uptime. Watson says everyone is happier and more productive when they’re in a comfortable work environment, drivers included.
“When the A/C is performing as it’s supposed to, drivers will treat the vehicle better and you’ll get more uptime as a result,” he notes. “Talk to your drivers about A/C performance and take care of routine maintenance now, before it turns into a repair that takes the truck out of service.
“Make sure your techs are Section 609 certified and that you have copies of their certificates on file. That way you can match them up with A/C work orders in the event of an audit. The EPA is watching.”
