Technology F-Gas
> European Partnership for Energy and the Environment
(EPEE), whose members manufacture and install
heating and cooling products.
EPEE says it hopes all member states will eventually
comply “so that the delivery of fluorinated gases will not
be disrupted”. The rule restricting sales of refrigerant
gases to firms that have properly registered employees
is a “critical component… to ensure both reduced
emissions and responsible management of F-gases”.
Mike Nankivell, chairman of ACRIB’s F-Gas
Implementation Group, believes the European
Commisson’s review of F-Gas next year is an
opportunity for it to “fine tune” the regulation and take
on board some of this feedback from the industry to
improve refrigerant containment.
He adds: “We recognise the legal obligations of the
EC to hold a review, but would urge them to take a
‘light touch’ approach. Rather than making hasty
policy changes based on limited data, why not take the
opportunity to review progress to date and tighten up
the provisions?” l The UK industry argues that a range of gases can be used in refrigeration
Installers: half of firms fail to register by deadline
UK companies that install, maintain or service RAC 3kg charge (6kg if hermetically sealed), recovery,
equipment and heat pumps must now apply for installation, as well as service and maintenance work.
certification from REFCOM, which was appointed as When qualified, an engineer will be able to work
the UK’s mandatory company registration scheme, anywhere in the EU, but they will have to master
as required by F-Gas, in June. Without registration in-depth theoretical work covering subjects like
they cannot, in theory, buy refrigerant gases – thermodynamics, vapour compression cycles,
effectively putting them out of business. and pressure enthalpy. The training also covers all
The F-Gas Regulation and REFCOM operate components of an air conditioning system as well as
alongside the requirements of the Energy testing the engineer’s knowledge of the regulations.
Performance of Buildings Regulations requirements Practical tasks include pressure and leak testing,
for air conditioning systems to be inspected. Any recovery of refrigerant, oil draining, refrigerant
system over 250kW should have been inspected charging, brazing etc.
The
in January 2009, and this inspection should have Interim certificates are valid until July 2011, but
controversy
identified whether R22 refrigerant is used, and drawn by that time every engineer in the industry will have
around HFC has
this to the attention of the owner or inspector. to hold the new qualification. It is going to be tough
As the July 4 deadline for the mandatory F-Gas for a lot of working engineers to get back into the
created a false
registration passed, only about 2,500 companies classroom, but there is no alternative.
impression that
had registered with REFCOM. Originally, the ACRIB has also called for a statutory register of
we’re locked in
intention was that unregistered firms would not be individual operatives to accompany the company
able to trade after July 4 and Defra, the government scheme to prevent untrained engineers moving from
combat with
department responsible for managing F-Gas, had job to job and staying below the F-Gas radar.
environmentalists.
estimated that 5,000 firms would be signed up in The sector has another Achille’s heel that
But we share the
time. However, with such a shortfall it was compelled undermines attempts to reduce leakage: a large
to issue a statement insisting that failure to hold a number of unregulated and untrained operatives
same aims.
certificate would be a criminal offence, and it is is can have an impact on cooling system installations.
– Karen Leader
“vital” that firms act as soon as possible. Missing the For example, pipework is often carried out by non-
July 4 deadline “should not deter companies from refrigeration experts, who may not employ high
registering now”, Defra added. This may suggest enough standards of brazing and pipe jointing
that simply applying for registration could buy some techniques or use leak-tight components.
companies more time. Flare nuts are also thought to be responsible
To receive certification, firms must employ for as much as 50 per cent of refrigerant leakage.
suitably trained engineers. A new set of refrigerant “Properly trained engineers do not need flare nuts,”
handling qualifications has been created to meet says Scott Gleed, of Essex-based installer Ceilite.
the demands of the Regulation – City & Guilds 2079 “Our engineers remove them at installation or when
and CITB J11-J14. They are designed for any engineer they come across them during servicing – ideally
carrying out leak checking of systems with more than manufacturers should just get rid of them.”
34 CIBSE Journal August 2009 www.cibsejournal.com
CIBSEaug09 pp32-34 Refrig.indd 34 23/7/09 15:55:58
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