new MACS training addresses R-1234yf for Section 609 Certification Cards

Our respected colleagues at the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) are rolling out a new Training Program on 1/1/15. Here’s their official release —
(Lansdale, PA) December 15, 2014 – The Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide will roll out a new Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling Technician Certification Training Program on January 1, 2015. MACS will initiate proctored training, self-study training and online training simultaneously on that date.
Periodically, the U.S. EPA requires all Section 609 Technician Certification Programs to update their training materials, this year to “incorporate information on three new alternatives found acceptable subject to use conditions in motor vehicle air conditioning under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, HFO-1234yf, R-744 (CO2) and HFC-152a.”
Since its beginning, MACS has regularly developed and expanded its Section 609 program to reflect industry changes in technology, service equipment and procedures, tools, alternative refrigerants and regulatory requirements.
MACS submitted the requested training materials for review, and on November 13, 2014, received notification from the U.S. EPA that “Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide has met the requirements of the update and satisfactorily submitted revised Section 609 training and certification materials. With this letter EPA confirms MACS Worldwide’s Section 609 Technician Training and Certification Program approval. MACS Worldwide will remain on EPA’s list of approved programs.”
“What this means,” explains Elvis L. Hoffpauir, MACS Worldwide president and chief operating officer, “is that in response to the introduction of the new refrigerant R-1234yf and its unique service procedures MACS has met the new training standards for mobile A/C technicians as required by the EPA. In addition to meeting the requirements for Section 609 programs set by the U.S. EPA, MACS is also the first (and as of this writing the only organization) to certify its program to SAE International Standard J2845, “R-1234yf (HFO-1234yf) and R-744 Technician Training for Service and Containment of Refrigerants Used in Mobile A/C Systems.” The scope of this SAE standard states, “The technician shall be trained to recognize which refrigerant is being handled, how to handle it safely and be equipped with the essential information, proper equipment and tools, which are unique to these refrigerants.” (See listing of the MACS program at http://www.sae.org/macdb/gethome.do and click on “Search.”)
EPA is not requiring a new Section 609 certification for handling R-1234yf, however if technicians want their Section 609 certification card to read that they are certified to recover R-1234yf, MACS will require they review the new training material and take a new test.
Founded in 1981, the Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) is the leading non-profit trade association for the mobile air conditioning, heating and engine cooling system segment of the automotive aftermarket. MACS represents a growing membership in North America and 47 countries around the world, and is affiliated with the Vehicle Air Conditioning Specialists of Australia (VASA). MACS also provides information and services to more than 60,000 industry shops, suppliers and technicians. The Society serves the industry through informational tools, self-paced educational materials, leader-led training clinics, advocacy and other member services. Since 1991, MACS has assisted more than one million technicians to comply with 1990 Clean Air Act requirements for certification in refrigerant recovery and recycling to protect the environment. To learn more about MACS Worldwide and the upcoming Annual Training Event and Trade Show, to be held February 5-7, 2015 at the Caribe Royale Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, FL, visit our website at www.macsw.org.
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