F-Gas Regulations – The effect on refrigeration gas production, equipment, service and maintenance

9th August 2019

F-Gas Regulations – The effect on refrigeration gas production, equipment, service and maintenance

Fluorinated gases ('F-gases') are a family of man-made gases used in a range of industrial applications. They are often used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances, as they do not damage the atmospheric ozone layer. However, F-gases are powerful greenhouse gases, with a global warming effect up to 23,000 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO2).

The F-Gas Regulation (EC) 842/2006 was adopted on 17th May 2006 and later revised and replaced by (EU) 517/2014 in April 2014. The overall aim of the regulation is to reduce and contain emissions by using responsible refrigeration. These regulations include:

  • Better containment of F-gases in their applications
  • Recovery of F-gases from products and equipment reaching their end of life
  • Training and certification of technical personnel and companies working with F-gases
  • Reporting of production, import and export data within the EU
  • Labelling of certain products and equipment containing those gases

As of January 2015, the F-Gas Regulation came into full effect in order to reduce F-Gas emissions by 79% between 2015 and 2030, by cutting HFCs with a high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and, encouraging the use of more climate-friendly technology. The Regulation also puts into place the so-called 'HFC phase-down'. This HFC phase-down implies that the supply of the HFCs will become much scarcer in the future, in particular for those HFCs having a relatively high global warming potential (GWP).

Moving to low GWP refrigerants

As a REFCOM member, Boden Group ensure that engineers/technicians are certified to carry out certain tasks such as installation, maintenance, service, repair, decommissioning, leakage checking and recovery of gases on stationary refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump equipment and moveable room air conditioning appliances.

As well as taking care of your F-Gas compliance and obligations, our service engineers can convert your existing plant to low GWP refrigerants or support you with low GWP refrigerant selection on any new refrigeration plant you plan to acquire. So, you can rest assured that you are compliant with all refrigeration associated legislation and benefit from reduced operative and maintenance costs.

 

Topics related to this post:
HVAC, F-Gas

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