EPA 608 venting prohibition
This page covers the venting prohibition in 40 CFR 82.154(a) and the purpose and scope of Subpart F in 40 CFR 82.150. Each point quotes the rule and links to it.
The short answer
No person maintaining, servicing, repairing or disposing of an appliance or industrial process refrigeration may knowingly vent or otherwise release any refrigerant from it into the environment. De minimis releases associated with good faith attempts to recycle or recover refrigerant are not subject to the prohibition; except for exempt substitutes, a release is de minimis only when the listed practices or the subpart B requirements are followed. Certain substitutes in listed end-uses, such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water in any application, are exempt from the prohibition.
Each part of this answer is quoted from the rule below.
The prohibition
No person maintaining, servicing, repairing or disposing of an appliance or industrial process refrigeration may knowingly vent or otherwise release any refrigerant from it into the environment.
“No person maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of an appliance or industrial process refrigeration may knowingly vent or otherwise release into the environment any refrigerant from such appliances.”
Knowingly releasing a class I, class II or non-exempt substitute refrigerant after it has been recovered from an appliance also violates the venting prohibition.
“The knowing release of a class I or class II refrigerant or a non-exempt substitute refrigerant after its recovery from an appliance is a violation of the venting prohibition.”
Maintaining, servicing, repairing or disposing of an appliance with class I, class II or non-exempt substitute refrigerant also requires observing the applicable practices in 82.155, 82.156 and 82.157 and using recovery and/or recycling equipment certified under 82.158 for that type of refrigerant and appliance.
“No person may maintain, service, repair, or dispose of an appliance containing a class I or class II refrigerant or a non-exempt substitute refrigerant without: (1) Observing the applicable practices in §§ 82.155, 82.156, and 82.157; and (2) Using recovery and/or recycling equipment that is certified for that type of refrigerant and appliance under § 82.158.”
For Subpart F, refrigerant means any substance, including blends and mixtures, made partly or wholly of a class I or class II ozone-depleting substance or a substitute, used for heat transfer and providing a cooling effect.
“Refrigerant means, for purposes of this subpart, any substance, including blends and mixtures, consisting in part or whole of a class I or class II ozone-depleting substance or substitute that is used for heat transfer purposes and provides a cooling effect.”
De minimis releases
De minimis releases associated with good faith attempts to recycle or recover refrigerant are not subject to the prohibition. Except for exempt substitutes, a release is de minimis only if it occurs under the conditions that follow.
“De minimis releases associated with good faith attempts to recycle or recover refrigerants are not subject to this prohibition. Except for exempt substitutes, refrigerant releases are de minimis only if they occur when:”
One set of conditions: the applicable practices in 82.155 and 82.156 are observed; the applicable practices in 82.157 are observed for appliances with any class I or class II refrigerant (or a blend containing one); recovery and/or recycling machines meeting 82.158 are used whenever refrigerant is removed; and the technician certification (82.161) and reclamation (82.164) requirements are observed.
“The applicable practices in §§ 82.155 and 82.156 are observed, the applicable practices in § 82.157 are observed for appliances that contain any class I or class II refrigerant or blend containing a class I or class II refrigerant, recovery and/or recycling machines that meet the requirements in § 82.158 are used whenever refrigerant is removed from an appliance, the technician certification provisions in § 82.161 are observed, and the reclamation requirements in § 82.164 are observed; or”
The other condition: the requirements of subpart B of 40 CFR Part 82 are followed.
“or (ii) The requirements in subpart B of this part are observed.”
Exempt substitutes and their end-uses
Certain substitutes, in certain end-uses only, are exempt from the venting prohibition and from the requirements of Subpart F.
“Notwithstanding any other provision of this subpart, the following substitutes in the following end-uses are exempt from this prohibition and from the requirements of this subpart:”
Carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water are exempt in any application.
“Carbon dioxide in any application; (ii) Nitrogen in any application; (iii) Water in any application;”
Ammonia is exempt in commercial or industrial process refrigeration or in absorption units. Chlorine is exempt in industrial process refrigeration for processing chlorine and chlorine compounds. Hydrocarbons are exempt in industrial process refrigeration for processing hydrocarbons.
“Ammonia in commercial or industrial process refrigeration or in absorption units; (v) Chlorine in industrial process refrigeration (processing of chlorine and chlorine compounds); (vi) Hydrocarbons in industrial process refrigeration (processing of hydrocarbons);”
Ethane (R-170) is exempt in very low temperature refrigeration equipment and equipment for non-mechanical heat transfer.
“Ethane (R-170) in very low temperature refrigeration equipment and equipment for non- mechanical heat transfer;”
Propane (R-290) is exempt in stand-alone retail food refrigerators and freezers; household refrigerators, freezers and combination refrigerator-freezers; self-contained room air conditioners for residential and light commercial air-conditioning and heat pumps; vending machines; self-contained commercial ice machines; very low temperature refrigeration equipment; water coolers; and, effective July 15, 2024, retail food refrigeration: refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment.
“Propane (R-290) in retail food refrigerators and freezers—stand-alone units; household refrigerators, freezers, and combination refrigerators and freezers; self-contained room air conditioners for residential and light commercial air-conditioning and heat pumps; vending machines; self-contained commercial ice machines, very low temperature refrigeration equipment, and water coolers; and effective July 15, 2024, retail food refrigeration—refrigerated food processing and dispensing equipment;”
Isobutane (R-600a) is exempt in stand-alone retail food refrigerators and freezers; household refrigerators, freezers and combination refrigerator-freezers; and vending machines.
“Isobutane (R-600a) in retail food refrigerators and freezers (stand-alone units only); household refrigerators, freezers, and combination refrigerators and freezers; and vending machines;”
R-441A is exempt in stand-alone retail food refrigerators and freezers; household refrigerators, freezers and combination refrigerator-freezers; self-contained room air conditioners for residential and light commercial air-conditioning; heat pumps; and vending machines.
“R-441A in retail food refrigerators and freezers (stand-alone units only); household refrigerators, freezers, and combination refrigerators and freezers; self-contained room air conditioners for residential and light commercial air-conditioning; heat pumps; and vending machines.”
Purpose and scope of Subpart F
Subpart F aims to reduce emissions of class I and class II refrigerants and their non-exempt substitutes to the lowest achievable level, by maximizing recapture and recycling during maintenance, service, repair and disposal, and by restricting the sale of refrigerants consisting wholly or partly of a class I or class II ozone-depleting substance or their non-exempt substitutes, under Title VI of the Clean Air Act.
“The purpose of this subpart is to reduce emissions of class I and class II refrigerants and their non- exempt substitutes to the lowest achievable level by maximizing the recapture and recycling of such refrigerants during the maintenance, service, repair, and disposal of appliances and restricting the sale of refrigerants consisting in whole or in part of a class I or class II ozone-depleting substance or their non-exempt substitutes in accordance with Title VI of the Clean Air Act.”
Subpart F applies to anyone maintaining, servicing or repairing appliances containing class I, class II or non-exempt substitute refrigerants.
“This subpart applies to any person maintaining, servicing, or repairing appliances containing class I, class II or non-exempt substitute refrigerants.”
It also applies to people disposing of such appliances (including small appliances and MVACs), refrigerant reclaimers, technician certifying programs, appliance owners and operators, manufacturers of appliances, manufacturers of recovery and/or recycling equipment, approved recovery and/or recycling equipment testing organizations, and people buying, selling or offering to sell class I, class II or non-exempt substitute refrigerants.
“This subpart also applies to persons disposing of such appliances (including small appliances and motor vehicle air conditioners), refrigerant reclaimers, technician certifying programs, appliance owners and operators, manufacturers of appliances, manufacturers of recovery and/or recycling equipment, approved recovery and/or recycling equipment testing organizations, and persons buying, selling, or offering to sell class I, class II, or non-exempt substitute refrigerants.”
Sources
- eCFR: 40 CFR 82.154, Prohibitions (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
- eCFR: 40 CFR 82.152, Definitions (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026
- eCFR: 40 CFR 82.150, Purpose and scope (as of Nov 3, 2026)Checked November 5, 2026