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Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) System Servicing

  • Section 609 Technician Training and Certification Programs

    CAA Section 609 requires that any person who repairs or services a MVAC system for payment must be properly trained and certified by an EPA-approved program. See list of programs.

  • Section 609 Certified Equipment

    Section 609 requires that Technicians use refrigerant handling equipment that has been certified by the EPA or an independent standards testing organization.

  • Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP)

    The Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP) was established under Section 612 of the Clean Air Act for EPA to identify and evaluate substitutes in end-uses that have historically used ozone-depleting substances.

  • Regulating HFCs under the AIM Act

    EPA is managing a phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a class of chemicals used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances, under the AIM Act. Learn more about HFC reduction.

Motor vehicle air conditioners use refrigeration to cool the driver's or passenger's compartment. Learn more about EPA requirements for servicing these systems, and how these requirements impact service technicians, shop owners, and some refrigerant retailers. Most of these requirements come from regulations under section 609 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), while two additional sections of the CAA, 608 and 612, play smaller roles. The use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and their substitutes are also regulated under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act.

What's New
  • EPA issues final Technology Transitions Rule under the AIM Act (10/24/2023)
  • EPA issues a proposed Emissions Reduction and Reclamation Rule under the AIM Act (10/6/2023)
  • Regulatory Requirements for MVAC Servicing

    Learn about EPA's regulatory requirements for servicing and repairing MVAC systems.

    Review Regulatory Requirements
  • Technician and Shop Owner Resources

    See the list of EPA-approved training and certification programs and learn about approved servicing equipment.

    Learn more about Technician Resources
  • Acceptable Refrigerants and their Impacts

    Learn about acceptable refrigerants under the EPA's SNAP Program and their environmental impacts.

    Learn about Acceptable Refrigerants
  • Unique Fittings and Label Colors

    Connecting valves for car AC

    Read about fitting and labeling requirements for MVAC refrigerants under the EPA’s SNAP Program.

    Learn about Fittings & Label Colors
  • Section 608 and 609 Overlap

    Learn about the overlap of EPA's requirements under Section 608 and Section 609 of the Clean Air Act.

    Learn more About 608 and 609
  • Background and Resources

    Review background and resource information on MVAC servicing.

    Explore Background and Resources

Related Resources

  • Reducing Use of HFCs
  • Stationary Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
  • Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program
  • Ozone Layer Protection
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 11, 2025
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