Many of the industrialized countries are turning their attention to fugitive emission tracking, as they try and understand the scale of the challenge posed by greenhouse gas emission. Government officials hope to gain a better understanding of the threat posed by these commissions in respect to global warming.

Sometimes an unexpected leak of a hazardous substance will occur and this has led to the need for fugitive emission tracking. If such an emission is not contained in a vent, stack, or duct, harmful gases could enter the environment. Such leaks can occur during bulk handling, during maintenance or during an industrial process. Certain compounds can prove very resilient following release and once they enter the stratosphere, damage to the ozone layer is certain.

Fugitive emission tracking is important because over 300,000 tons is emitted in the United States alone. It is expected that other countries are responsible for similar outputs. Strict laws must be implemented to control and reduce the harmful effects to the ozone layer, with the goal of elimination over time.

The EPA has finalized its rules pertaining to any fugitive emission occurrence, whether through evaporation or a leak. The regulations apply to several industries, including existing and newly constructed facilities with systems using refrigerant gas in their workplace heating and cooling systems. Other industries are industrial chemical manufacturing, electric services, pulp and paper mills, and petroleum refinancing.

Facilities that use or produce known harmful substances are required to keep track of the fugitive emission problem. The EPA defines a variety of dangerous compounds, including hydrofluorocarbons, chlorofluorocarbons, methyl bromide, methyl chloroform, halons and carbon tetrachloride.

Refrigerant gases contain two primary contributors to the weakening of the ozone layer, namely chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons. Refrigerant gas is used in many industries in refrigeration and cooling units, ventilation, air conditioning systems and fire protection systems and is thus of particular concern when it comes to fugitive emission.

Businesses are required to keep comprehensive records and track leakage rates whereever fugitive emissions take place. All the details including severity and the process involved to complete a repair are required. The regulations also require regular inspections where volatile chemicals occur.

Whilst the US Clean Air Act established certain thresholds, the new fugitive emission regulations provide a more standard approach. The regulations contain details covering monitoring, tracking and reporting, leak repair and containment and the first reports are due by early 2011. Savvy companies are turning to automated tracking programs and web-based applications to help them conform, and reduce the risk of noncompliance