Leak cases, repair deadlines and technician certifications

Overview#

When refrigerant added to a tracked appliance puts its leak rate over the limit, TradesWork opens a leak case and starts the clock: repair within 30 days, then an initial and a follow-up verification test, or a retrofit or retirement plan. Each technician's EPA 608 certification is stored and stamped on every refrigerant entry they log. This is informational record-keeping, not legal advice.

Before you start#

• Viewing needs compliance.read. Working leak cases, certifications and leak settings needs compliance.manage (Owner, Admin, Dispatcher).

• Leak tracking needs each unit's full charge. If the charge is unknown, the unit isn't tracked.

Steps#

Choose what's tracked#

1. Go to Purchasing › Refrigerant Compliance (Leak cases tab) and find the leak engine settings.

2. Track: Section 608 as written (ozone-depleting refrigerants, 50 lb+), Every refrigerant, 50 lb+ (recommended) (default), or Also AIM Act HFC appliances, 15 lb+ from 2026 (pending legal review).

3. Leak-rate method: Annualizing method (default) or Rolling average method.

4. Per unit, open the unit's compliance page and set Appliance type (comfort cooling 10%/yr, commercial refrigeration 20%, industrial process 30%) and Full charge if it differs from the factory charge.

Work a leak case#

1. Leak cases lists Unit, Leak rate (with the limit), Found, Next deadline and Status.

2. After repairing, click Repaired today and note What was repaired.

3. Record Initial test: Passed / Failed. A pass starts the follow-up test clock; a fail sends it back to repair.

4. Record Follow-up test: Passed / Failed. A pass verifies and closes the case; a fail starts a 30-day retrofit or retirement plan clock. Click Plan written when done.

5. Extend moves a deadline (for example an industrial process shutdown) and needs a reason. Close ends the case.

Statuses: Repair due, Repaired, verify, Verified, Failed follow-up, Retrofit / retirement plan, Closed.

Add certifications#

1. Open Certifications.

2. Pick the Technician, Type (Type I, Type II, Type III or Universal), Certification #, Issued by (for example ESCO Institute), Issued and Expires (optional).

3. Click Add. EPA 608 cards don't expire; use the expiry only for company policy. Remove deactivates a card.

Settings that change this#

• Leak engine settings on the Leak cases tab.

• The unit's compliance page: appliance type and full charge.

Tips#

• Appliances that get 125% or more of their full charge added in a calendar year are flagged as chronic leakers in the report (EPA report due March 1).

• The office records actions with today's date. Record them the day they happen.

• Watch the tab badge: it counts deadlines overdue or due within 7 days. There are no email reminders.

Troubleshooting#

• "Record a passing initial verification test first."

• "Did the test pass?" → choose Passed or Failed.

• "Say why the deadline moves (e.g. industrial process shutdown)."

• "Can't do that while the case is "{status}"." → follow the case's next step.

• A unit isn't tracked → its charge is unknown or it's under the size threshold → add the charge on the equipment.

FAQ#

Is the 120-day industrial extension built in? No. Use Extend with a reason.

Does a technician without a certification get blocked? No. Their entries save and are flagged for the office.

Coming from ServiceTitan#

• Different: TradesWork calculates leak rates and opens leak cases with deadlines automatically.

• Where it lived: ServiceTitan refrigerant tracking add-ons; Purchasing › Refrigerant Compliance in TradesWork.