HVAC / Refrigeration — Temperature Compliance & Service Records
Refrigeration must hold food at 41°F or below, and any refrigerant servicing must be done by EPA Section 608–certified technicians. Keep temperature logs and service records.
Why Refrigeration Is a Compliance Item
Two requirements meet here: food-safety temperature control and federal refrigerant handling.
1. Food-Safety Temperature Control
The FDA Food Code (adopted by your state) requires cold foods held at 41°F or below. Inspectors check this at every routine inspection. Expectations:
- A thermometer in every cooler/freezer, accurate and visible
- Daily temperature logs per unit
- Prompt repair of any unit drifting above 41°F
2. Refrigerant Handling (EPA Section 608)
Under Section 608 of the federal Clean Air Act, any technician who services equipment with regulated refrigerants must be EPA Section 608 certified. Intentional venting is prohibited; larger systems have leak-repair and recordkeeping rules.
What Proof You Keep
- Daily temperature logs per unit
- Service/maintenance reports from your HVAC/refrigeration contractor (with EPA cert reference for refrigerant work)
What SpoonSeal tracks
The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.