A comfort cooling system that contains 50 pounds or more of R-410A is leaking. What will be the new maximum allowable annual leak rate starting in 2019?

For a comfort cooling system that contains 50 pounds or more of R-410A, the maximum allowable annual leak rate is set at 10%. This regulation is part of efforts to minimize the environmental impact associated with refrigerants, particularly those like R-410A, which have significant global warming potential.

The 10% threshold means that if the system leaks refrigerant exceeding this percentage in a year, it could trigger mandatory repair and reporting obligations. This legislation encourages better maintenance practices and prompt leak detection to prevent substantial losses of refrigerants into the atmosphere.

The other percentages do not align with the regulatory framework set for systems of this size. The 5%, 15%, and 20% options either reflect incorrect standards or pertain to different categories or types of systems, thereby emphasizing the importance of understanding the specific regulations tied to refrigerant management.