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Work a Leak-Repair Episode

A leak-repair episode opens automatically when a unit's leak rate calc crosses the §84.106(d) threshold. From there, you record the repair, log the initial and follow-up verifications, and close the episode — or commit a retrofit / retire plan if a fix isn't viable.

This guide walks the most common path: a real repair with both verifications passing.

Before you start​

  • You have the compliance.manage_leak_repair permission to edit and close repair episodes.
  • The episode already exists. They're opened automatically by the leak-rate observer; the index lists every open episode under Leak Repairs in the top navigation.
  • You know the repair date, method, and which technician (with which cert) did the work.

Steps​

  1. Open the episode

    Select Leak Repairs in the top navigation bar, then select the Episode # link in the row you want to work. The header shows the discovery snapshot — the leak rate that triggered the episode, the EPA threshold for that equipment category, and the unit's full charge.

  2. Log the repair

    In the Repair record card:

    • Repair method — pick the method used (brazing, gasket replacement, etc.). The list reflects the EPA-recognized methods.
    • Repair completed at — date and time the leak was sealed. Must be on or after the discovery date.
    • Repair technician — the tech who performed the work.
    • Technician certification (snapshot) — pick the cert that backed the work. If the dropdown is empty, save once after picking the technician — TuffOps refreshes the cert list scoped to that user.
    • Leak locations found — short description, e.g. "Schrader valve on liquid line".

  3. Record the initial verification

    In the Initial verification card:

    • Verified at — date and time of the initial leak check after the repair.
    • Method — pick the verification method (pressure decay, electronic detector, etc.). Required when Verified at is set.
    • Result — Passed or Failed. Leave Pending if the check is still running.
    • Notes — record the readings, e.g. "Pressure held at 350 psi for 15 min. No detector reading.".

  4. Save

    Select the blue Save button at the bottom of the form.

  5. Wait, then record the follow-up

    The §84.106(e)(2) follow-up clock starts on the saved successful initial verification. The card header shows the due date. When you do the follow-up:

    • Verified at — date and time of the follow-up check.
    • Method — pick the method.
    • Result — Passed or Failed.
    • Notes — readings.

    Save again.

  6. Close the episode

    When both verifications passed, the Close this episode card appears at the bottom in yellow. Pick a Close reason from the dropdown (repair verified, retrofitted, retired, etc.) and optionally add Close notes. Select Close episode.

What happens next​

  • Closing is terminal — episodes cannot be reopened. A subsequent red leak-rate calc on the same unit opens a new episode.
  • The unit's compliance panel updates to reflect the closed episode and the active §84.106(d)(2) next-add presumption.
  • The next post-repair refrigerant addition that lands below threshold stamps the Next-add presumption card on the closed episode automatically.
  • If a later red calc rebuts the presumption, the Next-add presumption card flips red and a new repair episode opens.
  • Linked work orders show in the Linked work orders panel. The "spawn work order" affordance is one-shot per episode; subsequent work uses standard work-order creation.

Common situations​

SituationWhat to do
The repair will miss the §84.106(d) deadlineUse the Repair-extension card to file an extension under §84.106(f). Requires compliance.manage_leak_repair_extension. The card writes the request, lets you withdraw it, and downloads the EPA-formatted notification payload.
The episode is on an industrial-process appliance that must be mothballed for the workUse the Industrial-shutdown extension in the repair-deadline card. Activating it (with a 20-character justification) extends the §84.106(d) clock to 120 days from discovery; clearing it returns the clock to 30 days. Only renders for industrial-process appliances.
You can't repair — the unit needs to be retrofitted or retiredUse the Alternative path card. Pick a Plan type (retrofit, retire, mothball), set Committed at, and the system computes the Completion due date (1 year from commitment per §82.157). Set Plan completed at when the work is done.
Initial or follow-up verification failedSet Result to Failed and save. The episode stays open. Schedule a re-repair, then re-record both verifications. The repair-completed date stays as the original.
You opened an episode by mistakeClosure with reason verified works only after both verifications pass. For a true mis-open, close with reason cancelled (if available) or document it in Close notes and close. The episode stays in the audit trail.

Troubleshooting​

The Save button is greyed out.

You're missing the compliance.manage_leak_repair permission, or the form has a validation error. Check for any red field-help text below the inputs. The most common cause: a verification time set without a method picked.

The follow-up due date is blank.

The follow-up clock needs a successful initial verification. Set the initial result to Passed and save. The card recomputes the follow-up due date from §84.106(e)(2).

The technician certification dropdown is empty.

Either the picked technician has no cert on file, or you haven't saved after switching technicians. Save once with the technician picked — the cert dropdown re-renders with that user's certs. If the technician really has no cert, see Record a Technician Certification.

The episode shows "Overdue — repair window expired."

The §84.106(d) repair window passed without a successful repair. File an extension if the cause was outside your control (parts on order, unreachable site). Otherwise the episode stays in overdue_repair until you record the late repair — the lateness is part of the audit record.

The Close button doesn't appear.

Either the episode is already closed, or both verifications haven't passed yet. The closure card only renders for open episodes when the repair is verified.