Refrigerant rules come up on the exam and on every service call, and they are often repeated second-hand. This is a plain summary of what the Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2022 (SOR/2022-110) say, with section numbers so you can check the text yourself. It is a study aid, not legal advice.
Who do the federal regulations apply to?
Section 2 applies them to air-conditioning, refrigeration, solvent and fire-extinguishing systems, and containers, that are owned by the federal government, a federal board or agency, a Crown corporation or a federal work or undertaking, or that are located on Aboriginal lands or federal lands. The regulations were registered on 20 May 2022.
That scope matters. Most privately owned equipment in Ontario, such as a house, a store or a restaurant, is regulated by the province under O. Reg. 463/10 instead. The principles overlap, but check which regime covers the site you are on.
What does the release prohibition cover?
Section 3(1) prohibits releasing, or allowing or causing the release of, a halocarbon contained in a system or container, or in equipment used to reuse, recycle, reclaim or store it. Section 3(2) lists narrow exceptions, such as calibrating leak detectors with purpose-built equipment.
When can you charge a system?
- Section 9: you must not charge a system with a halocarbon for the purpose of leak testing it. Use dry nitrogen.
- Section 10: subject to section 11, you must not charge a system unless it has been leak tested and, if a leak was found, the owner has been told and the leak repaired.
Together these rule out the "top it up and see" approach for covered systems.
What does the recovery requirement say?
Section 15(1) requires the certified person who installs or services an air-conditioning or refrigeration system to recover any halocarbon that would otherwise be released, into a container designed for that specific halocarbon. See refrigerant recovery and recovery cylinder.
How often are leak tests required, and how fast must leaks be fixed?
- Section 17: for a large air-conditioning or refrigeration system, the certified person must leak test the halocarbon-containing components at least once every calendar year and no more than 15 months after the previous test. (Fire-extinguishing systems and containers over 10 kg have the same frequency.)
- Section 18: once a leak is detected, the certified person must, as soon as possible and in any case within seven days, repair it, isolate the leaking portion and recover from it, or recover the halocarbon from the whole system.
Who counts as a certified person?
The regulations define a certified person as someone who holds a certificate, recognized by at least one province, showing completion of an environmental awareness course in recycling, recovery and handling of halocarbon refrigerants, and who is recognized under federal or provincial law (or by the Canadian Forces) as qualified to work on air-conditioning or refrigeration systems.
How much of this is on the 313A exam?
Refrigerant handling sits mainly in Major Work Activity B (16% of the exam), under tasks such as B-4.04 (recovery, recycling and charging equipment) and B-7.04 (refrigerants, gases and oils). Know the principles cold: no release, recover into the right container, leak test before charging, and repair promptly.
Sources
- Federal Halocarbon Regulations, 2022 (SOR/2022-110), full textss. 2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 17, 18; read 2026-09-21
- O. Reg. 463/10: Ozone Depleting Substances and Other Halocarbons
Examen Studio is independent and not affiliated with the Red Seal Program or Skilled Trades Ontario. This article is a study aid; on the job, follow current codes, regulations and manufacturer instructions.