This Standard is restricted to refrigeration circuits that provide air-conditioning for the passenger compartments of passenger and commercial vehicles.

This Standard includes analytical and physical test procedures to evaluate concentration inside the passenger compartment. In the early phases of vehicle evaluation, usage of the analytical approach may be sufficient without performing physical tests.

The physical test procedure involves releasing refrigerant from an external source to a location adjacent to the evaporator core (inside the HVAC-Module). An apparatus is used to provide a repeatable, calibrated leak rate. If the system has multiple evaporators, leakage could be simulated at any of the evaporator locations.

This standard gives detail information on the techniques for measuring R-744 [CO2] and R-1234yf [HFO-1234yf], but the general techniques described here can be used for other refrigerants as well.

Purpose

The purpose of this SAE Standard is to provide a uniform test procedure to evaluate the refrigerant concentration level inside of a vehicle passenger compartment resulting from leakage of refrigerant from a Mobile Air Conditioning system (MAC). This Standard does not establish concentration limits.

Refrigerant can leak from the evaporator, hoses, lines, and connectors that are directly exposed to the passenger compartment or the cabin air distribution system. Refrigerant concentration is influenced by leak size, refrigerant charge, HVAC operation mode, body sealing, and vehicle operation mode.