Can a refrigerant be used during a test?
Yes. Appropriately qualified people certified under s.21 of O. R.189/94 can use refrigerants while performing a leak test but they must follow the rules of the Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) [Standard J 1628, Technician procedure for using electronic refrigerant leak detectors for service in mobile air conditioning systems and Standard J 1627, Rating criteria for electronic refrigerant leak detectors]. Copies can be purchased on the SAE Web site (http://www.sae.org/), by telephone at (724) 776-4841 or by faxing them at (724) 776-5760. However, it is important to note that CFC-based refrigerants (e.g., R-12) cannot be used to refill mobile air conditioners after January 1, 2002.
