This applies to anyone who owns or operates a system with refrigerant in. This can be systems such as heat pumps or air conditioning units.
In 2000 the EU discovered that hydro fluorocarbons (HFC) are powerful greenhouse gases that can contribute to global wamring if released into the environment. This led to the EU phasing out CFC’s and HFC’s and tighter regulations on refrigeration systems. In 2007 it was agreed that F Gas regulations would include the monitoring and measuring of refrigerant gas.
F gases are a family of gases similar to hydrocarbons with fluorine replacing some hydrogen atoms. It was only recently discovered that hydro-flourocarbons (HFC) are powerful greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming if released into the atmosphere. With this in mind the EU Ozone regulations of 2000 set a timescale to phase out CFC’s and HFC’s. They also introduced strict inspection rules for all operators of such refrigeration equipment.
The F Gas legislation came into effect in July 2007 and includes the containment of gas recovery and record keeping.
Gases such as R22 are deemed as to harmful to the atmosphere. With targets to reduce carbon emissions and improve climate change the government decided to ban the production of this harmful gas. If you have a R22 unit please see our R22 fact sheet for helpful tips and information on the switch over.
The F Gas legislation also introduced the legal requirement to have your unit checked to see if it omitting any refrigerant gasses. This again is to help reduce carbon emissions within the UK. Please see overleaf for the current legal requirements.
Under the EPBD (Energy Performance Buildings Directive) you may also require a air conditioning inspection. This is currently for operators that have a system over 250kw and needs to be carried out by a qualified low carbon consultant. However operators with 12kw and above will also need to have this in place by Jan 2011.
Although only 3% of England and Wales businesses have had a compliant air conditioning inspection, there is a benefit to having this carried out. The inspection is essentially a health check on your unit, as well as looking at its efficiency, and how energy savings could be made. Please see our fact sheet on air
Conditioning - inspections for more information and penalties.
