F-Gases Regulation

Background

In place since June 2006, the overall objective of the F-Gases Regulation is to contain, prevent and thereby reduce emissions of high-global warming fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gases) covered by the Kyoto Protocol, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The legislation applies to refrigerants used in stationary refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump equipment. To achieve a reduction of F-Gases from these sources, the Regulation addresses:

• the containment, use, recovery and destruction of F-Gases;
• the labelling and disposal of products and equipment containing those gases;
• the reporting of information on the use and the control of those gases;
• the prohibition to place products and equipment on the market; and
• the training and certification of servicing personnel and operators involved

Impact on Refrigeration & Heat Pump Systems

The F-Gases Regulation applies to all refrigeration machinery – equipment to cool products or storage spaces below ambient temperature, retail refrigerated displays, cold stores etc. - that contain pure F-Gas refrigerants and blends, such as R134a, R404a or R22. It lays down minimum standards for the use of these substances in the production, refilling, servicing or maintenance of equipment, as well as the recovery and destruction of F-Gases from their cooling circuits. The main impact of the Regulation is on systems containing at least 3 kg of refrigerant.

The same requirements apply to heat pumps – defined as all heating devices using a refrigeration machine to extract energy from a waste heat source and deliver useful heat.

Targets

A key target is to prevent the leakage of F-Gases and the repair of any detected leakage as soon as possible. The check for leakage has to be performed by qualified personnel using EU-wide leakage checking standards according to the following schedule:

• Appliances containing at least 3 kg of F-Gases must be checked at least once a year, except hermetically sealed systems that contain less than 6 kg of F-Gases


• Appliances containing at least 30 kg of F-Gases must be checked every six months


• Appliances containing at least 300 kg of F-Gases must be checked every three months.


• Automatic leakage detection systems must be installed.

By 4 July, 2008, all Member States have to put in place own training and certification programmes for servicing staff handling F-Gases and have to recognize certificates of other Member States that comply with the Regulation.

As from 31 March, 2008, each producer, importer and exporter of a certain amount of F-Gases must report on their use, and quantity for sale, recovery and destruction. It is not allowed to put F-Gases on the market without proper labelling on the refrigeration and heat pump systems, equipment and containers specifying the industry nomenclature, the quantity and Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the refrigerant.

Latest & Next steps

The EU Regulation took effect from 4 July 2007. All EU Member States subsequently had to transfer its provisions into national law. Most of the Member States, however, are late with its implementation. At present, consultation processes have been launched to establish concrete legislation regarding penalty schemes, qualification and training schemes for servicing staff, leakage checking and detection systems, as well as recovery and labelling standards.